10 Wonderful Natural Swimming Spots Across Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Whether it’s in a pristine lake, a languid river or a wadi nestled in the desert, wild swimming is a fantastic way to experience a destination. It can be good for your well-being, too, particularly cold-water swimming. 

Inspire your next swim with a visit to one of the best outdoor swimming spots across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip. 

Leap Into Lake Pulvermaar in Germany

One of Germany’s deepest lakes, Pulvermaar is the crater of an extinct volcano, a perfectly circular spot that makes for an enchanting wild swimming experience. Crystalline waters and the surrounding beech forest create a feeling of tranquility in nature, while the lakeside cafe offers swimmers the chance to warm up with a coffee and mesmerizing views. 

Located in the heart of Bonn, less than 90 minutes north of Lake Pulvermaar, the Bonn Marriott Hotel is set on the banks of the Rhine, with a spa, indoor pool and serene river views. 

Hike to Hidden Wadi Shab in Oman 

A short trip south of Oman’s capital Muscat, you’ll find the vivid blue waters of Wadi Shab. Reaching the three pools set within a gorge involves a touch of adventure. It starts with a short boat ride from the car park, followed by a 45-minute canyon walk, but it ends with the most charming reward for your efforts: a series of three warm pools, gleaming iridescent among the rocks. 

Ideal as part of a day trip from Muscat, combine your outdoor swim with a stay at JW Marriott Muscat, an elegant hotel with its own wadi views, beautiful pools, a spa and five exquisite restaurants. 

Jump Into the Beauty of Attersee in Austria 

An alpine swimmer’s paradise, Attersee is the largest lake in Austria. The pristine turquoise water is surrounded by flower-flecked meadows and rugged mountain landscapes and is often so clean that its waters are drinking-level quality.

Take your pick from the different lidos and bathing areas as you enjoy the favorite swimming destination of artists and musicians including Gustav Klimt and Gustav Mahler. 

Attersee is just an hour’s drive from Salzburg, where you can stay at the 15th-century Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Salzburg, offering country-house style and old-school elegance in the heart of the city. 

Swim by Night at Gordon’s Bay in South Africa 

Just off the coast of South Africa’s Western Cape, a magical display of shimmering light can set the sea aglow during the summer months. A bloom of bioluminescent plankton, which takes a red tinge by day, creates an ethereal blue sparkle by night, offering a surreal swimming experience. It’s a phenomenon you can also find in nearby Bikini Beach, Dappat Se Gat and False Bay. 

This harbor town lies less than an hour from Cape Town, where you can soak up city and Table Mountain views from the rooms and rooftop pool at Cape Town Marriott Hotel Crystal Towers. 

Take a Polar Plunge at Voss, Norway 

Endorphin-boosting cold-water swimming is credited with a slew of health benefits and Norway is a great place to enjoy an icy thrill.

Surrounded by fjords, mountains and lush valleys, Voss is an adventurer’s dream. At Vangsvatnet lake, in the heart of the town, you can swim from the beach and ice water swimming in the shallow waters has become a popular winter pastime. 

A high-speed train whisks you from Bergen to Voss in an hour for a day trip. Back in the colorful harbor city, stay at waterfront Moxy Bergen for quirky Scandinavian design and impeccable service. 

Escape to Las Fuentes del Algar in Spain 

To the north-east of Alicante along the Algar River, Las Fuentes del Algar offers an alluring alternative to the beach. Water erosion has sculpted limestone rocks to form a natural water park of waterfalls, canals of peacock-blue waters and a series of seven pools, all fringed by a gentle walking trail. 

You’ll find these limpid waters just a 45-minute drive from Denia Marriott La Sella Golf Resort & Spa, with its lush natural setting, just 10 minutes from the coast of southwestern Spain, and the region’s best golf course. 

Chill at Allas Sea Pool in Helsinki, Finland

An oasis of relaxation in the heart of Helsinki, this popular complex sits on a floating deck in the city’s port and comprises five saunas and three pools. One is for children, the other is a toasty 81 degrees Fahrenheit, but locals generally head to the seawater pool for an invigorating dip in filtered Baltic Sea waters. Warm up in the sauna, on the Allas pool deck or at the sandy beach. 

Just a 10-minute stroll away is Hotel U14, Autograph Collection, a boutique hotel with cozy contemporary interiors — all dark hues and splashes of red — and a typically Finnish focus on sustainability. 

Swim Like Cleopatra in Pamukkale, Turkey 

There are few sights as dazzling as the aquamarine waters and white rocks of Turkey’s Pamukkale. The name translates to “cotton castle” thanks to the calcium carbonate deposits of the hot springs that have coated the rocks. Bathe in these healing waters, beloved by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or head to Cleopatra’s Pool, supposedly a gift from Marc Antony, and still dotted with marble columns. 

Pamukkale is a three-hour drive from Bodrum and Le Méridien Bodrum Beach Resort, a sumptuous beachfront retreat offering panoramic Aegean views. 

Enjoy a Soothing Soak in Saturnia, Italy 

Just outside the Tuscan town of Saturnia, these thermal springs are one of Italy’s best-kept secrets. Cascading over several levels, the silky blue waters maintain a soothing 100-degree Fahrenheit temperature, and the flow of water means they are refreshed every four hours. Soak in the different stone pools and enjoy the mineral-rich waters said to have been a gift from the gods. 

A great stop-off on a road trip in Italy, Saturnia lies just 2.5 hours from Rome, where Italian designers have transformed a 17th-century building to create stylish G-Rough Rome, a Member of Design Hotels. 

Dive Into the London Royal Docks 

You can enjoy great outdoor swimming in the United Kingdom’s cities as well. Join locals and take a dip at London’s Royal Docks, surrounded by the Docklands’ futuristic skyline. Complete your cold-water induction, then dive into the rigorously tested, high-quality water. In the summer months there are cultural events here, and year-round you can enjoy a post-swim drink at the excellent Perky Blenders coffee shop. 

Stay just nearby at Aloft London Excel, with its bold design and serene indoor pool, or head into central London to the Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection, with its impressive art collection and uniquely designed rooms.