21 Free places to swim near Zürich

Zürich has lots of great summer swimming areas at the lake, river and outdoor pools. Many “badis” require a entrance fee (around CHF 5-8/adult) and provide amenities like cafes, lounge chairs, umbrellas, changing rooms, lifeguards, playgrounds, slides, toilets, etc.

But there are also lot free places to swim and cool off, some that offer many of these same benefits. Here are our favorite places to cool off in and around Zürich that don’t cost a thing.

See also: Best Outdoor Swimming Badis near Zurich

Free lake swimming in Zürich city

1. Saffa Island

This tiny island on the west coast of Zürich lake is attached by a footbridge to the large grassy Landiwiese park. On the island, it’s just a few steps down on slippery stone steps to enter the shallow water and swim.

The water is very shallow for a couple meters, but then drops off. So only appropriate for kids that know how to swim well. 

See on map. Closest bus stop: Bhf. Wollishofen/Werft

2. Savera Areal

This rocky beach is a popular free swimming area, especially with little kids. It’s next to a big grassy park and the Wollishofen GZ community center, where you’ll find a cafe, playground and toilets.

The rocks can be slippery and/or sharp, I prefer water shoes or sandals for the kids. There is a rope enclosing the swimming area, marking where the shallow water gets deeper. So carefully monitor small children so they stay within the enclosed area.

See on map. Closest bus stop: Bhf. Wollishofen/Werft

3. Rote Fabrik

On the south side of Rote Fabrik near the Cassiopeia-Steg boardwalk, there is a small pebble beach where little kids can safely wade in the water. It’s next to a playground and has grills for your picnic.

A one minute walk from the beach, you’ll find the Ziegel oh Lac cafe, selling drinks and snacks. This beach itself doesn’t have any shade, but there are some trees near the playground if you need a break. It’s also a popular spot for launching SUP and kayaks. 

See on map. Closest bus stop: Rote Fabrik

4. Arboretum park

On hot days, this park is full of happy people sunbathing, playing lawn games, and grilling. It’s not my favorite place to swim because it’s where many boats are docked. But many people swim here because it’s free and easy.

There are always a couple food carts selling ice cream, drinks and snacks. There are toilets are the northwest side of the park.

See on map. Closest bus stop: Rentenanstalt or short walk from Bürkliplatz or Bahnhof Enge.

Free river swimming spots in Zürich city

It’s popular to swim in the Limmat river flowing through Zurich, but it can be very dangerous, especially with children. People drown every year in this river, so use good judgment and extreme caution.

5. Werd Insel – Flussbad Au-Höngg

This little island in the Limmat river is popular for sunbathing, floating and splashing. The river divides around this island, with a “safer” stretch on the north side, where people jump, float a couple minutes, then pull themselves out and go do it again – only suggested for strong swimmers.

There are also shallow areas on the main river where people picnic and splash. The island has a playground, café and public toilets.

See on map • Closest bus stop: Tüffenwies • more info

Photo by Roland zh – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

6. Oberer Letten

This free public swimming area has a lounging terrace built along both sides of the river. To swim, you walk up river, jump in and float until some stairs, where you can exit and go do it again.

Yago Veith – yago1.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE , via Wikimedia Commons

You won’t see many youngs kids here. It’s mostly young adults sunbathing and socializing.

See on map. Closest public transport: Limmatplatz 

7. Unterer Letten

A little down river from Oberer Letten, you’ll find another enclosed free river swimming area. It has a gate at the end so you don’t float too far down river.

Photo by Micha L. Rieser, Attribution Wikimedia Commons

It’s particularly popular with people that want to jump off the bridge into the deep part of the river. The river is only suitable for strong swimmers.

But small children can enjoy the free shallow pool and splash pad for kids that are safely set away from the river, a bit up the hill. 

Wasserwerkstrasse 141, 8037 Zürich • Closest public transport stop: Limmatplatz and Zürich Wipkingen

Splash pads for small children

Many of the city parks have shallow splash pads, aka Planschbecken, where kids can cool off on hot days. Some have sprays, while others are just a very shallow pool, about ankle deep.

Below are a few splash pads we like. You can see more splash pads on the Zürich city website.

8. Josefwiese

This large park next to the Viadukt market has a huge splash pad with sprays and a big playground, grassy park, ping pong tables, and beach volleyball. There’s lots of shade at this park when you need a break from the sun.

The adjacent Viadukt has cafes, bakery, and food stands where you can easily put together a gourmet picnic. My pic below was taken before summer started, so the splash zone doesn’t have water yet.

Josefstrasse 197, 8005 Zürich

9. Sechselautenplatz

Though probably not intended as a splash pad, the fountain at Sechselautenplatz has become a favorite of families, with lots of kids running through it on hot days. Get ice cream across the street at Globus or Mövenpick. See on map.

