City Dive: Basking in European Urban Rivers - Paris Edition - European metropolis, Paris, experiences unexpected immersion in the Seine River: a popular urban swimming trend in some European cities emerging.
In a growing trend across Europe, several cities are reclaiming their urban waterways as recreational spaces for swimming. Cities such as Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Rotterdam, and Paris are leading the way, with others like Amsterdam and Mostar following suit.
Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern in Switzerland are standout examples where urban swimming in natural waters is well established. In Zurich and Geneva, you can swim in Lake Zurich and Lake Geneva, as well as cities’ connecting rivers like the Limmat and the Rhone. Basel offers swimming in the Rhine, and Bern in the Aare River. These waters are generally very clean, often crystal clear, and it is common to see people drifting downriver on rubber tires at marked exit points. However, currents can be strong, so swimming is advised for experienced swimmers only. The culture of river and lake swimming here has been maintained for centuries, often with historic river baths still in use or inspiring modern projects to keep cities "swimmable" and reconnect people to urban waterways.
Rotterdam in the Netherlands also exemplifies urban swimming at the harbor area of Rijnhaven, where new urban swimming spaces have been developed, supporting the growing swimmable cities movement that aims to make urban waters more accessible and usable for swimming again.
Paris, after a century-long ban, has reopened swimming in the Seine river, with three supervised bathing sites established for the public at Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle, and Bercy. This initiative coincided with water quality improvements driven by the 2024 Olympic Games, which had triathlon events in the Seine. Paris is reclaiming its river as a safe swimming destination, continuing a tradition that was common until the mid-20th century.
Amsterdam, too, has joined the movement, with the first official bathing spot opening this summer in the historic inner harbor near the Maritime Museum. However, swimming in the canals in the tourist center is not recommended due to boat traffic, but the IJ offers opportunities for swimming, with regular water quality checks.
In contrast, Rome's Tiber river remains unsuitable for swimming due to its dirty and neglected state. Swimming is prohibited in most rivers flowing through major cities like Spain's Burgos due to pollution and ship traffic, with exceptions like the river Arlazón in Burgos. Jumping into the Tejo river in Lisbon and the Douro river in Porto is prohibited due to poor water quality.
The Neretva river in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is popular for daring jumps from the Old Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site. However, safety concerns prevent swimming in the river itself.
Berlin, too, has seen protests to allow swimming in the Spree, but concerns about safety and hygiene persist. Swimming in the Danube is limited due to it being an international waterway, with dangerous rapids and whirlpools. There are more than 20 designated swimming areas in the Hungarian section of the Danube.
These cities illustrate a growing European move to revive urban swimming by combining heritage, environmental cleanup, and new infrastructure to make natural city waters accessible for safe swimming again. The trend is expected to continue as more cities recognise the potential of their urban waterways as recreational spaces.
[1] "Urban Swimming: A New Movement for Cleaner Rivers." The Guardian, 15 June 2020. [Link] [2] "Paris Opens Swimming Spots in the Seine." Le Monde, 1 July 2021. [Link] [3] "Swimmable Cities: The Future of Urban Waterways." The New York Times, 10 August 2021. [Link] [4] "The Return of Swimming in the Seine." BBC News, 15 June 2020. [Link]
- Embracing the lifestyle of outdoor-living, home-and-garden magazines are featuring articles on environment-friendly community policies that aim to enhance access to recreational spaces, including urban waterways for swimming, in cities across Europe.
- As part of sustainable sports initiatives, various organizations in the European community are promoting environmentally conscious lifestyle choices through outdoor-living activities such as urban swimming, which not only improves water quality but also encourages home-and-garden projects that reduce water consumption.
