The 9 best swimming pools in Zurich for a relaxing plunge
Very few things are as refreshing as taking a plunge in a pool—it gives me peace, helps me relax, and makes me happy. It’s also why I probably know the top swimming pools in my beloved city—whether indoors or outdoors and private or public.
And lucky for you, I don’t gatekeep! My love for swimming led me to compile a list of Zurich’s best swimming pools.
Trust me, all these spots offer top-notch amenities and a great atmosphere. I also took into account reviews given by my family and closest friends.
1. Hallenbad City
Address: Sihlstrasse 78, 8001
Contact Details: +41 44 413 56 00
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 6 AM – 10 PM
Pricing: ₣
Hallenbad City, also known as the City Indoor Swimming Pool, is among the city’s most popular indoor pools. It was one of the first pools where I learned to swim.
What I love about it is that it’s got four large pools—a five-lane 50-metre pool, a nonswimmer’s pool, a vario pool with movable flooring, and a large sports hall. It also features a wellness area with a Finnish and bio sauna, a relaxation room, and a foot bath.
I also have to give props to Hallenbad City for having a disabled-access expansion. This allows people with disabilities to enjoy the swimming experience with ease.
Lastly, my friends and I like this pool because it’s open until 10 PM daily. That means we can run to the place for a quick plunge after work.
Pro Tip:
Scroll down to the “Current Capacity Utilisation” section of the Hallenbad City website. This section shows how many people are in the facility at any given time. Around 100-125 swimmers are all right, but anything over 150 already feels crowded.
2. Hallenbad Oerlikon
Media credit: massimominatta
Address: Wallisellenstrasse 100, 8050
Contact Details: +41 44 413 55 00
Hours: Monday to Tuesday, Thursday: 6 AM – 8 PM | Wednesday, Friday to Sunday: 6 AM – 10 PM
Pricing: ₣
Hallenbad Oerlikon, or Oerlikon Indoor Swimming Pool, is in some ways similar to Hallenbad City. But it’s also superior in various aspects. I particularly like their six pools: an eight-lane, 50-metre main pool, a diving pool, and a paddling pool with water games.
I also love that it offers swimming lessons for both adults and kids. In fact, my cousin gave these classes two thumbs up after enrolling her two kids in a course. She says the instructors are terrific and very patient.
But my favourite is Hallenbad Oerlikon’s jumping facility with heights of 1, 3, 5, 7.5, and 10 metres. It also comes with an electronic jump evaluation display, which is a nice touch.
Lastly, the facility also offers diverse recreation options. It has a playground, a foosball table, and a lawn. These make the venue the perfect family retreat.
Pro Tip:
Consider taking Hallenbad Oerlikon’s fitness and aquafit courses. Sportaktiv, a highly respected and well-known recreational sports organisation in Zurich, supervises these. They’ve also made a name for giving great courses.
3. Hürlimannbad & Spa Zurich
Media credit: huerlimannbad
Website: https://www.aqua-spa-resorts.ch/en/hurlimannbad-spa-zurich
Address: Brandschenkestrasse 150, 8002
Contact Details: +41 44 205 96 50
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 AM – 10 PM
Pricing: ₣₣₣
For me, there’s nothing quite like the Hürlimannbad experience. It starts with swimming in thermal bath areas enclosed in centuries-old vaults for privacy and exclusivity.
Then there’s the infinity pool experience at the Hürlimannbad. The view overlooking Zurich is spectacular, and the dip is relaxing with the pool’s warm, controlled water.
But that’s just the swimming part because you can also get luxurious pampering. I got to experience the two-hour, 10-station Roman-Irish ritual (again, thanks to my friend) and felt so reinvigorated.
It’s also great that there are different packages to choose from. Starting at 42 Francs, the basic offer includes an admission bath and a plunge in the infinity pool. It’s then up to you which luxurious inclusions you’ll add.
Pro Tip:
If you have the budget, the Roman-Irish ritual is something you should consider. It’s a sequence of 10 Roman and Irish bathing traditions that will refresh you. There’s a series of hot baths, a cold plunge, and refreshments to end the ritual.
4. Seebad Enge
Media credit: seebadenge
Website: https://www.seebadenge.ch/wp/
Address: Mythenquai 9, 8002
Contact Details: +41 44 201 38 89
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 8 AM – 8 PM
Pricing: ₣₣
What I love most about outdoor swimming pools in Zurich is that you’re almost always guaranteed a scenic view. You get that when you swim at Seebad Enge’s seaside resort, which offers views of a mountain-lined horizon, lush greens, and part of the city.
They offer top-notch swim training. It’s an advanced course for swimming in open waters, like the seaside waters of Enge. The best part is that the training is carried out by veteran Swimatic coaches, who are highly regarded in my beloved city.
I also like that the facility offers a complete resort experience. The wellness packages are world-class and among the best in Zurich. The massages are incredibly soothing, while SugaredByKenzi’s sugaring technique (an ancient beauty secret) is good for the skin.
Lastly, relaxing at Enge’s bar is an excellent capper for a day of swimming, thanks to its refreshing cocktails and light but delectable treats.
Pro Tip:
To best enjoy Seebad Enge, consider leaving your kids and fur babies at a nearby hotel. That’s because the resort has no play areas and isn’t pet-friendly.
