Outdoor pool season in Tuttlingen: Many guests despite price increases and hygiene problems!

Outdoor pool season in Tuttlingen: Many guests despite price increases and hygiene problems!

The 2023 outdoor pool season in Germany has a lot to offer, and not always in a positive sense. While peak summer weather drives up visitor numbers, there are also dark clouds hanging over the pools. Bernd Frank, swimming master in Spaichingen, reports that visitor numbers are skyrocketing, attracting up to 3,500 guests on peak days. A total of 43,775 guests were counted on August 18, 2023 [Schwäbische] emphasizes that the price increases in the outdoor pools do not appear to have a negative impact on the rush. So the positive numbers are not surprising, even though the water temperature of 24 degrees Celsius is particularly inviting thanks to waste heat from the VHW pressing plant.

But the outdoor pool season also has its challenges. Despite the high number of visitors, the personnel situation is a constant issue that runs through the industry. After an initially difficult phase, the situation in Spaichingen has improved. A new permanent supervisor and hourly staff ensure a more relaxing working atmosphere. The DLRG is also available on weekends for additional security. Nevertheless, a security company is keeping watch to ensure good coexistence at the outdoor pool, especially after some young people were excluded for misbehavior.

Are many outdoor pools struggling with price increases?

In other regions, especially in Bavaria, the situation looks a little different. Many outdoor pools here are faced with high prices, which has led to an increase in admission prices in many cities. The average admission price for adults increased from 3.23 euros in 2022 to around 4 euros in 2025 [Merkur]. The cities of Munich, Ingolstadt and Würzburg are just a few examples where prices have been increased. Karlsruhe also reports that entry prices for the outdoor pools there have risen to up to 6 euros, while in other cities, such as Regensburg, prices have remained stable. There is an emerging trend that many outdoor swimming pools are dependent on municipal subsidies to cover running costs due to increased energy and personnel costs.

Experts warn that unheated bathrooms, even if they are easy on the wallet, are not very popular with guests. In Augsburg, for example, outdoor pools have water temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius, which experience has shown does not exactly lead to high numbers of visitors. This is also evident in the “Freibad Lechhausen”, where few people find their way into the water, while in other cities the crowds remain unbroken when the water temperatures crack 24 degrees.

The love for outdoor pools remains unbroken

However, the 2023 outdoor pool season is not going badly everywhere. In the Tuttlingen outdoor pool, for example, the number of visitors in June was already promising at 31,090. Even if the weather often darkened the mood and July, like in many other regions, was a flop, a total of 13,920 visitors were counted by August 19, 2023. The outdoor pool season in Tuttlingen is going well, without any major incidents. The Fridinger outdoor pool also attracts families from the area and does not feel the price increases.

In conclusion, it can be said that the outdoor pools in Germany, despite all the difficulties and challenges, are still a popular destination on hot summer days. It remains to be seen whether the price increases will prevail in the coming years or whether the swimming pools will find ways to keep their prices stable without jeopardizing quality and safety. One thing is certain: a good time in the outdoor pool counts for more than a few cents in admission.