Five swimming pools in the Community of Madrid to spend the day soaking in the fresh air

With the arrival of summer, yellow alerts for high temperatures also arrive, making it much less appealing to leave the house or make plans. A good way to endure those days of blazing sun is to opt for one of the many swimming pools scattered throughout the Community of Madrid, both public and private. For those unsure which to choose, here are five tempting options that offer all kinds of services for spending the day.

Located in the Juan Antonio Samaranch Sports Complex in Torrejón de Ardoz, is one of the most fun pools in the entire community, a perfect option for those who would like to spend a day at the sea, but find it too far away. The complex has a total of three pools : one for laps, which has 8 lanes and measures 25 meters; the children's pool, with a depth of only 0.30 meters; and the star of the complex, the wave pool. In this pool, the waves are activated by an air drive mechanism that generates waves always at the same intensity and are connected in 10-minute batches, delighting those who experience the impulses of the water typical of beaches with waves.

This sports facility also has a sand court for beach volleyball, soccer fields, and handball fields. Opening hours are Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Admission is available through the city council website or in person. It is €9 for adults and €7 for children ages 3 to 14.

Located in the village of Buitrago de Lozoya is one of the largest swimming pools in Spain, the Riosequillo swimming pool . It is also surrounded by beautiful natural surroundings and overlooks the reservoir of the same name. It measures 4,500 square meters, is 220 meters long, and holds almost 7 million liters of water . The complex also has a children's pool, a grassy rest area with parasols to protect you from the sun, a bar-restaurant where you can recharge your batteries, an ice cream stand, a large pine forest with picnic areas, a basketball court, a soccer field, and three playgrounds, making it a perfect option for spending the day with children.

The Riosequillo swimming pool is located about 2 kilometers from the town and can be reached directly by taking exit 74 off the A1. There is free parking with 700 spaces and the opening hours are from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets cost €9 from Tuesday to Friday and €14 on Saturdays and Sundays . The pool is closed on Mondays. Note that 2,305 tickets are sold daily at the box office on weekends, and only one ticket is issued per person present at the box office.

In Alcobendas, the José Caballero Municipal Sports Center has more than 13,000 square meters of facilities, including a large pool with slides. But it's not the only one; there are several pools of different sizes and depths for all ages. There are also large lawns for sunbathing, a picnic area for eating, a cafeteria, and even a pool library open in July and August with a free loan service for daily newspapers, information magazines, and reading materials for all ages.

An attraction for those with children is the shallow water park , which offers up to 14 vertical and directional floor games , as well as arches, water guns, randomly tipping buckets, and Cascade , an interactive learning game designed for children ages 2 to 6 that features waterfalls, gates, and spinning wheels. Opening hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is €4.20 for children and €6.50 for adults.

One of the summer classics in Madrid is, without a doubt, the Complutense University swimming pool . Here you can find both a fairly large Olympic-size option that avoids crowding, as well as a swimming pool for diving. This is especially an option for younger people. The grounds include a large lawn with shaded areas, restrooms, showers, a cafeteria where you can eat a lunch menu for less than 10 euros, and a picnic area for those who prefer to bring their own food. Admission is 5 euros , and the pool is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until September 7.

The Madrid town of Parla has a 3,000-square-meter saltwater pool they've nicknamed "The Beach," not just because of the salt, but also because its design features a gradual entry, just like on the coast. It's also surrounded by extensive areas of sand and grass where you can lie back and sunbathe.

The 35,000-square-meter facility includes two other swimming pools (also saltwater), one with a 25-meter slide and the other for children. A cafeteria, a picnic area, showers, and changing rooms are also available. Although there isn't much shade, 300 umbrellas have been set up to provide shelter from the sun's rays, and they are free to use. Opening hours are Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., admission is €6.37 for children and €12.75 for adults . The park is accessible by public transport (the Parla commuter train station is 1.5 kilometers away, and intercity bus 469 runs from Plaza Elíptica to a stop about 100 meters from the entrance).