Piscinas Municipais do Fundão

Fundão sits in the Cova da Beira valley between the Serra da Gardunha and the Serra da Estrela. The council runs two pools. The indoor pools (Piscinas Municipais Cobertas) open from October to June and are home to the municipal swimming school. The outdoor pools (Piscinas Municipais Descobertas), in the town’s sports park, open in summer.

The council describes its outdoor pools as part of the town’s heritage, with a long history of swimming. In summer, it says, this is where “the town meets the Gardunha and looks out to the Estrela”. There are two pools:

• A big pool, 33 metres long and 15 metres wide, fed directly by water from the Serra da Gardunha, the mountain behind the town.
• A smaller pool for children, which the council says is the younger swimmers’ favourite.

Around the pools is the Parque Desportivo Municipal, with two tennis courts, a squash court, a street basketball court, a seven-a-side football pitch and a restaurant.

Season and hours: June to September, every day from 9:00 to 19:00. In 2026 the outdoor pools closed on 13 September. The council has closed them early before when the weather turned: in 2023 it brought the closing date forward by four days because of bad weather.

Prices (day tickets):

• Children up to 5: free
• Ages 6 to 11: €1.25
• Ages 12 and over: €2.50
• Holiday club (ATL) groups: €0.50 for a morning

Holders of the Cartão Jovem (youth card) and the council’s social card get 50% off.

The council’s page doesn’t give depths, rules or shade for the outdoor pools. Take swim caps and flip-flops in case they’re asked for, and ring ahead (275 779 030) if you need to know more.

The indoor pools opened on 27 July 2003. The council says they welcome about 1,300 registered users a year from Fundão and the surrounding municipalities. In 2021 the Portuguese Swimming Federation certified the Escola Municipal de Natação do Fundão at its top level, Nível de Excelência.

Season: 1 October to 30 June.

Opening hours:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 to 14:00 and 15:30 to 21:30
• Saturday: 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00

Activities include baby swimming, swimming for children and adults, water aerobics, adapted swimming (natação adaptada) and hydrotherapy.

Public swimming (utilização livre) is sold in 75-minute visits: €3 with a user card, which needs a minimum €15 top-up, or €5 without a card. Swim caps are sold at the pool for €3. The council doesn’t publish a public-swim timetable online, and lessons fill much of the late afternoon and Saturday morning, so ask which times are free before you go. During the European Week of Sport in September 2026, the pool advertised open public swimming from 9:00 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 20:00.

Children’s levels at the Fundão swimming school are named after sea animals, which gives younger swimmers something to aim for. The 2026/27 timetable lists:

• Cavalos-marinhos (Seahorses): babies from 6 to 18 months, on Saturdays at 11:30, 15:30 and 16:30.
• Tartarugas (Turtles): babies from 18 to 36 months, on Saturdays at 12:00, 16:00 and 17:00.
• Pinguins (Penguins): level 1.
• Focas (Seals): level 2.
• Peixinhos (Little fish): level 3.
• Golfinhos (Dolphins): level 4.
• Tubarões (Sharks): level 5.

Levels 1 to 5 run on weekdays between 17:00 and about 20:00, and on Saturday mornings from 9:15, with a few Saturday afternoon groups. There are also adult beginners’ and improvers’ classes and water aerobics.

Monthly fees for 2026/27:

• Baby swimming: €14 for one class a week
• Children’s swimming: €16 for one class a week, €22 for two, €29 for three, €32 for four
• One-to-one lesson: €15
• Registration: €12

Every class can be taken once a week. Children who swam in 2025/26 and were assessed in June can renew online; new pupils enrol in person at the indoor pools with a citizen card. Enrolment for 2026/27 was staggered by age in September, starting with babies and children aged 3 to 6, and classes started on 1 October 2026.

• The indoor pools close in July, August and September, when the outdoor pools take over.
• The outdoor season depends on the weather, and closing dates can move.
• The indoor pool’s online booking and user area is Fundão Desporto, which also has an app for Android and iOS.
• The council publishes few pool rules online. Ask about swim caps, flip-flops and whether under-12s need an adult.

Covilhã is just up the valley: ride its free lifts and funicular up the hillside, or head into the hills to the Panasqueira mining museum. To the south-east, the hilltop village of Monsanto is built among giant granite boulders.

How much is the outdoor pool in Fundão?

A day ticket costs €1.25 for ages 6 to 11 and €2.50 from 12. Children up to 5 go free.

Is there a children’s pool?

Yes. The outdoor pools have a smaller pool for children next to the 33-metre pool. The council doesn’t publish its depth.

When do the outdoor pools open?

From June to September, every day from 9:00 to 19:00. In 2026 they closed on 13 September.

From what age can babies do swimming lessons?

From 6 months, in the Seahorses group on Saturdays. Babies from 18 to 36 months join the Turtles.

Can we swim indoors without joining a class?

Yes. A 75-minute public swim costs €3 with a user card or €5 without. Ask the pool which times are free of classes.