Nearly all of Switzerland’s 1,500 lakes and rivers are clean enough to swim in. In fact, the quality of the water has improved drastically over the years. For a guide to water quality for swimming go to map.geo.admin.ch This official government map of Switzerland shows bathing places that have been recently assessed, according to the five quality classes used by the EEA (European Environmental Agency).

I checked the lakes mentioned on this page, as well as the northern Rhein, all of which are defined as clean enough for swimming (Apr. 2021). Just check the website for any further updates. (If the link doesn’t work go to www.map.geo.admin.ch and type in the search window: bathing water quality).

Zurich Canton’s Lakes

Lake Zürich

Lake Zürich is surrounded on both sides by the villages of the greater Zürich area and is the biggest and most visited Lake in Zürich Canton. There are plenty of watersports possibilities spread all the way down each side of this lake with plenty of small Badis – baths.

I have gone into detail about several riverside or lake bathing possibilities in or within easy walking distance to the city on my Canton Zürich page. Such as the Enge bathing area which is the destination for one of my city walks.

loads of bathing spots and places to cool down Line Lake Zürich. Here are some pics, Info and A Map on ones that I recommend:

Some good options on the east coast, north to south

and on the west coast …

  • Strandbad Mythenquai (can be busy but has beach and is close to central Zürich)
  • Seeanlage Farb (nice park for paddling feet & grilling)
  • Seebäder Burger II, Thalwil
  • Strandbad Käpfnach, Horgen (halfway down lake). Busy but has a 50m pool on the lake.

All these bathing areas have restaurants or bistros and bbq areas.

How to get there:

Tram & Bus: Trams & buses leave regularly from various places in the central city. Go to sbb.ch for connection details. (once a route & time has been chosen you can view a map – on the right-hand side – to show you exact pick-up/drop-off points).

Train: The S-Bahn trains (suburban routes) run close to the lake but sometimes require a bit of downhill walking. There are plenty of stops on both sides of the lake. This information is also on the SBB website.

Boat: The normal travel cards/day passes etc. are valid on the commuter boats. Go here for the different routes and harbours (as of April 2021).

Car: All harbours and bathing areas have car parking areas. However, they can be small and are metered. The train stations also offer parking.

greifensee

Greifensee is home to the largest Nature Reserve in Zürich Canton. most of the top and bottom of the lake are under the protection of the reserve. For a large part of the lake, paths run alongside the shore or pass through the reeds. There are several viewing platforms made of wooden planks and a nature park area with wooden tour with viewing windows at the northern end.

There are alternative paths around the lake which are ideal for biking & inline skating. Boats also use the lake for tourism or just to get from A to B.

lakeside Walk

A nice walk from the pretty town of Greifensee, up around the top of the lake to a bathing spot on the western bank. This incorporates a walk through the nature reserve, stunning lookout points, bbq areas plus the small wooden observation tower for a closer look at the creepy crawlies (if you want).

Getting There and Back:

Greifensee Train: The S14 & S9 both leaving from Zürich HB (S9 stops at Stadelhofen). Take 17/18 mins. There is then a 15-minute walk to the lakeshore at Greifensee town. Train&Bus: 36 mins with S14 train, then change to 727 bus at Schwerzenbach. See sbb.ch for timetables.

Maur Bus: No. 743 to Stettbach, then change for onward travel. Trains from here for Zürich. Boats: to Uster, then train to Zürich. – (boats limited to the seasonal timetable – see above).

Lake Greifensee: Boats & Swimming

Boats:

  • Round Trips: Wednesdays, Saturdays from Mid April to Mid October from Maur. Thursdays & Fridays. From end of May – mid-September. They take 1 hour 20 mins & go to Fällanden – Greifensee – Uster – Mönchaltorf.*
  • Sundays & Public Holidays: The long round trips run from mid March to mid October.
  • Shorter Round Trips from Maur: From end of May to mid-September. They take 50 mins, stopping at Greifensee (high season) & Uster.*
  • There are no round trips on Mondays and Tuesdays.*
  • Maur – Uster – Maur: short trip – about 4 mins, every hour with a break for lunch of an hour throughout the year. With earlier and later launches during the summer.*
  • Timetable as of 07.2022. For exact timetable hours, ticket prices, hours of operation and public transport connections go to: sgg-greifensee.ch. It is also possible to buy tickets online as sbb.ch or zvv.ch or at a ticket counter.

Swimming:

NOTE: The high temperatures nowadays are causing the widespread growth of Blue Algae and Cyano Algae in certain lakes especially when water temperatures are in the high twenties. The algae prefer calm and stationary water. This algae is especially dangerous to animals but can also make humans sick. Please pay attention to signposts on the shore and check with the staff at the Badi‘s (Bathing areas) for the possibility of algea blooms before going in the water. Not such a big problem in the past but a sad but real threat at the moment… Lakes like Greifensee and Lake Neuchâtel have been affected recently (6.2022).

Seebad Maur

I found a handy interactive map on the Greifensee website (below). There are several swimming possibilities. Four of them are enclosed swimming baths with facilities like kiosks, diving boards and pontoons.

  • Egg Lido: On the upper Greifensee with shady sunbathing areas, barbecue area, paddling pool, playground and kiosk.
  • Niederuster lido: Bathing possibilities in the lake and swimming pool. Beach volleyball, children’s playground with paddling pool, restaurant.
  • Seebad Maur: A few meters of sandy beach, diving board, small paddling pool, playground, barbecue area.
  • Seebad Furren Greifensee: Small lawn for sunbathing, marginal infrastructure (outdoor shower and cloakroom), barbecue area. No lifeguards. Free.

Other Activities:

  • Bootsvermietung – Boat rental
  • Feuerstelle – BBQ areas
  • Geeigneter Ort zum Fischen – Fishing areas
  • Aussichtspunkt – Lookout points
  • Bootsplatz – Harbour for mooring boats
  • Silberweide & nature observation tower: Southern end has a nature park, northern end a small observation area with tower and boardwalks.