Find all the useful information and safety measures for going swimming in Geneva, be it in swimming pools, paddling pools, Lake Geneva or one of the local rivers.
Geneva boasts numerous bathing spots for every age and every taste.
Swimming in a natural setting
Beaches and baths in the City of Geneva
Several locations on both shores of Lake Geneva offer bathing in the lake to people of all ages:
The City of Geneva has a free public beach of sand and grass, with play equipment for children: Baby-plage.
Accessible to people with reduced mobility, it is equipped with public toilets and showers.
Several refreshment stands are nearby, including La Canopée.
Accessibility of the site
Non accessible en fauteuil roulant
Toilettes partiellement accessibles en fauteuil roulant
Aménagements pour personnes avec déficience intellectuelle
A second free public beach, Plage des Eaux-Vives (the Eaux-Vives Beach), offers a superb view of the harbour, with sand, pebbles and grass to enjoy the fine weather.
It is equipped with toilets, showers, an access ramp for people with reduced mobility, drinking water fountains and sorting areas.
The Plage bikes and the Plage des Eaux-Vives restaurant offer drinks and snacks. The beach is not far from summer refreshment stands, including the Canopée.
Between the beach and the quay, a reedbed is home to many species of birds.
A small 130-metre-long pebble beach, located on the edge of the Parc William-Rappard in the extension of the Botanical Gardens, offers free access to the lake for swimming. The Nautica marina and biodiversity facilities are also located here.
The Bains des Pâquis, particularly popular with Genevans, also offers access to the lake and a friendly atmosphere. There's a refreshment bar, sauna, Turkish bath and steam room. Numerous cultural activities take place here throughout the year, such as the Aubes musicales festival.
Bains des Pâquis
Quai du Mont-Blanc 30
1201 Genève
Tél. +41 22 732 29 74
info@aubp.ch
Site web des Bains des Pâquis
Accessibility of the site
Non accessible en fauteuil roulant
Toilettes partiellement accessibles en fauteuil roulant
Until 16 October 2023, temporary facilities have been installed on the Quai Wilson, allowing the public to swim in a delimited area near the Hôtel Président Wilson. Unsupervised swimming is permitted from 12pm to 10pm only.
During the summer, a three-wheeler with drinks and snacks circulates on the quay in front of the swimming area.
Beaches in the canton of Geneva
The canton has 29 bathing spots which are listed on the State of Geneva webiste.
The Lake Geneva beaches website allows you to find a beach according to the types of activity and infrastructure you are looking for.
Swimming in the Rhône: stay alert!
For anyone wanting to take advantage of the amenities on the banks of the river at the Pointe de la Jonction and to enjoy the cool waters of the Rhône, stay alert as there are strong currents, and respect the instructions on site.
- State of Geneva: Safety rules for swimming in the Rhône
- State of Geneva: The Rhône - More dangerous than it seems (flyer)
Lifebuoys
Before and during your swim, find your way around using the numbering on the land-based lifebuoys. If you identify a person in danger, call for help (117 or 118 or 144) and indicate the number of the buoy at which the person is in difficulty.
Loan of waterproof bags or floats
As part of the "Lâche pas ta bouée!" prevention campaign, La Barje is making waterproof bags available to bathers. Developed for white-water bathing by the Accident Prevention Bureau, these bags protect personal belongings while also acting as emergency floats in case of need. They provide invaluable support for swimmers in difficulty, and can be easily detached if caught on a branch or root. They can be borrowed free of charge from the stand manned by the Lâche ta bouée! team, or purchased from the A la Pointe refreshment bar.
Useful information for swimming in a natural setting
Water quality
- It is not advisable to swim in Geneva's rivers, particularly after a storm, for reasons of water quality and wildlife conservation.
- The map of the beaches provided by the commission internationale pour la protection des eaux du Léman (CIPEL) offers regularly updated information on the quality of the water. The Canton of Geneva also provides information on the water quality of Geneva's beaches by email at @email, by telephone on +41225467600 or on social networks (GEenvironnement).
Water temperature
- The météo des plages (beach weather) website provides daily information concerning the temperature of the water in the lake;
- The Confederation's website provides information on the temperature of the Rhône.
Water folw and level
- The Confederation website allows you to observe the daily variations in the level of the lake, regulated by an inter-cantonal agreement and kept constant by means of the Seujet damn.
The right thing to do
Whitewater swimming is not without risks. It is important to adopt the right precautions and follow the safety advice given above (for swimming in the Rhône) or on the website of the Accident Prevention Bureau (for whitewater swimming in general).
Public swimming pools in Geneva
The City of Geneva has six public swimming pools. While certain local pools essentially host sports clubs, the two large pools of Varembé (closed untill furhter notice) and les Vernets, boasting indoor and outdoor pools, are open to the public.
Paddling pools
While the pool in les Vernets has a paddling pool, there are several other such structures available free of charge in the different parks around Geneva. Only open to children under the age of 7 and the people accompanying them. More information on the paddling pools page.
Find your swimming spot
Article modifié le 21.03.2024 à 15:04