Off on a city break this summer? It doesn’t rule out some seriously stunning outdoor swimming. Holiday website Travel Republic pick their top 11 best outdoor swimming places in cities around the world
Alex Voyer
Going for a swim in the panoramic Bondi Icebergs pool comes complete with one of the best ocean views imaginable. Jutting out into the Tasman Sea, and often awash with crashing waves, this saltwater haven dates back to 1929 when it was used to train lifeguards.
Once a collection of clay pits, Hampstead Heath Ponds have found a new lease of life as a swimming destination for water-loving Londoners. With rugged edges and a woodland setting, the three ponds offer lanes, lifeguards and lounging all year round.
Vancouver’s only saltwater swimming facility, the expansive and invitingKitsilano Pool is a favourite destination amongst the city’s fitness fans. Open May to September, this is the perfect place to chill out in the balmy summer months, overlooking the city skyline and still waters of English Bay.
Swimming in the Spree may not sound all that enticing, however, the city’s Badeschiff pool offers all the incredible views of a day on the water, safe within its crystal-clear depths. Commissioned by the City Art Project, this incredible experience is a must for swimmers of all ages and abilities.
Head to the northern tip of Armier Bay to find a pool of vibrantly turquoise seawater, tucked away within the cliffs. Only a 15-minute drive from the nearby town of Mellieha, this natural dive pool is the perfect place for a splash on a hot summer’s day!
This intriguing take on a public swimming pool has earned the nickname ‘the snail’ from the city’sresidents, and it’s easy to see why.The award-winning seawater lidoalso boasts views over the Øresund Bridge (star of the BBC4 series ‘The Bridge’) all the way to the Swedish coast!
Barcelona’s vast Montjuic Olympic Pool is urban swimming at its finest, offering a view of the rambling skyline of Spain’s most famous city that gets better with every stroke. Overlooked by the gothic spires of the Sagrada Familia, this is an ideal location to take time out from the busy streets.
Oozing faded glamour and elegance, Budapest’s Széchenyi Baths feel like the backdrop to a vintage Hollywood film. Boasting 18 separate pools, most of which are fed by thermal springs, this amazing setting sees locals flooding in to experience city swimming in style.
A short drive outside of the city of Porto, the spectacular Piscinas das Marés can be found overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Classified as a national monument in 2006, this seaside swimming location has all the fun of the beach with fantastic conditions to make a splash!
A thermal lake surrounded by rugged scenery just outside of Athens, this stunning natural pool is replete with craggy rock pools and underwater tunnels to explore. Accessible by car or bus, it’s the perfect antidote to a hot, dusty day in Athens.
Used for qualifying events in the 1936 and 1964 Summer Olympics, theAstoria Park Pool has a serious sporting pedigree. At 330 ft long, it’s the largest of its kind in the USA, and if you like a swim with a view, this public pool overlooks both the RFK Triborough and Hell Gate bridges.