Swimming in the Rhine 

In summer, the Kleinbasel banks of the Rhine are the place to be! You can put your clothes in a “Wickelfisch” swim bag and simply float down on the gentle current through the picturesque Old Town. 
Rhine
Der Rhein bietet in den Sommermonaten eine willkommene Abkühlung. Besonders, wenn dabei die Kleider trocken bleiben – dank dem «Wickelfisch». Der wasserdichte Schwimmsack hat längst Kultstatus erreicht. /// In the summer months, the Rhine provides a welcome chance to cool off. What’s more, thanks to the «Wickelfisch», your clothes will stay dry. This waterproof swimbag has achieved cult status.

The Rhine is a welcome refreshment in the summer months.

Swimming in the Rhine is Basel’s most popular sport in summer. Do as the locals do, and experience an extra-special leisure activity. The colourful Wickelfisch – a swim bag in the shape of a fish which was invented in Basel – will keep your clothes dry.

Safe swimming in the Rhine

Please check the current water conditions before swimming in the Rhine to make sure it’s safe. Only swim in the Rhine when:

  • the water temperature is above 18 degrees Celsius.
  • the water level is less than 650 cm.
  • the water height is less than 246.5 metres.
Always check the water level and height
Personen Rheinschwimmen Basel

Info

On the safe side

In its guidelines for people swimming in or otherwise enjoying the Rhine, the Basel-Stadt Cantonal Police provides tips for swimming safely in the Rhine.

Download

Your day swimming in the Rhine

Wickelfisch Basel

Step 1

Buy a “Wickelfisch” swim bag 

This waterproof swimming bag is available in a range of colours and sizes. Since it is a very popular souvenir, it is also available at the Tourist Information office. 

From CHF 20.00 

Tourist Information
ST-Kurzclip Rheinschwimmen 2022

Step 2

Ready to enter 

A good place to enter is the riverbank just below Museum Tinguely. If you start there, you can float 3 kilometres down the Rhine. To see other places where you can start, take a look at the official overview map for swimming in the Rhine: 

slrg.ch
ST-Kurzclip Rheinschwimmen 2022

Step 3

Pack your 
“Wickelfisch” swim bag 

How to use a Wickelfisch:
open the “Wickelfisch” swim bag, put your things in, wrap it seven times, close it.

It’s that simple. 

Find out more 
LezBroz 2019

Step 4

Simply let yourself float 

Strong swimmers can get in between the Wettsteinbrücke and Johanniterbrücke bridges and let the current take them downriver. 

360° video
ST-Kurzclip Rheinschwimmen 2022

Step 5

Finish off the day 

Afterwards, treat yourself to a refreshing drink or a cool beer from one of the buvettes (refreshment stalls) while you dry off on the sun-drenched banks of the Rhine in Kleinbasel. 

Buvettes

The Rhine bathing houses

The bathing houses directly on the banks of the Rhine are a perfect place to relax and provide great access to the water. So it’s off to one of the two Jugendstil bathing houses, bathing suit on and walk upriver. Then simply drift on the current until you are back to where you started from!

The Rheinbad Breite and St. Johann bathing houses are open from May to September, depending on the weather.

LezBroz 2019

Rheinbad Breite

Events

Rheinschwimmen Basel_1

Event

The Rhine swim of Basel 

You can take a dip in the Rhine at any time during the summer months, however the official Rhine swim takes place only once each year. The river turns into a colourful stream on this day thanks to the many “Wickelfisch” swim bags. 

Free

slrg.ch
Rheinschwimmen in Basel // Swimming in the Rhine in Basel

Event

Supervised Rhine swim

Your first time swimming in the Rhine? If you like, you can be accompanied by trained guards every Tuesday in July and August. The meeting point is at 5.45 pm below the Museum Tinguely. You will have to book in advance.

jfs.bs.ch

BachApp: The app for everything to do with the Rhine

  • Water temperature and water level of the Rhine and other rivers in Basel
  • Map with entry and exit points, bathrooms, barbecue areas, etc.
  • Events at the Rhine
  • Interesting facts and safety information

Download now free for iOS and Android:

Apple App Store
Google Play

One river – oodles of fun!

Activities and excursions
Stand Up Paddling auf dem Rhein in Basel.

Rhine

Sport and exercise

Summer in Basel

Good to know.

  • The easiest point of entry is at Schaffhauserrheinweg 93, just below Museum Tinguely. You can swim along the Kleinbasel side until shortly before the Dreirosenbrücke. For all points of entry and exit, see the map provided by Swiss Lifesaving Society (Schweizerische Lebensrettungs-Gesellschaft SLRG) or the BachApp app.

  • Swimming in the Rhine is free of charge. Participation in the official Rhine swim is also free.

    For a fee, you can use the showers, toilets and changing rooms at Rheinbad Breite and Rheinbad St. Johann.

  • Please swim in the Rhine only if you are a good and safe swimmer. To ensure that swimming in the Rhine is a great experience, please observe the following safety information:

    • Swim with at least one other person, never alone.
    • Inflatable flotation aids are not allowed.
    • Don’t tie the Wickelfisch (swim bag) around your body or use it as a flotation aid.
    • Avoid the bridge pillars, as dangerous eddies can form there.
    • Keep away from fishing weirs – you could risk injury!
    • Jumping off bridges is strictly prohibited.
    • Stay close to the Kleinbasel banks.
    • Swimming is not allowed in the port area or near the weirs.
    • Keep checking upriver, as ships coming from this direction are silent and difficult to manoeuvre.

    In its Guidelines for Rhine Swimmers, Swiss Lifesaving Society provides further tips for swimming safely in the Rhine.

    Inexperienced swimmers can cool off at Rheinbad St. Johann right by Johanniterbrücke. It also features a non-swimmer pool.

  • Regular inspections and numerous protection guidelines guarantee a clean bathing experience in Basel’s Rhine. Information on water quality can be obtained from the Cantonal Laboratory of Basel-Stadt.