Swimming in indoor pools is convenient, swimming in beaches is pleasant, swimming in the wild is freeing. But there’s something really special about swimming in a city: experiencing nature in an urban setting, reclaiming waterways as places of recreation rather than just transportation.
To wrap up the summer, here are some of our favorite spots for urban swimming.
Copenhagen, Denmark
This city’s harbour used to be extremely polluted, but now the water is clean enough for people to just jump right in. A popular spot is the Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, but you can find swimmers and sunbathers throughout the city (wherever you can find a platform near water).
Aarhus, Denmark
There’s an artificial island called Aarhus Ø, where you can find one of the largest seawater baths in Denmark, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. For people who don’t want to swim, there are a variety of activities surrounding the baths, from CrossFit to water skiing.
There’s also a spot in Aarhus called The Infinite Bridge, which is essentially a circular pier in the water. It was originally part of a temporary Sculpture by the Sea event, but locals loved it so much that it became a permanent installation and beloved spot for swimming.
Helsinki, Finland
Saunas are a huge part of the culture in Finland. It’s common for people to immerse themselves in the heated rooms, then plunge in freezing water before returning back to the cozy sauna. Löyly Helsinki is a sauna built right on the waterfront, so that people can walk right down the staircase to take a dip in cool seawater. Winter swimming is also a popular activity in Finland. It’s referred to as “avanto,” which means hole in the ice.
Marseille, France
This French city is known for its calanques, inlets of water where people love to swim and sunbathe. While some of them require hiking, there are some hidden ones like Calanques de Malmousque tucked right into the city.
Sydney, Australia
The Bondi Icebergs Club has become a city icon, a place to be seen. It’s an unreal experience to swim laps in a manmade pool while waves from the ocean are crashing all around you.
Austin, Texas
This Texan city can get burning hot in the summertime, but luckily there are city swimming holes where people can cool off. Barton Springs Pool sources its water from underground springs—enough to fill three acres of swimming space. Not only does the pool serve the community well, but it also helps protect nature. It’s recognized as a federally protected habitat for endangered animals like the Barton Springs Salamander.
