10 Cities in the World with the Best Swimming Structures for Urban Swimming
In the heart of bustling cities across the globe, a refreshing trend is making waves: urban swim spots. These innovative swimming structures transform metropolitan waterfronts into accessible swimming areas for city dwellers and visitors. From revitalized harbours to floating pools in natural waterways, these urban swim spots invite you to cool off while connecting with your local water!
What Are Swimming Structures?
Swimming structures deliver safe access to water bodies within city environments. Unlike traditional swimming pools, these structures integrate directly into natural waterways such as rivers, lakes, and harbours. They incorporate elements that protect swimmers from aquatic hazards like currents, boats, or contamination, while still maintaining that essential connection to the natural environment. You can think of it as wild swimming, but with some structural floaties - a few design elements that keep you safe and make the water more accessible.
These structures range from floating platforms and designated swimming areas to sophisticated filtration systems that actively clean existing waterways. They represent a growing movement to reclaim urban waters for public recreation and enjoyment—the same waters that you might pass by every day without ever experiencing firsthand!
Why Urban Swimming Matters
Swimming in city waters offers more than just a refreshing break–it reconnects you with your local waterways. Think about it: in your city, how close do you live to water? And how often do you actually interact with it beyond looking at it from a bridge or boardwalk? For many city dwellers, the answer is not often enough.
When you swim in your local waters, you develop a personal stake in their health and protection. This personal connection transforms abstract environmental concerns into concrete, meaningful actions in your daily life.
Plus, urban swim spots offer accessible recreation opportunities without requiring you to travel far from home. They promote physical activity and mental well-being, and provide community gathering spaces in areas that might otherwise lack public amenities.
Image by Delphine Ducaruge
Swim Drink Fish - Champions for Safe, Accessible Water
This is exactly why we at Swim Drink Fish champion clean, accessible waters in cities across Canada and beyond. For over 20 years, our organization has advocated for swimmable waters as a key strategy to protect our freshwater resources. We believe that waters without swimmers become waters without protections. Too often, "no swimming" signs shift accountability for public safety away from polluters and onto recreational water users, disconnecting communities from their local water bodies.
We work to create swimmable cities through community-based water monitoring hubs that sample and share water quality data, the Swim Guide app that provides up-to-date water quality information, and by leading major projects like the Gord Edgar Downie Pier in Kingston, Ontario. Our mission focuses on building communities that connect with water, understand its importance and fragility, and become motivated to protect it!
Now, let’s dive into the top 10 cities that have created exceptional urban swim spots you might want to add to your travel bucket list.
1. Kingston, Canada - Gord Edgar Downie Pier
The Gord Edgar Downie Pier at Breakwater Park in Kingston stands as a testament to what communities can achieve when they reconnect with their waterways. This landmark project, championed by Swim Drink Fish in partnership with the Weston Family Foundation and the City of Kingston, has changed Kingston’s relationship with Lake Ontario.
The pier represents Canada’s first deep-water urban swimming pier, but what makes this project truly special is its history of transformation. It converted an underused industrial waterfront into a vibrant community space that welcomes swimmers of all abilities.
The pier features innovative design elements (your structural floaties!), including universal accessibility features, aquatic habitat improvement, and water quality monitoring systems. Beyond just a swimming spot, it serves as a living example of water stewardship and community engagement. The pier attracts thousands of visitors annually, proving that when we create safe access to water, people love to embrace the opportunity to swim in local waterways!
Gord Edgar Downie Pier - Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Image by Industryous Photography.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark - Islands Brygge Harbour Bath
Copenhagen has been at the forefront of the urban swimming revolution since the early 2000s. The Islands Brygge Harbour Bath offers five swimming pools of different depths right in the harbour. The facility includes diving towers, children's pools, and lounging areas, all within view of the beautiful city skyline! Copenhagen's commitment to clean harbour water has made this popular attraction possible, with rigorous water quality monitoring making sure the water is safe for all swimmers.
3. Oslo, Norway - Sørenga Seawater Pool
Oslo's Sørenga Seawater Pool creates a protected swimming area in the Oslo Fjord. The over 100-meter-long facility includes a 50-meter lap pool section and a dedicated children's area, with platforms at various levels for sunbathing and relaxation. The striking wooden architecture blends beautifully with the revitalized harbour area, making it a social and recreational hub for the city.
