Summer is the perfect time to go swimming
Zurich has perhaps the highest concentration of public baths and outdoor pools of any city, both nationally and internationally. The public bathing areas on the lake and river, in particular, are extremely popular during the summer months. And it is no surprise to learn that many Zurich locals enjoy swimming to work in the river – upstream or downstream.
The fact that such pleasures are possible in the heart of a major city may well be one of the reasons why, year after year, Zurich ranks among the world’s best cities for quality of life.
Our highlights
Located right in the city centre, the Oberer Letten and Unterer Letten river pools (with a 400-metre-long swimming lane) are both completely free to use. Men, at least, can swim in the Sihl, too, for free at Männerbad Schanzengraben – a men-only spot on the river that turns into a hip bar in the evening, the Rimini bar.
Women can also find all their hearts desire, of course; the women-only Frauenbad Stadthausquai is a fabulous bathing facility by day and, in the evening, likewise transforms into a popular meeting place for cool drinks – including a breathtaking view of the Old Town. Just a few hundred metres away is Seebad Utoquai, a delightful swimming area on Lake Zurich. And, last but not least, our Dolder Bad naturally offers everything those seeking a relaxing morning or afternoon could possibly wish for.