In which German cities can you swim in the river?

Munich

The Isar river that winds its way through the Bavarian city is well known for its swimming – and river-surfing – opportunities. And, of course, this much-loved summer hotspot comes with the added bonus of never being much more than a hop, skip and a splash from a beer garden.

These are the areas where you can get in and enjoy the clean, icy-cold waters:

• Upwards from the Flauchersteg to just before the Wittelsbacherbrücke – this spot just south of the city centre is probably the most popular area for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking
• From the Marienklausensteg to the Thalkirchner bridge
• A few metres downstream from Wittelsbacherbrücke to the Reichenbachbrücke
• Downstream from the Großhesseloher railroad bridge to just before the Marienklause
• From the Max-Joseph bridge to just before the Oberföhring weir 

And if you prefer to embrace Germany's FKK culture and let it all hang out, then there are several nude bathing areas along the river, including by the large gravel bank east of the Flauchersteg.

One word of caution, though: the Isar can have strong currents, so do check conditions before you go in and only swim in the designated areas.

READ ALSO: Germany's top 10 most beautiful summer swimming spots

Lübeck

Lübeck's love affair with swimming has been going on for a long time – the first river pool in the maritime city was opened in 1899 and the city fully supports swimming in its waters.

There are four open-air pools along the slow-flowing Wakenitz river in this medieval north-German city: Krähenteich, Falkenwiese, Marli and Eichholz, with water quality being particularly excellent in the last three.

The historic Krähenteich pool is in the old town area, right by the former city wall. The much-loved supervised bathing facility also has a sauna and café.

The busy Falkenwiese is also close to the city centre, so it's ideal if you want to get your strokes in/cool off on a daily basis. 

The Marli is on the opposite side of the river – and its historic changing area, the Alte Magazin, has been lovingly restored, serving as a perfect reminder of 19th century bathing culture. Head here to enjoy the view over the old town and some glorious sunsets.

The Eichholz pool is slightly further out, on the not-so-small Kleiner See, technically an area where the Wakenitz widens. It might not be that tiny, but it's still got a more peaceful intimate feel to the other two with added forest views.

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All the pools – most of which also have beaches, lawns and areas for non-swimmers – are open from May to September.

Berlin

Swimming in the inner city is generally verboten, but there's a growing movement called Fluss Bad Berlin that's organised demonstration swims. It's been calling for Spree to be cleaned up since 2012 and it looks like this might actually happen soon, with plans to open up an inner-city section for recreational swimming.

READ ALSO: Will Berlin open up the Spree river to swimmers?

For now, there's the popular floating Badeschiff pool right on the Spree, at Arena Berlin. 

There are also plenty of clean and calm swimming lakes to choose from on the outskirts of the city, such as the open-air lido at Wannsee, actually a bay in the Havel river.

Or check out Wild Swim Berlin, which takes you to some of the over 3,000 lakes in and around the city.

READ ALSO: A guide to Berlin’s hidden swimming spots - from the woman who wrote the book on it

Dresden

Boat traffic, currents and water quality can impact swimming in the Elbe river that runs through the eastern city of Dresden, but there are still a couple of (unofficial) options:

For example, there are a few calm stretches of the Elbe downstream from the Blaues Wunder bridge which some locals favour. Just be aware, these aren't official swim spots, so take care if you go in.

Since 1998, though, there's been an official 3.5km Elbe swim every August from the bridge down to Fährgarten Johannstadt.

The Prießnitz estuary, where the stream flows into the Elbe, is a calm spot, that's perfect for paddling rather than full-on swimming due to the shallow waters. 

The same goes for the scenic Rabenauer gorge to the west of the city.

Many locals head to the safer Carolasee lake rather than risking an Elbe swim outside of the organised event.

READ ALSO: Travel in Germany - A guide to Berlin’s best lakes

And a few to avoid:

Hamburg

Swimming in the Hanseatic city isn't officially recommended because the maritime river's a major commercial waterway. That means strong undercurrents and not the best water quality, so you'll see warnings strongly advising against getting in.

Even though some people do swim – cautiously – by the beaches along the banks of the river, the Elbstrand, the city says it's not suitable for swimming or bathing.

If you're happy to trade the main beach for quieter stretches of the Elbe, however, like the tranquil Dove Elbe, you can enjoy a dip in the river without having to take on the giant container ships. 

Helpfully, the city authorities keep tabs of water quality here and at various other recommended swimming spots (list here).

Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn

Swimming is off limits in several parts of the busy Rhine in these neighbouring cities, but even where it's not prohibited it can be extremely dangerous – even for experienced swimmers. Several people drown every year because they didn't heed the warnings.

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The city administrations and fire brigades regularly remind people not to swim in the river at all and there are notices up – in English, too – warning tempted tourists of the dangers.

Dangers include strong undercurrents, hidden obstacles forming treacherous whirlpools and shipping traffic, such as large freighters and tankers, creating strong currents and suction effects.

If you want to swim, you're better off visiting one of the cities' nearby lakes or lidos.

READ ALSO: How to stay safe while swimming outdoors in Germany this summer

Wherever you swim, remember to check conditions before you go in and follow the usual advice to keep yourself and others safe: be careful about going in if you're too hot (due to the extreme temperature difference) and never swim if you've been drinking alcohol or have just eaten.

Do you have a favourite city swimming spot? Let us know in the comments!