10. Bäckeranlage

This popular park has a shallow splash pool for cooling off. There is also a large grassy area, a playground, cafe, and skate park.

Feldstrasse, 8004 Zürich • more info

11. Park im Grüene

This one is just outside the city in Rüschlikon, but a popular destination for families. It’s a big park with a big playground and cafe. In summer, the splash area has lots of sprays, which makes it really for the kids.

Alsenstrasse 40, 8803 Rüschlikon • Closest public transport: Rüschlikon, Park im Grüene bus stop • more info

Free lake swimming near Zürich

With kids, we prefer to swim at official lake swimming areas, aka “Badis”, where you’ll find a lifeguard, cafe, playground, changing room and WC. But there are a few relatively safe places to swim with kids in the lake. 

12. Seebad Rüschlikon

Thanks to the city of Rüschlikon, this excellent badi is free, with lots of extras including a kiddie splash pool, a sand pit with sand toys, small playground, small water slide, diving platforms in the water, a restaurant, changing rooms, WC and a wonderfully maintained grassy area. Parents love this badi because it’s small enough to keep track of little kids without chasing them around the whole time.

Seestrasse 23, 8803 Rüschlikon • www.rueschlikon.ch

13. Küsnacht Hornelanpark

This lakeside park has a big playground, a big grassy areas for lounging, and a shallow delta where little kids can splash. The ferry dock is nearby, so swimmers need to watch out and not go into the ferry path. It’s safer to swim at the nearby official Küsnacht badi. This park is the end of the Küsnacht ravine hike, so a nice reward for good walking.

Im Horn 1, 8700 Küsnacht • Closest public transport: Küsnacht train station 

14. Badi Seegräben Pfäffikersee

There are two official paid “badis” on this lake, but we like this free one near Jucker Farm, that has a changing room and WC on the lakeshore. It’s not near any parking, so stop here as part of a walk or bike ride around the lake. See swimming spot on map.

15. Katzensee

A small lake just north of Zürich city in a nature reserve, so it has a relaxed countryside feel even though it’s close to the village. The swimming area and picnic area is free to use. No SUP or inflatable boats allowed on this lake. See on map.

16. Ägêrisee

You can swim for free at a few quiet spots on the walking along this lovely lake and at the Oberägeri Strandbad, which is connected to an indoor pool (entrance fee for that part). At the Oberägeri badi, there are is diving platform in the lake, a cafe, and you can rent lounge chairs and umbrellas. 

Parking for Oberägeri Strandbad: Riedweg 6315 Oberägeri • Closest public transport: Oberägeri, Station

For the quiet spot shown below, see our post about Biking around the Ägerisee

17. Hallwillersee

This lake has a nice walking path along the lakeshore, with lots of spots where you can jump in, both free and paid. We swam at this free spot near the vineyards on the northeast side that even had a little changing room. We were there near sunset and it was one of the nicest swims I’ve had.

There is another free official badi, Badi Brestenberg Seengen, a little further up the lake with grilling area, WC and often a kiosk for snacks. 

Parking for lake trail: Brestenbergstrasse, 5707 Seengen • Closest public transport: Seengen, Brestenberg

18. Hüttnersee

This lovely lake is close to the city, but nestled in rolling hills so it feels far away. Free parking and free entrance to the lake badi. You can rent lounge chairs for CHF 8/day. There is a kiosk selling drinks and snacks.

Bellenstrasse 8833 Samstagern ZH • Closest bus stop: Samstagern, Zopfschmitten • more info: badi-info.ch

19. Seebad Brüggli Zug

This free lake badi has fantastic views of the alps, a shallow pebble beach suitable for small children and lots of grassy area for lounging.

There is a playground, volleyball courts, picnic area with grills, changing rooms, and WCs. It’s next to the campground where you’ll find a cafe. There is a parking lot right at the badi.

Chamer Fussweg 36, 6300 Zug • Closest public transport: Zug, Lorzen bus stop

Rivers for floating

Some rivers are too fast for shoreside swimming. But they are great for floating in a boat or other inflatable. If you jump in the water, you should wear a life vest, even adults. After you invest in the equipment, your only costs are parking and bus fare back to your starting point.

20. Limmat river float

This float starts near the Zurich main train station and floats two hours north west, where you can catch a train back home. It’s a mild river, safe for families if you exercise common sense and caution.  

See our post for details: Floating on the Limmat river.

21. Reuss river float

This float starts in Bremgarten, an adorable village west of Zurich, and floats for 2-4 hours northwards. There is a boating company that rents equipment and offers guided tours. This rivers is a little more wild than the Limmat, with bigger rapids. But it’s still quite mild and doesn’t require a guide.

See our post for details: Floating on the Reuss river

Map of free swimming spots