Aare
Bern, Switzerland
9.1°C
Cold Water Swimming in Switzerland
Switzerland's rivers and alpine lakes offer world-class cold water swimming year-round. The Aare in Bern is famous for its fast current and crystal-clear glacial water. Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, fed by Bernese highland glaciers, stay refreshingly cold even in summer. The Reuss in Lucerne and Rhine in Basel attract open-water swimmers looking for longer stretches of uninterrupted swimming.
Safe Temperature Guidelines
- Above 16°C — Warm. Comfortable for extended swims.
- 10–16°C — Good. Suitable for acclimatised swimmers.
- 5–10°C — Cool. Short dips; wetsuit recommended for newcomers.
- Below 5°C — Cold. Experienced cold water swimmers only. Brief exposure.
Track your swims with AquaLog
Log your cold water sessions, track the Cold Shock Coefficient, earn badges, and see personalised readiness based on live conditions.