Mannheim: Germany's bathing capital with the best swimming spots!

Mannheim: Germany's bathing capital with the best swimming spots!

A new study has taken a close look at the best swimming opportunities in German cities and awarded Baden-Württemberg two top spots. While the current temperatures in the region fluctuate between 25 and 30 degrees, it's time to take a closer look at the popular seaside resorts. The travel portal HolidayCheck carried out the analysis and examined the 30 largest cities in Germany. During the research, various terms such as outdoor pool, swimming pool, public bath, bathing lake, lido and swimming pool were considered. But there was no place in the ranking for facilities that only offer sauna or wellness services.

Berlin leads the pack in absolute numbers with 82 bathing spots. But the real surprise lies in Mannheim, which is considered Germany's bathing capital. The city boasts a unique density of 19 bathing areas in just 145 square kilometers, resulting in a pleasing ratio of one bathing area every 7.6 square kilometers. In contrast, there are the bathing areas in Berlin, which are spread over 10.9 square kilometers. In Mannheim, swimming enthusiasts can visit, among others, the Herzogenriedbad, the Strandbad-Mannheim-Neckarau and the Carl-Benz-Bad and enjoy the advantages there.

Swimming in Mannheim

The leisure activities in Mannheim are impressive. The city not only has three outdoor pools and twelve indoor pools, but also four natural swimming areas that offer ideal conditions for a refreshing day on hot summer days. Particularly worth mentioning is the Stollenwörthweiher in the Neckarau district, which offers two access options. On the west bank, the “Summer Pool at the Stollenwörthweiher” attracts with sunbathing and playing areas as well as a beach volleyball field. On the south bank is the “Heinz-Hunsinger summer pool”, which has a remarkable sunbathing area of ​​25,000 m² and a spacious non-swimmer area. There is also a large parking lot and a tram stop in the immediate vicinity, which makes the journey extremely pleasant. The two pools are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on weekends from 9:00 a.m. The exact addresses are:

• Sommerbad am Stollenwörthweiher: Promenadenweg 4, 68199 Mannheim
• Heinz-Hunsinger-Sommerbad: Rheingoldstraße 204, 68199 Mannheim

Swimming is a German leisure activity

Swimming is much more than just a refreshing exercise. It is considered one of the healthiest sports and is very popular with people of all ages. In Germany, outdoor pools and coastal areas are very popular in the summer months, while indoor pools are preferred in cooler temperatures. However, there are also downsides: According to the DLRG (German Life Saving Society), accidents and even deaths in water occur every year because the swimming ability of many people, especially those who have never learned to swim properly, decreases significantly. In 2024, the DLRG registered over 400 drowning accidents in Germany.

But on the positive side, the quality of bathing water in Germany is extremely high compared to other European countries. In 2023, an impressive 90% of the over 1,800 inland bathing waters were rated as excellent. Germany is also showing itself on the world stage in professional swimming: the German team took one of the top places at the World Swimming Championships and is now one of the most successful nations, ranking fourth in the gold medal ranking.

The fascination for swimming is reflected in full outdoor pools and waiting lists in swimming clubs. With all these options, from relaxed swimming in the nearest pool to sporty swimming to refreshing days at the lakes, it is clear that swimming is very popular in Germany, both as a sport and as a leisure activity. If you feel like cooling off now, Mannheim is the perfect place for you!