Lake Zurich: Swimming, Boat Trips & Lakeside Life

Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) is the city's outdoor living room — a 40km glacial lake ringed by mountains, vineyards and lakeside villages that Zurich residents swim in, sail on, cycle around and eat beside from the first warm day in April to the last in October.

Swimming in Lake Zurich

Swimming in the lake is free, legal and beloved. The city maintains public Badis (outdoor swimming facilities) along the lakefront: Seebad Utoquai (women-only Tuesdays, mixed other days), Strandbad Mythenquai (the largest, open May-September), and Seebad Enge (adults only, excellent cocktail bar). Entry CHF6-8. The lake water is tested daily — it's clean enough to drink.

Boat Trips

ZSG (Lake Zurich Navigation) runs scheduled boats from Bürkliplatz across the lake year-round. Short circuit (1.5 hours, CHF10) covers the lower lake. Full-day trip to Rapperswil (2.5 hours each way) passes vineyard-covered hillsides and the Linth Canal. Swiss Travel Pass valid.

Lakeside Villages

Küsnacht, Meilen and Rapperswil (the "town of roses") are reachable by boat or S-Bahn — charming medieval or waterfront villages on the lake's eastern shore.