Well, luckily, it was a very hot mid-September and hints of autumn were nowhere to be found. A few of the pictures below will show you how hot it was in Zurich.
This is the Frauenbad (Women's Only Pool/Bath) on the Limmat River in Zurich Old Town.
This is the Seebad Enge, south of Zurich Old Town located in the district of Enge on Lake Zurich.
The city has a high density of badis on its river and lakes. There are 11 official baths and outdoor pools, and not to mention that many locals have a practice of just laying along the water’s edge for a sunbathe and a swim. I never expected this bathing culture in the city but it makes sense when you are surrounded by fresh and clean bodies of water.
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BATHING CULTURE IN ZURICH
Because Zurich sits in the valley with a lake, the city receives the water flowing from the Alps which is very clean and potable. The city’s water is being supplied by its very own lake. Not that you drink directly from the lake, although some people swear it is perfectly fine, I, on the other hand, would have my doubts. I am sure the citizens get water from the lake which goes through a series of water treatment process. But Switzerland is definitely blessed with nature’s spring.
Had I stayed longer in Zurich, I will probably have indulged in the bathing culture scene in the city. This, I read, can be traced to early Roman settlements. The oldest public bath in the city are the Mannerbad Schanzengraben circa 1864 (Men’s Only Pool) and the Frauenbad am Stadthausquai circa 1888 (Women’s Only Pool). Both are still operating and are very popular with the locals. In the evenings, both pools turn into a bar and accessible to both sexes.
The Women's Only Bath/Pool (Frauenbad) on the Limmat River goes back to 1888. It is one of the oldest public baths in the city.
The bath is located in the heart of Zurich Old Town.
Because this is Europe, taking your top off is just normal. Although is less normal I guess compared to a decade or 2 or 3 ago. The Dutchman tells me he sees fewer women baring their breasts in public than when he was a kid. Well, I am a prude, although I do not do topless, but I would not mind other women doing so. It’s your own game, your own body. Do whatever you want =)
Speaking of the subject, prude. After living for almost 15 years now in mainland Europe (in the Netherlands for that matter), nothing shocks me anymore. Last month, whilst sipping coffee in our favourite café in Utrecht and browsing this popular women’s local magazine, I saw that they again (yes, this isn’t the first time) featured a series of vaginas up close and personal. Literally a photo of a shaved vagina on each full page and a profile of the woman who owns the said genital. It is very confrontational. I would have probably said WTF before, but now, nothing surprises me anymore. Although, I felt a bit awkward glaring at 2 vaginas occupying 2 full pages of a magazine in a café full of people.
That said, the bared breasts I see on the beaches in Europe and in the badis of Zurich pales in comparison with this vagina article.
Nevertheless, if Zurich was not an expensive city, I am sure it would have been crippled with many long weekend wellness tourists. Aside from the public baths and outdoor pools, there are many spas in town. Unfortunately, I do not hear or read much of wellness city trips to Zurich. Instead, I hear or read about business trips. The fact is, my first trip to Zurich was business as well. If I have an opportunity to go back to Zurich, and not a business trip, of course, I will definitely check out the bathing culture in the city. I am not a spa person but perhaps I will treat myself to one at the Thermal Bad & Spa. I saw that they have an amazing rooftop pool. Now that is really nice.
ZURICH PUBLIC BATHS AND OUTDOOR POOLS
So I have listed the public baths on the Limmat river and Zurich lake and the outdoor pools below and which district (Kreis) they are located. The wellness, spas and saunas in town are not included in this list.
Kreis 1 is the Old Town and a number of these baths are located across each other on Lake Zurich in Kreis 2 (Enge) and Kreis 8 (Reisbach). Just below the list, I have included a link to the Zurich Tourism and InYourPocket guide for detailed information about these places.
The Manifesta 11 is temporary exhibition. It is a floating pavilion in Lake Zurich with an arts and culture exhibit, a bar and a swimming pool.
For reference, this is the map of the City of Zurich and its 12 districts (Kreis):
KREIS 1 (Old Town in the Lindenhof Quarter)
1. Männerbad Schanzengraben (Badweg 10) – The oldest public bath in the city dating back to 1864. This is a Men’s Only Pool. In the evening the pool becomes a bar called ‘Rimini Bar’ accessible to both sexes.
