The most beautiful bathing spots between Bern and Chur

Boating through the Linth Canal in a bright red rubber boat

This river trip is water fun for families and groups, starting just three minutes from Ziegelbrücke railroad station. Hire an inflatable boat at the Linth-Boot excursion harbor and start your water fun. The river trip from Ziegelbrücke takes you past mountain scenery and renaturalized side arms of the Linth. For the first 15 kilometers you can let yourself drift comfortably. The paddles are only used for course correction. The current of the Linth Canal provides the propulsion. After an hour, you can make your first stop in Benken-Giessen or end the trip.

If you continue, a river bath, a restaurant and toilets at Grynau Castle will tempt you to take another break. It is also possible to end the ride here. Uznach railroad station is a 10-minute walk away. The third part of the tour is very attractive - but also a little more strenuous. Muscle power is required for just over half an hour: following the buoys, you paddle along the Obersee to your destination in Schmerikon. The boats dock there at the latest and the river captains set off on their leisurely journey home from Schmerikon station or end the day in the harbor, swimming or in the surrounding restaurants.

Arrival: with the IR Aare Linth or the S4 to Ziegelbrücke

Swimming in high waves or in the Aare in Bern

In the city of Bern, the Ka-We-De, short for Dählhölzli artificial ice rink and wave pool, offers a legendary wave pool and a 60-metre water slide. However, the Ka-We-De is the only outdoor pool in Bern that charges an entrance fee. Built in the 1930s under the influence of modernism, the facility is located between the edge of the forest of the Dählhölzli zoo and the former American embassy. After the visit, the family experience can be combined with an easy, half-hour walk along the River Aare into the old town: It is only 2.5 kilometers from the nearby Schönausteg (starting point for many Aare swimmers) to the Bärengraben and Nydegg Bridge.

Arrival: with the IR Aare Linth to Bern, take bus 19 to the Ka-We-De stop

Sliding into the water at the lido on the Aare in Olten

The Olten lido, which is located directly on the River Aare, offers three slides. The “Badi” is very centrally located in Olten and cannot be overlooked from the main road. The lido has a very well-kept green area with palm trees right at the entrance, which conveys a South Sea atmosphere and makes guests briefly forget that they are in Switzerland. Due to its location, the bathing area is rather elongated and therefore quite narrow. The area borders the river on the left, where good swimmers can take a dip. An attraction for families are the three slides, of which the free-fall slide is particularly adventurous.

Arrival: with the IR Aare Linth to Olten, by bus to the Mühlegasse stop

Bathing in Zurich like in the old days

The Limmatbad Unterer Letten at Wasserwerkstrasse 141 in Zurich offers swimming fun for swimmers and non-swimmers. Swimming in the strong current of the canal is not without danger, as the end of the pool is fenced off with a grid. There is therefore a non-swimmer's pool and a paddling pool for the little ones, as well as a play area with a playground. They can relax in the shade of the trees on the large sunbathing lawn. Untere Letten is the oldest riverside pool in the city of Zurich. Under the wooden arbors, guests feel as if they have been transported back in time.

How to get there: take the IR Aare Linth to Zurich, bus 33/46 or the S-Bahn to Wipkingen station

Swimming in Lake Walen against the Churfirsten backdrop

Lake Walen is an Eldorado for all kinds of water sports: diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing, rowing, wakeboarding, pedalo and kayaking, stand-up paddling - everything is possible. The water temperature is usually a few degrees colder than in the neighboring lakes. In addition to several lidos, there are also some wild bathing spots. The Gäsi sandy beach on Lake Walen is a particularly idyllic place to relax. There is also a beach volleyball court and a children's playground. The beach is open to the public and is surrounded by a protected forest that offers plenty of space to explore.

Arrival: with the IR Aare Linth to Ziegelbrücke, with the 650 bus to Weesen, Biäsche, 30 minutes on foot