The Marzili is Bern's riverside lido, spread along the bank of the Aare directly below the Federal Palace. Entry is free, as at all of Bern's public baths, and in summer thousands of people come to lie on the lawns, swim in the pools or do what Bern is famous for: walk upstream, jump into the fast, clear, green river and let the current carry them back.
The Marzili at a glance
- Where: Marzilistrasse, on the left bank of the Aare at the foot of the Federal Palace and the Bundesterrasse.
- Opened: public baths have operated here since the early 19th century; the present 50-metre pool dates from 1968.
- What it is today: a free open-air lido with four pools, large lawns, separate sunbathing areas for women and men, and steps down into the Aare.
- Season: the lido is open from May to September; the river is for strong swimmers only.
- Time needed: anything from a quick dip to a whole summer afternoon.
From the boys' pond to a city lido
Swimming in the Aare at the Marzili has a long history. The earliest record, from 1721, mentions boys swimming in a side channel of the river that ran through the area: its shallow upper part was called the Bubenseeli, the boys' pond, and the deeper lower part the Studentenseeli, the students' pond. In the early 19th century the authorities limited river bathing in the city to a few places, the Marzili among them, and in 1822 warm baths and an open-air pool fed by the Aare opened here, for a fee.
Around 1900, after a long dispute with the owners of the island plots, the city acquired the land along the river. The modern lido took shape in the 20th century: lawns were laid out in the 1950s, and in 1968 the old side channel was largely filled in and the present 50-metre pool built. Today swimming in the Aare in Bern is on Switzerland's official list of living traditions.
What to look for
- The Federal Palace above: the green dome of the Swiss parliament rises directly over the lawns.
- The sports pool: eight 50-metre lanes, with a diving pool, a non-swimmers' pool and a paddling pool for children nearby.
- The Paradiesli and the Männerbad: separate sunbathing areas for women and for men, where nude sunbathing is allowed.
- The river entries: steps and handrails along the bank, where swimmers climb out of the Aare before the current takes them further downstream.
- The red Marzilibahn: the little funicular that has linked the Marzili with the Federal Palace since 1885, on a track only about 105 metres long.
The Aare swim
The ritual is simple. You change at the Marzili, walk upstream along the bank, often as far as the Dählhölzli or the Eichholz, then slip into the river and float back down, watching the old town and the parliament drift past. The water is cold, often under 20 degrees even in summer, and the current is strong, so this is for confident swimmers only. Many locals carry their clothes in a waterproof bag, known as an Aare-Sack, and swim with it.
Tips for your visit
- Know your exit before you get in: practise getting out at one of the steps, and never swim past the Marzili, where the river flows on towards the Matte weir.
- Check the water temperature and river level on the day; after heavy rain the Aare runs faster and higher.
- Come on a weekday morning or late afternoon if you want space on the lawns; hot summer weekends are crowded.
- Take the Marzilibahn up afterwards to the Federal Palace instead of climbing the slope.
Nearby
- Federal Palace: the seat of the Swiss parliament, right above the lido, with the Bundesterrasse viewpoint over the Aare.
- Bundesplatz: the square in front of the parliament, with its fountain jets set into the paving.
- Dählhölzli: Bern's zoo on the riverbank upstream, a pleasant walk along the Aare.
See Bern with World City Trail
Our Bern scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around three hours, with about 44 minutes of walking. It includes the Federal Palace, the Käfigturm and the Heiliggeistkirche.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Bern.
Play the Bern scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Bern →
Play the outdoor escape game in Bern →
Facts checked in October 2026.