5. Flussbad Unterer Letten
Media credit: visitzurich
Website: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/nature/flussbad-unterer-letten
Address: Wasserwerkstrasse 141, 8037
Contact Details: +41 44 413 58 90
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 9 AM – 8 PM
Pricing: Free
Like Seebad Enge, Flussbad Unterer Letten is an outdoor swimming pool, but it’s a riverside plunge and offers more of a city view than Enge’s more naturalistic horizons.
Even so, it’s a whole lot of fun. The Limmat River’s current adds to the fun, allowing swimmers to get carried downstream or fight against the flow. Trust me, it’s a great way to enjoy a swim.
If you’re not a good swimmer or the current is too challenging, you can swim at a specially designated nonswimmers’ pool. Children also have their designated spot—a kids’ paddling pool that guarantees they’ll have a fun but safe experience.
The food at Flussbad is great too. If you ever go hungry, there’s a kiosk nearby that sells delectable barbecue treats, fresh salads, and to-die-for pasta dishes.
But the best part is that taking a plunge here is free!
Pro Tip:
Stay until the night. Cultural events like poetry readings, concerts, and art shows are regularly held in the evening.
6. Freibad Letzigraben
Media credit: nicole.ottiger
Website: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/nature/freibad-letzigraben
Address: Edelweissstrasse 5, 8048
Contact Details: +41 44 413 57 00
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM – 8 PM
Pricing: Free
This pool in a park is a favourite of Zurichan families—including ours. But it also draws many tourists, partly because Switzerland’s Max Frisch designed it.
It has four pools for every type of swimmer. The largest one (50 meters deep) is for the more serious swimmers who love to do laps. There’s a wave pool for endless fun and a nonswimmer’s pool for those who like to chill back.
Freibad Letzigraben also has a children’s wading pool that my young nephews and nieces love. It’s perfect for the little ones—just the right height and with a mini-fountain on one end.
What many kids love to do here is take the plunge in the morning and then just go around the park after lunch. Many also grill barbecue and hotdogs in the designated barbecue area.
Pro Tip:
Max Frisch was a respected architect before he became a renowned writer. One of his most famous designs is the Letzigraben facility and its modernist design. So, before or after swimming, take some to look at the facility and check out its design features.
7. Water World
Media credit: 1001pools
Address: Alte Winterthurerstrasse 62, 8304 Wallisellen
Contact Details: +41 44 832 63 32
Hours: Monday: 12 PM – 8:45 PM | Tuesday to Friday: 6 AM – 8:45 PM | Saturday to Sunday: 8 AM – 5:45 PM
Pricing: ₣₣₣
Water World is a water lover’s paradise with its bevvy of pools.
The facility has a 50-metre pool, a nonswimmer’s pool, a warm water whirlpool, and a children’s pool indoors. Outdoors, you’ll find another 50-metre pool and a children’s paddling area. In other words, you probably aren’t running out of space to swim here.
This variety is great, added with many other activities for kids, young-at-hearts, and entire families. For one, children can play in the pools using the facility’s water play equipment.
It also has playgrounds for children and a sandy area for a game or two of beach volleyball. Meanwhile, adults can get soothing pampering at Water World’s world-class spa.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this: It has a swimwear shop with some of the trendiest, most fashion-forward swimwear I’ve seen anywhere.
Pro Tip:
If you plan to visit Water World regularly, consider purchasing a multi-entry pass or fitness combo for better value. Check for discounts as well because the facility regularly offers them to locals.
8. Frauenbad Stadthausquai
Media credit: nigel.photography1996
Website: https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/nature/frauenbad-at-stadthausquai
Address: Stadthausquai 12, 8001
Contact Details: +41 44 413 58 70
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7 AM – 7:30 PM
Pricing: ₣
As a woman, I’m super proud that Zurich has a women-only public bath like Frauenbad Stadthausquai. Built in the 1880s, this open-air facility proudly honours the city’s women.
The bathing area is a small river bath at Bürkliplatz on the artificial island of Bauschanzli. What I love about it is that the water is pristine and is just the right temperature. Scenic views of Old Town, Grossmünster, and Wasserkirche also surround it.
It’s also great that the facility has a couple of 30-metre-long pools. This ensures there’s more than enough room for everyone to enjoy a nice swim. Plus, it helps avoid overcrowding in the bathing areas.
Pro Tip:
While Frauenbad is primarily exclusive to women, it holds Barfussbar (barefoot bar) three evenings a week. During this time, the facility welcomes men to mingle alongside women. Don’t miss out!
9. Männerbad Schanzengraben
Media credit: jbloech
Website: https://www.zuerich.com/de/besuchen/sport/maennerbad-schanzengraben
Address: Badweg 10, 8044
Contact Details: +41 44 211 95 94
Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 AM – 6:30 PM
Pricing: ₣
Männerbad Schanzengraben is the counterpart to Frauenbad. It was built on one of Zurich’s former defensive moats, adding historic appeal to the facility.
The swimming area itself is just as pristine as that of Frauenbad. It’s because the clear waters of the Schanzengraben canal are where swimmers in this exclusive pool take the plunge. The canal also has a gentle current that makes any swim more relaxing.
The pool area is on the smallish side and provides an oasis-within-a-city vibe. It’s probably the reason why the place is so relaxing.
I also recently learned that Männerbad is turned into an open-air bar every night. It’s called “Rimini Bar,” and it’s open to both men and women.
Pro Tip:
For some additional quiet time, take a stroll in the Schanzengraben Promenade. It connects the lake to an old botanical garden and traverses the moat. While at it, soak in the sceneries of lush greens with the cityscape as a backdrop.