Bathing places in Europe

Discover the natural beauty of the continent, the varied coastline and breathtaking places.

Germany

From the North Sea and Baltic Sea to Lake Constance: discover varied landscapes and beautiful swimming opportunities.

4043 Bathing places

Italy

La Dolce Vita! Enjoy the Italian culture and lifestyle on the Mediterranean beach or on one of the great lakes in the north.

5654 Bathing places

France

Whether it's camping at Lac d'Annecy or a beach vacation on the French Riviera, France offers a variety of beautiful swimming options.

3453 Bathing places

Greece

From the party scene on Mykonos to the black sands of Santorini, Greece is a popular destination for vacationers.

2185 Bathing places

Spain

The beaches of the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands or in Andalusia are world famous. But also the small bathing lakes in the heartland? Discover them!

2327 Bathing places

Portugal

Fantastic beaches, bathing lakes and rivers await visitors to Portugal: whether the Iberian Peninsula, the Algarve, Madeira or the Azores.

539 Bathing places

Croatia

Because of its crystal clear, clean water and cultural treasures, Croatia is an extremely popular tourist destination.

932 Bathing places

Great Britain

From Loch Ness in Scotland to the beaches on the Channel coast, the United Kingdom has more swimming spots than you might think.

633 Bathing places

Netherlands

Flat landscape, tulip fields & windmills - Besides the classic Holland picture, great beaches and lakes invite you to discover.

798 Bathing places

Sweden

Sweden attracts with dreamlike vacation houses at the lake in the wide nature and city beaches directly in Stockholm or Malmö.

508 Bathing places

Hungary

From Lake Balaton, with its almost Mediterranean climate, to the beaches of Lake Velence, Hungary offers many great resorts.

275 Bathing places

Switzerland

Clear mountain lakes and river baths alongside great hiking trails and breathtaking panoramic landscapes await you in Switzerland.

724 Bathing places

Austria

Discover the warmest lake in Europe, impressive mountain panoramas and diverse bathing lakes and rivers in Austria.

340 Bathing places

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Swimming lakes in Europe

Discover the most beautiful lakes for your next vacation.

You are already planning your next vacation at the lake or the sea? Or do you want to go directly on a round trip with your motorhome and stop at the most beautiful and best lakes? No matter what you decide: Not only the hotel, the apartment or the campsite should be perfect but also the beach. the beach that goes with it. From the insider tip to the tourist magnet - We offer you a great and simple overview of all bathing spots all over Europe that you can filter and compare according to your exact and compare them. Whether camping site, nudist bathing, sandy beach, beach volleyball, children's playground and much more. - Filter according to what is important to you!

Not sure where to start looking? Among the most beautiful and interesting lakes in Europe are definitely the following top 10, just waiting to be discovered by you!

Top 10 swimming lakes in Europe

Lac d`Annecy, France
Lake Starnberg, Bavaria
Lake Garda, Italy
Lake Maggiore, Italy
Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Lake Zurich, Switzerland
Loch Ness, Scotland
Lake Balaton, Hungary
Lake Klopein, Austria

Water quality and water temperature of European bathing lakes

The bathing water quality in the European Union, as well as in Switzerland and Albania is published annually by the European Environment Agency. According to the latest annual report, more than 85% of the Bathing sites audited in 2018 met the criteria for excellent water quality. 95,4 % of all tested bathing sites met the EU's minimum quality requirements and are suitable for bathing. suitable. The tests check for two microbiological levels: intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli. These are mainly caused by sewage and water from agricultural use. Heavy rains and floods often overflow sewers, bringing contaminated water into rivers and lakes. water into rivers and lakes.

Depending on the severity of the contamination, the agency assigns quality ratings of " excellent," "good," "adequate" or "poor" for water quality. If the water quality is classified as poor, bathing sites should be should be avoided or bathing bans should be imposed. (Source: European Environment Agency)

The current water temperatures in Europe are published daily by the German Weather Service. published daily by the German Weather Service. You can find a clear map at this address.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest lake in Europe?

Within the EU, the largest lake in Europe is Lake Vänern in Sweden. In German it is also called Vänersee or Wenersee. It is also the largest lake in Sweden with an area of 5,519.1 km². On Swimcheck.com we have currently listed 15 swimming spots on the lake. Lake Ladoga in Russia is the largest lake in Europe with an area of 17,700 km². It is located in the Kaliningrad Oblast. Lake Ladoga is not only the largest lake but also the largest inland water body in Europe. Often the question about the largest inland lake or freshwater lake is asked in crossword puzzles.

Top 10 list of the largest lakes in Europe:

Lake Ladoga (Russia) - 17700 km².
Lake Onega (Russia) - 9720 km²
Kuibyshev Reservoir (Russia) - 6450 km²
Lake Vänern (Sweden) - 5519 km²
Rybinsk Reservoir (Russia) - 4580 km²
Saimaa (Finland) - 4370 km²
Lake Peipus (Estonia & Russia) - 3555 km²
Zimlyansk Reservoir (Russia) - 2700 km²
Kremenchuk Reservoir (Ukraine) - 2252 km²
Kakhovka Reservoir (Ukraine) - 2155 km²

What is the deepest lake in Europe?

With a maximum depth of 514m, Lake Hornindalsvatnet in Norway is the deepest lake in Europe. It is very suitable for swimming. Over a floating trampoline you can jump wonderfully into the water. Other activities are rowing or fishing.

What is the name of the warmest lake in Europe?

The warmest lake in Europe with up to 29°C in summer is the Klopeiner See in Carinthia in Austria. Currently we have listed two swimming spots near Unterburg on the Klopeiner See: St. Kanzian and Unterburg. All bathing places in Unterkärnten you find here: Unterkärnten. Due to the heavy tourist use of the lake, you can find numerous hotels, bathing facilities and lidos in the area.

Facts about the lake:

Area: 1.1 km²
Length: 1,8 km
Width: 800 m
Maximum depth: 48 m