Your City Bathing Hit List

1. Alte Donau

(Vienna, Austria) What was once the former arm of the Danube river, Alte Donau (Old Danube) is now a 1.6-kilometre-squared natural standing body of water-turned-recreational-lake. Here you'll find public bathing jetties, lidos, meadows and water sports venues (seasonal opening period).

2. Skyline Aqua

(Singapore) Combining bathing and fitness, Skyline Aqua offers a number of float fit classes from their city skyline pool. Classes include float yoga and HIIT, with the option to cool down in the pool afterwards.

3. Sørenga Saltwater Pool

(Oslo, Norway) Found in one of Oslo's brand new neighbourhoods is a large seawater fjord pool open to the public throughout the year. Cold water swimming and saunas are popular activities in the winter months.

4. La Carpa Olivera

(Sinaloa, Mexico) A central public sea water pool built in 1915 and inspired by the piers of Lisbon and the Portuguese coast. Devastated by a hurricane in 1954, the pool was renovated in 2015 by Colectivo Urbano. The pool's new amenities include the playful spiral slide (as seen in the book Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries from Around the Globe by Chris Romer-Lee).

5. Inner Studio

(Melbourne, Australia) Specialising in hot/cold exposure techniques, this wellness centre was founded by two brothers and former Australian Rules Football players as a movement to conquer stress. Saunas, and hot and cold magnesium plunge pools are found amongst lush gardens. (This one's a local favourite amongst the Never Too Small team).

6. Kitsilano Pool

(Vancouver, Canada) Commonly known as 'Kits Pool', this 137-metre outdoor heated saltwater pool is North America's longest. The stunning views from the pool overlooking the city's West End and bay make for a quintessential urban bathing experience. Open from May to September.

7. Hammam Al Ándalus

(Madrid, Spain) Andalusian Arab-style baths located in a three century-old former well. With a range of three hot and cold warm springs, Turkish baths and steam baths to choose from.

8. Saunders Rock Tidal Pool

(Cape Town, South Africa) Built into a rocky crevice next to Saunders Beach, with granite rocks creating a wind barrier, Saunders Rock Tidal Pool is a family-friendly place to swim, and a popular spot in the summer months.

9. Zwemvijver Boekenberg

(Antwerp, Belgium) Open from May to September, this 73-metre swimming pond has 'special soils' and 22,000 aquatic plants purify its waters, making it one of Europe's largest and unique ecological ponds.

10. Forty Foot

(Dublin, Ireland) A slightly colder bathing spot but a drawcard nonetheless for brave swimmers since the 19th century. Swimming takes place year-round with many flocking to dip in the Irish Sea for the traditional Christmas Day swim. Not for the faint-hearted.

11. Koganeyu

(Tokyo, Japan) A traditional neighbourhood sento that has been transformed into a modern public bathouse, complete with a craft beer taproom and a DJ booth. The baths are separated by gender but share a mural of Mount Fuji by Manga creator Yoriko Hoshi. An ideal location to bathe and relax before enjoying a craft beer.

12. Community Sauna Baths

(Hackney Wick, London, UK) Offering an affordable and communal way to experience the many health benefits of cold plunges and saunas, Hackney Wick Community Baths opened in 2021 with the aim of making saunas and cold plunges more accessible to the local community.

13. Barton Springs Pool

(Austin, Texas, USA) This three-acre outdoor pool is fed from underground springs making it ideal for year-round swimming (average temperatures of 21 degrees celsius) with clear views of the Austin skyline.

14. Aquafield Goyang

(Goyang, South Korea) Located in northern South Korea, Aquafield is a jjimjilbang – a popular, social-orientated, spa experience. With nine heated plunge pools, igloo-shaped dry saunas, a rooftop infinity pool, and foot spas, spend anywhere from an hour to the whole day enjoying.

15. Wylie's Baths

(Sydney, Australia) A heritage-listed tidal swimming pool located a few hundred metres from Coogee Beach. Enjoy 180 degree views of the Pacific Ocean and Sydney's coastline from the baths.

16. Mona Vale Rock Pool

(Sydney, Australia) One larger 30-metre pool and a smaller pool suitable for children and less confident swimmers make up the Mona Vale Rock Pool. First opened in 1914, with the addition of electric lights in the 1930s, today the pools are a popular swimming spot for both adults and younger children.

17. Paris Plages

(Paris, France) Created in 2002, this annual summer event turns the banks of the Seine and the Villette canal into a beach resort, offering free relaxation and swimming to Parisians. This year's event (in honour of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) saw the opening of six additional temporary swimming spots around the city.

18. Kevin Duckworth Memorial Dock

(Portland, Oregan, USA) Named after Kevin J. Duckworth, a former NBA All-star and Portland Trail Blazer who tragically died aged 44. Led by the Human Access Project (HAP) that aims at transforming Portland's relationship with the Willamette River, this 91-metre-long deck swimming dock is open for public swimming, non-motorised boating and fishing.

19. Bains des Pâquis

(Geneva, Switzerland) Located on a pier in Lake Geneva, these popular public bath houses are open in the summer months, and also in the winter when turned into saunas. Something to enjoy all year round.

20. Bathhouse

(Flatiron, New York City, USA) An oasis in the heart of the city for escaping the hustle and bustle. Amenities include: thermal and salt pools, dry and infrared saunas, a banya, and steam rooms.