Unfavorable commencement of the outdoor swimming season - Troubles Initiate in the Outdoor Swimming Season Launch
In Berlin, the outdoor swimming season has faced a sluggish beginning, with significantly fewer visitors compared to the previous year. As of May 26, only 43,541 people have taken a dip in the city's outdoor pools, a stark contrast to the 112,096 visitors from the same period last year.
The Berlin Baths Operations, which oversees the city's pools, attributes the low attendance primarily to the chilly weather conditions. According to their data, May 2025 has been notably colder than the same month in 2024, with only two days surpassing the 25-degree threshold, as opposed to ten such days in 2024. Additionally, this year has seen 19 days with temperatures below 20 degrees.
Unheated pools exacerbate the effect of the cool weather. Due to budget constraints, only four pools – Prinzenbad in Kreuzberg, Wilmersdorf, and two pools in Sommerbad Seestraße in Wedding – are heated to 22 degrees. The remaining pools depend on solar power for heating, which is less effective on cloudy days.
While the influence of new prices on attendance remains uncertain, the Berlin Baths Operations reports that only six percent of all summer pool visits occurred in May in previous years. Before drawing firm conclusions about revenue, it will be necessary to observe trends over time. Nonetheless, the spokesperson emphasized that significant discounts and offers are still available.
Several outdoor pools, including the Prinzenbad, Am Insulaner, Olympiastadion, Wilmersdorf, Strandbad Wannsee, and Freibad Gropiusstadt, have commenced the season. Tickets can be purchased online, with early bird discounts and reductions for families with children. Real-time capacity updates are provided online to manage pool crowding.
[1] Enrichment Data: The cooler temperatures in the pools and the unusual cold start to summer are the primary reasons for the low attendance at Berlin's outdoor swimming pools in 2025, along with budget restrictions preventing pool heating.
- The community policy could consider introducing vocational training programs for pool operators to efficiently manage and maintain outdoor pools, ensuring optimal temperatures for visitor comfort during colder seasons.
- To boost health-and-wellness and promote fitness-and-exercise, the city of Berlin might consider investing in more solar panels or alternative heating solutions to keep the unheated pools warmer during cloudy weather and colder months.
- As a part of promoting a healthy lifestyle, the local home-and-garden stores could offer discounts on outdoor heating solutions like patio heaters or fire pits to residents, fostering an atmosphere of outdoor-living and providing additional options for staying active during colder months.
