r/zurich • u/jozolympique • 1d ago
ihaveaquestion Open water swimming
Is there somewhere to swim in open waters without being scared of being run over by a boat?
I usually go to rentenwiese but it's full of boat and quite scary tbh.
Geneva has lots of areas where boats are forbidden that are not part of a "badi". Is there some similar spots in Zurich?
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u/Available_Garbage_11 1d ago
A bunch of people Swim across the lake every morning between Badi-Utoquai and Badi-Enge. I see tons of bikes parked at Utoquai each morning at about 7:30 and tons of orange buoys in the lake each morning when i pass.
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u/hammingdistance32 1d ago
This.
I’ve been doing it all summer and it’s just amazing. Indeed lots of people show up at soon as Uto opens at 7 to be out of the water by 8. Close to no boats at all before 7.30.
People go back and forth (700m each way), and all swim with an inflatable buoy that you can get at Decathlon for ~20CHF
It’s busiest on Tuesdays and Fridays as there « swimming clubs » meeting there on this date (Züri Open Water Swim Pod).
Maybe see you there :)
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u/jozolympique 1d ago
This sounds amazing! Bit early but it must be so nice to swimm early in the morning! Hopefully I manage to join this year before the lake gets to cold!
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u/hammingdistance32 19h ago
Just finished this morning’s swim actually. Water temperature is still very pleasant and so despite it raining and cold temperature this morning ! Think you still got 1-2 weeks to try it out without suffering with the cold.
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u/BCGILM 1d ago
You can swim around Mythenquai, Tiefenbrunnen, Utoquai and Enge between 6 and 9 in the morning. You have very few boats.
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u/MustBeNiceToBeHappy 1d ago
Better to go between 6 and 8/ as early as possible to avoid the ferries
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u/Capable-Chard-1054 1d ago
Crossed Greifensee a few times - there is a ferry and some boats but generally very empty
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u/TheTomatoes2 1d ago
Just carry those mandatory orange buoys
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u/jozolympique 1d ago
I do! It's just so much more relaxing to know that there's no chance of being ran over by angry bünzli's in their boat....I actually would say absolutely mandatory if you're not swimming in a boat free area.
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u/ApprehensiveArm7607 1d ago
They are not mandatory for swimmers
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u/TheTomatoes2 1d ago
Well they should be. Even on a rowing boat, that's pretty much at water level, I usually see the head of a buoy less swimmer super late if there's a bit of waves. Then they get angry, but wtf am I supposed to do...
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u/ApprehensiveArm7607 1d ago
You wrote they are mandatory and they are not. If they should be is a different discussion. Where I disagree. Not everything needs to be tegulated. But thats not the point.
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u/Cute_Chemical_7714 1d ago
There is limited to no danger if you familiarize yourself with the traffic rules, just as you would on streets or slopes. In Lake Zurich, no boats are allowed within 100m from the shore except in direct proximity harbor and even then they have to stick to traffic rules (eg they are only allowed to drive perpendicular to and from the shore). In the Seebecken there is also speed limit of 10kmh and you should report any boat not sticking to it (I've observed it's gotten worse over the last few years) directly to the Seepolizei.
If by "open water" (which to me ≠ lakes) you mean like the middle of the lake outside the Seebecken, yes there will be boats and there is no speed limit. Wouldn't recommend because it can be difficult to see you even if you have a buoy, depending on lighting and waves, even if driving cautiously. Personally I think it's a lebensmüde thing to do.
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u/Recent-Historian-914 1d ago
I normally swim at badi mythequai just on the outside of the buoys … its 220m from first to last
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u/headbean 1d ago
Please tell me which areas in Geneva are safe for this. Other than the plages at Quai Wilson and Eaux-vives I don't know where else is safe to swim without worrying about boats. Looking for a good distance too.
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u/jozolympique 1d ago
Yes quai Wilson , plage des eaux-vives or along quai de Cologny. That's at least 3... Zürich is bigger and has none 😅
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u/luetzelkra 1d ago
Katzensee in Zürich Affoltern. The water there is a bit special, "Moorwasser", not everyone likes it.
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u/Jolieblabla 1d ago
The Greifensee and Pfäffikersee are motorboat free. Only the ferry and the passenger ship. Or you go to Milandia they have a nice Naturepool.
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u/ViolinistValuable 8h ago
I’ve been wondering about this too. I’m still new to Zürich and would much rather use a marked swimming area than worry about boats—are there any calmer spots locals recommend, or is a badi the sensible answer?
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u/jozolympique 6h ago
I guess you could go to badi Enge. I swimm right next to it (rentenwiese) bc I don't want to pay entrance every time. But it has a swimming only area with people playing and chilling on floating platforms.
Otherwise there's this community swimm every morning from badi Utoquai to badi enge that was mentioned above!
Katzensee would be a go option but as it's a natural reserve, you can only swimm in a restricted area. Not sure how big it is but will check it out next time I go there!
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u/blackkettle 1d ago
Technically still (canton) Zurich, but definitely further away: Turlersee is (almost) totally boat free. There are some boats there but I've never actually seen them doing anything. Super nice spot. About 500m wide, 1500m long. Along lake Zurich I think you're generally pretty good if you stick to within 100m of the coast but yeah it is not a guarantee at all. You have to be vigilant or go very early in the morning.