2. Frauenbad am Stadthausquai (Stadthausquai on the Limmat River) - One of the oldest pool dating 1999. This is a Women’s Only Pool and perhaps the most popular in the city as this is visibly seen on the Limmat River just behind the Zurich City Hall on Stadshausquai. In the evening, the pool becomes a bar called ‘Barfussbar’ (Barefoot Bar) accessible to both sexes.
3. Manifesto 11 aka ‘Pavilion of Reflections’ – This is a temporary arts, culture and bathing landmark in the city on Lake Zurich on the corner of Quaibrucke and Utoquai (Niederdorf Quarter bordering Reisbach). The floating pavilion exhibit hosts an open-air cinema, a bar and a swimming pool designed by Swiss students to showcase the bathing culture in Zurich.
Yup, the stand-up paddlers. As you can see, for safety purposes, they have an option to lock their leg with a chain to the paddle.
KREIS 2 (Enge Quarter)
4. Seebad Enge (Mythenquai 9) – This is very popular and chic unisex pool area not too far away from the Old Town. This is just right behind the pier near Burkliplatz. I read that you come here to hang out and be seen and what most people do here is just checking each other out. Not bad huh.
5. Mythenquai Beach (Mythenquai 25) – This is the only bath area in Zurich that has its own beach. There are also water sports available here such as boating and the new craze, stand up paddling (SUP). Yup, we saw a number of these stand-up paddlers!
This is Seebad Enge, not too far away from Zurich Old Town.
KREIS 6 (Unterstrass Quarter on the Limmat River)
6. Flussbad Oberer Letten (Lettensteg 10) - This is the Upper Letten River Pool which is more popular among the younger people. The bath area turns into a bar called ‘Pier West’ in the evening.
7. Flussbad Unterer Letten (Wasserwerkstrasse 141) - This is the Lower Letten River Pool, also popular among the younger group. In the summer, they screen films in the evening.
KREIS 8 (Reisbach)
8. Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen (Bellerivestrasse 200) – One of the oldest public baths in the city opened circa 1886. The swimming pool is circular and is set on the lake itself. There is a large meadow here where people can play sports.
9. Seebad Utoquai (Utoquai) – Another one of the oldest public baths opened circa 1890. When it opened men and women were allowed to bath together for the first time in Zurich. This wooden pontoon on Lake Zurich is one of the busiest in town.
10. Chinawiese (Zurichhorn) – Also called as Blatterwiese, this is near Fischtube and Lake Side Restaurant where we ate. A rocky shore. Most people come here to sunbathe and picnic.
This is the Enge Harbour in Kreis 2 (Enge Quarter) and locals just camp here to sunbathe and swim.
Lake Zurich and you are looking towards Kreis 8 (Reisbach) where Seebad Utoquai and Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen are located.
KREIS 4 (Aussersihl)
11. Open Air Pool Letzigraben (Edelweissstrasse 5) – This is more a swimming pool and one of the pool has artificial waves.
KREIS 7 (Hottingen Quarter)
12. Dolder Sports (Adlisbergstrasse 36) – Offers more than swimming. This facility has a mini golf area, an ice skating rink and of course, a restaurant.
KREIS 10 (Werdinsel)
13. Flussbad Au- Höngg (Werdinsel 2) – Swimming at the Werd Island. I guess this is for those who prefer something different and outside the busyness of the city.
KREIS 11 (Affoltern Quarter)
14. Seebad Katzensee (Katzenseestrasse) – Swimming with nature is the theme of this place. It is not far from the city but offers an idyllic place to relax, far from the hectic life of the city. The lake is part of the nature preserve area.
Here are a few public baths and outdoor pools outside the city on Lake Zurich:
15. Seebad Richterswil (Schwyzerstrasse 18) – Located in Richterswil
16. Hallen- und Seebad Schmerikon (Aabachstrasse 14) – Located in Schmerikon
17. Badi Egelsee (Rütistrasse 1) – Located in Bubikon
18. Strandbeiz Stampf (Strandweg) – Located in Rapperswil-Jona
19. Steebadi Egg am Griefensee (Rällikon 34) – Located in Hinteregg
To read about these places, please visit one of these sites:
Outdoor Baths and Pools in Zurich by Zuerich.com
Swimming and Relaxing on the water’s edge by InYourPocket
Travel Period: September 2016
Destination: Zurich, Switzerland
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.
