Complexo de Piscinas Municipais de Loulé

The Complexo de Piscinas Municipais de Loulé sits beside the Parque Municipal de Loulé and is really two sets of pools on one site. The outdoor complex opened in June 1986 and is the summer attraction: a 50-metre Olympic pool, a diving pool, a children’s pool, a paddling pool for babies (chapinheiro) and a lawn that the council describes as a favourite spot for a family day. The indoor complex opened in November 1993 and runs most of the year, with a 25-metre pool, a learner pool, another paddling pool, a counter-current pump, sauna, jacuzzi and steam room.

Because the outdoor pool is Olympic-size, the complex has hosted national and international swimming and water polo events. For families, the attractions are simpler: very low prices, very shallow water for small children and grass to spread out on.

According to the council’s FAQ, the outdoor pools are:

• A 50-metre Olympic pool, for confident swimmers.
• A diving pool (cuba de saltos) that is 5 metres deep.
• A children’s pool (piscina para crianças).
• A paddling pool for babies (chapinheiro para bebés).

There’s a grassed area around them. The outdoor season normally runs from the third week of June to the second week of September. In 2026 the outdoor pools closed on 5 September, the whole complex shut from 7 to 12 September for cleaning, and the indoor pools reopened on 14 September.

A sunshade costs €1.50 on top of your entry. The FAQ doesn’t list a café, so bring water and snacks and check at reception what can be eaten on the lawn.

The indoor complex has a 25-metre pool, a learner pool (piscina de aprendizagem) and a chapinheiro. The council publishes the water temperature: 30 °C in the learner pool and the paddling pool, and 27 °C in the 25-metre pool. That makes the smaller pools comfortable for toddlers and children who get cold quickly.

The sauna, jacuzzi and steam room are in the indoor building and only open when the indoor pools do. The FAQ doesn’t give an age limit for them; ask at reception before taking children in.

Indoor opening hours when checked in September 2026:

• Monday to Friday: 7:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 21:00.
• Saturday: 7:00 to 14:00.
• Sundays and public holidays: closed.

The council says the quietest times indoors are weekdays from 11:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 16:30. Those slots suit home-educating families and anyone with preschoolers.

Prices are low. When checked in September 2026:

Outdoor pools, per day:

• Up to age 5: free.
• Ages 6 to 11: €1.
• Ages 12 to 17: €1.50.
• Adults (18 and over): €2.50.
• Pensioner card holders: €1.50.
• Sunshade: €1.50.

Indoor pools, per 90 minutes:

• Up to age 5: free.
• Ages 6 to 11: €1.
• Ages 12 to 17: €1.50.
• Adults: €2.
• Pensioner card holders: €1.
• Monthly card: €24, or €12 with a youth card, student card or pensioner card.

If you swim often, the user card can be used two ways. A monthly payment of €24 gives one 90-minute swim a day. Or you load the card with at least €5 and €2 comes off each 90-minute swim.

Public swimming (utilização livre) doesn’t need booking. The first time, go to reception with your citizen card or other ID, sign the term of responsibility (termo de responsabilidade) and pay. The rules parents get caught by:

• A swim cap (touca) is compulsory.
• So are flip-flops (chinelos) on the poolside.
• Swimwear must be lycra shorts or a one-piece swimsuit (fato de banho completo). Loose board shorts aren’t accepted.

The FAQ doesn’t say whether babies need swim nappies or at what age children can swim without an adult, so ask at reception if that matters to you.

Swimming lessons at the Loulé pools are run by the Louletano Desportos Clube, not the council, and the council points families to the club for enrolment. The pool’s own page doesn’t give lesson ages or prices.

This is a working municipal sports complex. Lanes in the 25-metre and 50-metre pools are shared with clubs and training, and the atmosphere is practical rather than holiday-like. There are no slides or wave machines; for those, head to a water park. In summer, arrive early on hot weekends and bring sun protection, because shade outdoors may mean renting a sunshade.

The complex is next to the Parque Municipal de Loulé, with its rebuilt playground and a skate park with a bowl, and the Loulé rock-salt mine takes visitors underground in town. For slides, Aquashow is a short drive away near Quarteira, and the same council runs the indoor Quarteira municipal pools on the coast.

How much are the Loulé municipal pools?

In September 2026 an outdoor day cost €1 for ages 6 to 11, €1.50 for 12 to 17 and €2.50 for adults. Under-6s swim free, indoors and out. Indoor swims were €1, €1.50 and €2 for 90 minutes.

Is there a baby pool?

Yes. Both the outdoor and indoor complexes have a chapinheiro (paddling pool), and the outdoor one is described as a paddling pool for babies. Indoors the learner pool and paddling pool are kept at 30 °C.

Do children need a swim cap?

Yes. A swim cap, flip-flops and a lycra swimsuit or shorts are compulsory for everyone.

When are the outdoor pools open?

Usually from the third week of June to the second week of September. In 2026 they closed for the season on 5 September.

Do you need to book?

No. Public swimming works without booking. Bring ID the first time to register at reception.