Summers in Switzerland are beautiful. The unbelievable glacial lakes, clear blue skies, and warm temperatures culminate in a perfect invitation to spend a day at the beach. If you’ve never been to the beaches around Lake Geneva during the summer before, here’s what I learned on a recent visit.
1. You might see boobs
What is this, a French beach?? No, it’s a Swiss-French beach. This is a fairly recent development; in 2017, a rule from 1923 was overturned and now it is legal for women to swim topless in Lake Geneva, according to The Independent. No one bats an eye, so don’t be weird.
2. There are no lifeguards
I have yet to see a lifeguard at the beach. Along with most Swiss sports, the idea is to participate at your own risk. There are signs posted occasionally that forbid people from swimming in certain areas, so of course, respect those. There are also some roped off areas to swim. Before swimming, make sure you’ve researched the beach you’d like to visit, know proper water safety protocol, and are feeling good and healthy before entering the water.
3. People change their clothing on the beach
I’ve seen adults and children alike wrap a towel around themselves, shimmy their underwear off their bodies, and replace them with swimsuits. conversely, I’ve witnessed a grown woman go for a swim on her lunch break, exit the lake, and change back into full work attire under a towel. As a 90s girl who can change a bra under her shirt, I was very impressed.
I should also mention that on two separate occasions, I’ve seen grown men fully undress on the beach. There must be some kind of method — they each unzipped their pants, sat on their blanket, shimmied their pants off, and replaced them with a bathing suit. Although I was caught off guard, no one else was bothered by a situation that would’ve warranted a call to the police in the U.S.
4. Swiss people swim all year round
I kid you not — during my first few weeks in Lausanne in NOVEMBER, we saw multiple people swimming across the lake. Not taking a quick dip. They were engaging in distance swimming. Like it was nothing. As I stood there in my North Face, I thought to myself, “Novembrrrrr, amirite?” But seriously, Swiss people believe that swimming in the lake year round improves your health, so you’ll most likely see swimming capped people slicing through the water anytime.
5. Warm weather means it’s party time at the beach
You’ll see people walking on the promenade during the winter. You’ll see people biking and rollerblading during the fall and spring. By summer, the Swiss are ready to enjoy the beautiful weather, views of the mountains, and gorgeous water. On the weekends, it gets packed. If you’re looking for a quiet place to relax by the lake, you’ll need to do some searching. When work lets out for the week, hundreds of people flock to the beaches around Lausanne to let off some steam. Just the sheer amount of people enjoying themselves means it will be loud, which surprised me because as an American, I’m usually the loudest person around by default. I wonder how many Swiss people it takes to equal the decibels of one American person?
6. We like sports
You will see people stand up paddle boarding, swimming, boating, windsurfing, sailing, paddle boating, and waterskiing on Lake Geneva. I am always surprised to see sailing schools out on the water, where many boats sail together. You’ll see people running, alpine walking, biking, skateboarding, picnicking, playing basketball, and more on land. It’s an absolute dream for athletes.
7. It’s a picnic paradise
Bring food, because people next to you might be grilling and you’ll be hungry. There are some snack spots around the lake, but I prefer to be prepared with a picnic and to find ice cream as a treat when I’m less hangry. On a summer day, you are sure to smell all kinds of delicious things grilling and see people of all cultures gathering together.
8. Some beaches are sandy, some are not
Depending where you enter the water, you might encounter sand, pebbles, or grass underfoot. If you’re sensitive, bring water shoes. My American sensibilities cause me to be nervous about what I might step on underwater anyway, but Swiss people have great respect for the lake, so it’s very clean.
9. Bring your wallet
The lakefront during summer is home to ice cream stands, snack shacks, lakeside bars, and restaurants. Especially around Vidy, there are quite a few places to grab something to eat or drink. I prefer to bring my snacks with me, set up camp, and relax. But if you’re jonesing for something else, there are some options!
American Girl in Switzerland 