DESTINATIONS EUROPE | SWITZERLAND
Growing demand for cooler holidays could see clients diving into Zurich’s outdoor pools this summer, writes Yousif Nour
The Swiss love their badis – outdoor pools – where city dwellers not only swim, but also socialise, have a drink or a bite to eat, or simply relax by the water. The UK represents the fourth-largest market for Swiss tourism and, despite visiting the country regularly,
I had never had the chance to take the plunge into a badi myself. But as the temperature in Switzerland’s largest city nudged 30C, I decided to investigate how the locals like to cool off. My first visit was to Unterer Letten, which was built in
1909, making it the oldest badi in the city. Formed from a section of the River Limmat, the badi is free to visit and easily accessible from the centre of Zurich. I watched as local teenagers jumped from platforms
to drift in the gentle current until they reached the other end of the 400-metre pool. They then climbed out, walked to the top of the pool and started all over again. Unterer Letten is also a hugely popular place for locals to hang out, with cultural events taking place regularly on summer evenings. The next day, I went to the more relaxed Seebad Enge at the northern tip of Lake Zurich, which offers a swimming pool for women and a mixed-gender pool, as well as a sauna to warm up in on cooler days. With an entry fee of about £7.50, Seebad Enge was
far less crowded than Unterer Letten; advise clients to get here in the early afternoon, while the locals are at work. After a brief but refreshing swim, I enjoyed a peppermint tea with stunning views of the lake. For a change of pace, I headed to District One for a
stroll around Zurich’s historic old town, which is home to the city’s most famous shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse. Few cities can match Zurich’s blend of Alpine charm and urban culture; if clients are lucky, they may even spot herons or red kites. The great thing about badis is that they’re emblematic of the Swiss way of life, providing a place to step back from urban life to chill out, cool down and keep fit. What’s not to love?
TW
BOOK IT
Osprey Holidays offers a two-night trip to Zurich from £599 per person, based on two adults sharing. The price includes B&B accommodation at the four-star Boutique Hotel Helmhaus Zurich, 15kg luggage allowance and flights from Gatwick on June 16.
ospreyholidays.com
TOP: Unterer Letten, bordering River Limmat
ABOVE: Seebad Enge, on the northern edge of Lake Zurich PICTURES: Cemil Erkoc/Zürich Tourismus; Shutterstock/Mikhail Grachikov
90
29 JANUARY 2026
travelweekly.co.uk
Zurich Zurich
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