4. Paris, France - Bassin de La Villette
The Bassin de La Villette offers Parisians a chance to swim in the heart of the city. This system of floating pools sits within the canal and provides clean, monitored swimming areas that have become incredibly popular during Paris's hot summer months. The swimming structures include shallow areas for children and deeper sections for more confident swimmers, all surrounded by wooden decking for sunbathing and hanging out.
Bassin de la Villette - Paris, France. Image by seine-saint-denis tourIsme.
5. Zurich, Switzerland - Seebad Enge
Zurich's lake is dotted with numerous "badi" or public swimming areas, but Seebad Enge stands out for its historic-inspired wooden infrastructure combined with modern amenities. This lakeside bath swimming structure extends into Lake Zurich, providing separate swimming areas for women as well as mixed sections. The facility transforms into a popular bar in the evenings, showing how these structures can serve multiple community functions.
6. Helsinki, Finland - Allas Sea Pool
Allas Sea Pool offers a remarkable combination of heated fresh water pools and a filtered seawater pool in Helsinki's harbour. Located in the heart of the city next to the market square, this swimming structure operates year-round, with Finns famously enjoying winter swimming followed by sauna sessions. The facility demonstrates how urban swim spots can adapt to various climates and cultural traditions, allowing people all over the world to connect with their local water.
7. Berlin, Germany - Badeschiff
Berlin's Badeschiff (literally "bathing ship") is a floating swimming pool created from a converted cargo barge in the River Spree. This innovative approach to urban swimming provides a clean swimming environment even when the river itself doesn't meet swimming standards. During winter, the entire structure is covered with a translucent shell and heated, allowing for year-round swimming with panoramic views of the city.
8. Sydney, Australia - Dawn Fraser Baths
As the oldest public saltwater pool in Australia, Dawn Fraser Baths, aka Elkington Park Baths, in Sydney Harbour represents a historic approach to urban swimming structures. This tidal flow pool is enclosed by a wooden promenade, creating a protected swimming area within the harbour. Its heritage-listed structure has been carefully preserved while providing modern amenities, showing how swimming structures can honour a city's aquatic traditions.
9. New York City, USA - + POOL Initiative
While still in development, New York's ambitious + POOL project deserves mention for its innovative approach. Designed in the shape of a plus sign, this floating pool will filter the East River water through its walls, cleaning up to half a million gallons of water daily! The project represents the future of urban swimming structures as both recreational facilities and environmental remediation tools.
10. Geneva, Switzerland - Bains des Pâquis
The Bains des Pâquis in Geneva is a beloved local institution that extends into Lake Geneva. This public bathing area features protective breakwaters that create safe swimming conditions, diving platforms, and extensive wooden decking. Operating since the 1930s, it has evolved to offer year-round swimming, saunas, and cultural events, demonstrating how urban swim spots can become central to a city's identity and social life.
Bains des Pâquis - Geneva, Switzerland. Image by Miguel Quintana.
Finding Urban Swim Spots Near You
Inspired to take a dip in your local waterways? Wondering if there's a safe place to swim near you? The Swim Guide by Swim Drink Fish is your perfect companion for discovering urban swim spots in your own backyard!
This free app provides real-time water quality information for over 10,000 beaches, lakes, and swimming holes across the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand. It's like having a local swimming expert in your pocket!
By simply entering your location, you can instantly discover where you can safely swim today, complete with directions, amenities information, and user photos.
The Swim Guide also empowers you to participate in protecting water quality. When you report pollution issues through the app, you're contributing to citizen science efforts that protect waters for everyone. Your observations and reports can make a real difference in improving water quality in your community.
Swimming in city waters isn't just something happening in faraway cities—it's a movement you can join right where you are. It invites you to reclaim your personal connection with water and become an advocate for cleaner, more accessible environments. Whether you're a dedicated wild swimmer or just looking for relief on a hot summer day, urban swim spots offer you a unique way to experience your city from a completely different perspective.
Ready to dive in? Download the Swim Guide today and discover the urban swim spots waiting for you. Your next water adventure might be closer than you think!
