Piscinas Municipais do Entroncamento

Entroncamento is the railway town of the Ribatejo, best known for the national railway museum. Its council runs an indoor swimming complex beside the municipal sports pavilion. There are two pools, a lifeguard on duty whenever it’s open, and public-swim prices that start below €1 for young children.

According to the council:

• The learner pool (piscina de aprendizagem): 16 m by 6 m, from 0.60 m at the shallow end to 1.20 m.
• The competition pool: 25 m by 16.67 m, from 1.40 m to 2.20 m deep.

At 60 cm, the learner pool’s shallow end is shallower than the learner pools in Torres Novas (90 cm) or Viseu (1 m). Preschoolers can practise walking, kicking and floating there before moving to the deeper end, with an adult close by. The competition pool is too deep for children who can’t swim.

There’s also a reception office, a medical room, two changing rooms and a multi-purpose room. The council’s FAQ says there are stands along the side of the pools where parents can watch their children’s swimming classes.

The council lists these hours:

• 13 September to 30 June: weekdays 9:00 to 22:00, Saturday 9:00 to 20:00, Sunday 9:00 to 14:00.
• Summer, 1 July to 13 September: weekdays 9:00 to 21:00, Saturday and Sunday 9:00 to 20:00.
• Open on public holidays. Closed on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The pools close to public swimming during events that need the whole space, with notices posted in advance. There are also maintenance closures, usually over the Easter school holidays and around the end of August and start of September, so check before going then.

Best time for public swimming: the council’s FAQ says one or two marked lanes are always kept for public swimmers (utilização livre) in both the main pool and the learner pool. The quietest times are weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00, before the local clubs’ classes start, as well as Saturday afternoons and all day Sunday. That makes it a good fit for home-educating families.

The council’s FAQ gives these public-swim prices. The 2026 price table is published as a scanned document, so confirm the figures at reception:

Ages 3 and under: free.

Ages 4 to 8 (with an adult):

• 1 hour: €0.58
• 10 one-hour entries: €4.66; 20 entries: €6.99
• Summer: 3 hours €1.17, full day €2.33

Ages 9 to 17 and over-60s:

• 1 hour: €1.17 (€0.89 with the Cartão Jovem youth card)
• 10 entries: €10.48
• Summer: 3 hours €1.73, full day €2.91

Ages 18 to 59:

• 1 hour: €1.73
• 10 entries: €16.29
• Summer: 3 hours €2.33, full day €3.50

User card: you don’t need one. Without it you pay €0.58 to hire a card that includes sports insurance for that visit. Regular swimmers can register for a user card, which costs €9.91 including a year’s accident insurance (€6.99 to renew). You need a copy of an ID card or passport, a tax number and a photo.

From the council’s FAQ:

• Swim caps and flip-flops are compulsory for everyone in the pool area. If you forget a cap, reception sells them (€1.73 in the FAQ).
• A qualified lifeguard is on duty during all opening hours.
• Ages 4 to 8 must be with an adult when swimming.

The council runs hydrocycle (aqua bike) classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Swimming lessons for children are run by the local clubs, which use the pools for:

• Baby swimming.
• Learning to swim, from water confidence to improvers.
• Competitive swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo.
• Water aerobics and hydrotherapy.

Ask at reception which club runs the classes you want and how to join.

• There’s no cash machine at the sports complex; the council says the nearest is about 750 m away at a hypermarket.
• The pools are part of the Complexo Desportivo Municipal, which also has tennis courts and the Parque Verde do Bonito nearby.
• Public swimming shares the pools with clubs from late afternoon.

The Museu Nacional Ferroviário, Portugal’s national railway museum, is in Entroncamento and makes an easy pairing with a swim. Nearby, Constância’s tropical butterfly house is a short drive east, and Tomar’s Pegões aqueduct is to the north.

Is there a shallow pool for toddlers?

The learner pool starts at 60 cm and goes down to 1.20 m. Toddlers still need an adult with them in the water.

How much does it cost to swim in Entroncamento?

The council’s FAQ lists €0.58 an hour for ages 4 to 8, €1.17 for ages 9 to 17 and €1.73 for adults. Under-4s are free. Check the current price table at reception.

Do we need swim caps?

Yes. Swim caps and flip-flops are compulsory, and caps are sold at reception.

Is there a lifeguard?

Yes, a qualified lifeguard is on duty whenever the pool is open.

Can I watch my child’s swimming lesson?

Yes. The council says there are stands at the side of the pools for parents.