The pleasures of urban public bathing can be enjoyed all year round with indoor and outdoor options available and every spectrum of temperature on offer. We’ve researched city bathing experiences around the world and have curated our favourites for you to sample. Happy dipping!
Alte Donau (Vienna, Austria)
What was once the former arm of the Danube river, Alte Donau (Old Danube) is now a 1.6-kilometre-squared natural standing body of water-turned-recreational-lake. Here you’ll find public bathing jetties, lidos, meadows and water sports venues (seasonal opening period).
Skyline Aqua (Singapore)
7500 Beach Rd, Singapore 199591
Combining bathing and fitness, Skyline Aqua offers a number of float fit classes from their city skyline pool. Classes include float yoga and HIIT, with the option to cool down in the pool afterwards.
Sørenga Saltwater Pool (Oslo, Norway)
Sørengkaia 69 0194 OSLO
Found in one of Oslo’s brand new neighbourhoods is a large seawater fjord pool open to the public throughout the year. Cold water swimming and saunas are popular activities in the winter months.
La Carpa Olivera (Sinaloa, Mexico)
82000, P.º Claussen, 82000 Mazatlán, Sin., Mexico
A central public sea water pool built in 1915 and inspired by the piers of Lisbon and the Portuguese coast. Devastated by a hurricane in 1954, the pool was renovated in 2015 by Colectivo Urbano. The pool's new amenities include the playful spiral slide (as seen in the book Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries from Around the Globe by Chris Romer-Lee).
Inner Studio (Melbourne, Australia)
Warehouse 9/5-11 Campbell St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Specialising in hot/cold exposure techniques, this wellness centre was founded by two brothers and former Australian Rules Football players as a movement to conquer stress. Saunas, and hot and cold magnesium plunge pools are found amongst lush gardens. (This one’s a local favourite amongst the Never Too Small team).
Kitsilano Pool (Vancouver, Canada)
2305 Cornwall Ave, Vancouver, BC V6K 1B6, Canada
Commonly known as ‘Kits Pool’, this 137-metre outdoor heated saltwater pool is North America’s longest. The stunning views from the pool overlooking the city’s West End and bay make for a quintessential urban bathing experience. Open from May to September.
Hammam Al Ándalus (Madrid, Spain)
C. de Atocha, 14, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain
Andalusian Arab-style baths located in a three century-old former well. With a range of three hot and cold warm springs, Turkish baths and steam baths to choose from.
Saunders’ Rock tidal pool (Cape Town, South Africa)
Sea Point Promenade, Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
Built into a rocky crevice next to Saunders Beach, with granite rocks creating a wind barrier, Saunders Rock Tidal Pool is a family-friendly place to swim, and a popular spot in the summer months.
Zwemvijver Boekenberg (Antwerp, Belgium)
Swimming pond Boekenberg Van Baurscheitlaan 2100 Deurne
Open from May to September, this 73-metre swimming pond has ‘special soils’ and 22,000 aquatic plants purify its waters, making it one of Europe’s largest and unique ecological ponds.
Forty Foot (Dublin, Ireland)
Sandycove, Dublin, Ireland
A slightly colder bathing spot but a drawcard nonetheless for brave swimmers since the 19th century. Swimming takes place year-round with many flocking to dip in the Irish Sea for the traditional Christmas Day swim. Not for the faint-hearted.
Koganeyu (Tokyo, Japan)
4 Chome-14-6 Taihei, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0012, Japan
A traditional neighbourhood sento that has been transformed into a modern public bathouse, complete with a craft beer taproom and a DJ booth. The baths are separated by gender but share a mural of Mount Fuji by Manga creator Yoriko Hoshi. An ideal location to bathe and relax before enjoying a craft beer.
Community Sauna Baths- Hackney Wick (London, UK)
The Eastway Baths, 80 Eastway, Hackney Wick, London, E9 5JH
Offering an affordable and communal way to experience the many health benefits of cold plunges and saunas, Hackney Wick Community Baths opened in 2021 with the aim of making saunas and cold plunges more accessible to the local community.
Barton Springs Pool (Austin, Texas, USA)
2131 William Barton Dr. Austin, TX 78746
This three-acre outdoor pool is fed from underground springs making it ideal for year-round swimming (average temperatures of 21 degrees celsius) with clear views of the Austin skyline.
Aquafield Goyang (Goyang, South Korea)
South Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Goyang-si, Deogyang-gu, Goyang-daero, 1955 4 층
Located in northern South Korea, Aquafield is a jjimjilbang – a popular, social-orientated, spa experience. With nine heated plunge pools, igloo-shaped dry saunas, a rooftop infinity pool, and foot spas, spend anywhere from an hour to the whole day enjoying.
Wylie’s Baths (Sydney, Australia)
4B Neptune St, Coogee NSW 2034
A heritage-listed tidal swimming pool located a few hundred metres from Coogee Beach. Enjoy 180 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and Sydney’s coastline from the baths.
Mona Vale Rock Pool (Sydney, Australia)
1 Surfview Rd, Mona Vale NSW 2103
One larger 30-metre pool and a smaller pool suitable for children and less confident swimmers make up the Mona Vale Rock Pools. First opened in 1914, with the addition of electric lights in the 1930s, today the pools are a popular swimming spot for both adults and younger children.
Paris plages (Paris, France)
Bassin de la Villette, Canal Saint Martin, Rives de Seine
Created in 2002, this annual summer event turns the banks of the Seine and the Villette canal into a beach resort, offering free relaxation and swimming to Parisians and visitors. This year’s event (in honour of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) saw the opening of six additional temporary swimming spots around the city.
Duckworth Dock (Portland, Oregon, USA)
Eastbank Esplanade, Portland, OR 97232, United States
Named after Kevin J. Duckworth, a former NBA All-star and Portland Trail Blazer who tragically died aged 44. Led by the Human Access Project (HAP) that aims at transforming Portland's relationship with the Willamette River, this 91-metre-long deck swimming dock is open for public swimming, non-motorised boating and fishing.
Bains des Pâquis (Geneva, Switzerland)
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30, 1201 Genève, Switzerland
Located on a pier in Lake Geneva, these popular public bath houses are open to enjoy in the summer months, and also in the winter when turned into saunas. Something to enjoy all year round.
Bathhouse (Flatiron, New York City, USA)
14 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010
An oasis in the heart of the city for escaping the hustle and bustle. Amenities include: thermal and salt pools, dry and infrared saunas, a banya, and steam rooms.
