Hotels In Switzerland

Urban swimming in Switzerland

At the entrance to Zürich's largest cemetery is a large white sign detailing all the things that are not allowed – No Jogging, No Cycling, No Dogs, No Littering, No Beachwear … Sorry, no beachwear? This is not Barcelona or Brighton. Switzerland is a landlocked country in the middle of Europe ; Zürich is 200 miles from the sea. It seems highly unlikely that any locals will be wandering round in swimwear, so what's going on? Everything becomes clear once you go down to the nearby lakeshore and see the bodies bobbing around in the water. Welcome to a beach holiday, Swiss style!

With 6% of Europe's fresh water flowing through its rivers and lakes, Switzerland has hundreds of natural pools just waiting to be dipped in. And this really is fresh water. Temperatures fluctuate with the weather but are usually at an acceptably refreshing level; low 20s celsius is the summer norm. And this isn't just a rural pursuit – swimming in Switzerland is very much an urban pastime, too. There's nothing more Swiss than jumping in the water after a hot day at the office, so here's a guide to the best swimming spots in Zürich, Bern and Geneva.

The country's largest city has its own lake, but don't just jump in wherever you want (there are rules against that of course – this is Switzerland). Instead, go to a lakeside lido, or Strandbad ; you have to pay (typically 7 Swiss francs, about £5.50, for an adult) but it's worth it. There are a few to choose from, but I liked Tiefenbrunnen , the biggest and certainly most popular one. It's huge, with sunbathing lawns, plenty of shade, mountain views and of course acres of lake to splash about. For non-swimmers there's a circular boardwalk built out over the water, with a shallow pool in the middle; the more adventurous can swim out to wooden islands anchored offshore. It's a good way to escape the crowds.

After bathing and sunbathing all afternoon, you can pop to the beach next door and relax with cocktails by the water until midnight. Sounds more like Ibiza than Zürich, doesn't it? But it's not a real beach, it's a summer-only bar called City Beach , complete with palms, decking, sand and a pool right on the lakefront, and right beside Tiefenbrunnen. On hot summer nights, it's the coolest place to be.

My tip Unless you like sunning yourself in your birthday suit, avoid the area labelled FKK. Most Swiss lidos have a nudist section, and Tiefenbrunnen is no exception.