There are plenty of great places in Zurich where you can swim and cool down during the hot summer days. Many of these open-air baths are free of charge, some are perceiving a small fee of 8 CHF but you’ll benefit from a wardrobe, locker, etc. You can choose a bath with views of the snow-capped Alps, a sand long beach one, a kids paradise, an exclusive one for women or men. Our recommendation for the Best Outdoor Pools in Zurich:
Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen
This open-air bathing facility lies in the middle of a park on the right shore of Lake Zurich and with its non-swimmers zone, children’s paddling pool, diving platforms, and a 62 meter (203 ft)-long slide, this lakeside bathing facility is an absolute paradise for families with young children. Wellness aficionados are well catered for with massages, yoga, and Pilates. In a separate area, there are single-sex sun terraces for naturists. Hot and cold food – with barbecue specialties at sunset – is also available.
Strandbad Mythenquai
This lakeside open-air public swimming bath, with its sandy beach and grassy sunbathing area, water fountains, and restaurants, is particularly suitable for families with children. The bath has a 250 meter (820 ft.) – long sandy beach and a large grassy area for sunbathing. There are also diving platforms of three different heights, table tennis facilities, barbecue sites, and a restaurant serving healthy culinary delights. Reading material can also be borrowed free of charge from the book boxes supplied by the Pestalozzi Library.
Seebad Enge
The Seebad Enge outdoor bathing facility offers relaxation and breathtaking views over Lake Zurich. There’s a swimming pool for women and a mixed-sex pool, both with lake access. The 44 meters (144 ft) long swimming lanes are anchored in the lake and enclosed by wooden planks. Visitors are treated to a spectacular view over Lake Zurich, the lakeside promenade, and the Alps on the horizon. Shiatsu, classic massages, and yoga courses are also offered. At the kiosk, which houses a barbecue and bar, guests can enjoy light lunches, seasonal salads, oven-fresh bakery goods, and – in the evenings – barbecue specialties.
Seebad Utoquai
The wooden “Bathing Palace” on Utoquai has provided its guests with the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim in Lake Zurich for over 120 years. They can jump or dive into the water from one of the diving boards and swim to the rafts anchored in the lake around 30 meters (98 ft) away. There are also two small pools for non-swimmers, one for men and one for women. The upper sun terraces are also partly separated by gender. A book box from the Pestalozzi Library provides free reading material, while a restaurant offers Mediterranean delicacies. Guests can relax in the sauna or with a good massage.
Letten River Bath
On hot summer days, water lovers can cool off by taking a dip in the River Limmat in the very heart of Zurich. The Oberer and Unterer Letten riverside bathing facilities are a popular meeting place, especially for young people. After jumping into the water, swimmers let themselves be carried downstream by the current. A few then fight against the current, but most clamber back on land and walk back to the start – where the fun begins all over again. There are also two beach volleyball courts and an area for playing boule. Those who prefer to take it easy can sunbathe on one of the sun terraces with a book from the book boxes provided by the Bühl Foundation.
