Difficult starting for the outdoor swimming pool during the current season - Troublesome Commencement of Outdoor Swimming Period
Berlin's Outdoor Swimming Season suffers from a sluggish start
The outdoor swimming season in Berlin has endured a subpar beginning, with significantly lower attendances compared to previous years. Berlin Baths Operations reported to the German Press Agency that only 43,541 people have visited the pools so far, a stark decrease from the 112,096 who visited at the same time last year [1].
Unfavorable weather conditions appear to be the primary culprit. May 2025 saw only two days with temperatures above 25°C, in contrast to the ten such days experienced in May 2024 [1]. The city has experienced mostly cool temperatures this May, with 19 days below 20°C.
Despite the chilly weather, the water temperature in the pools remains consistent with previous years. However, this season, only four pools have been heated using fossil fuels, compared to more in previous years [1]. This makes swimming less enjoyable for many Berliners, potentially deterring them from visiting the pools.
The Berliner Bäder-Betriebe (BBB) has also introduced new ticket prices this year, but it's too early to gauge their impact on attendance [1]. Traditionally, only around 6% of summer pool visits occur in May, so the cooler weather and lack of heating may have a disproportionate effect on early-season numbers [1].
Furthermore, significant discounts and rebate offers are still available [1]. It remains to be seen whether these incentives will attract more visitors as the season progresses.
The outdoor pool in Kreuzberg, known as the Prinzenbad, and others in Am Insulaner, Olympiastadion, Wilmersdorf, Strandbad Wannsee, and Freibad Gropiusstadt have opened for the season [1]. This year, one pool in Kreuzberg and Freibad Wilmersdorf, as well as two pools in the Sommerbad Seestraße in Wedding, will be heated to 22°C [1]. The remaining pools rely on sunlight for heating, although this is ineffective during cloudy days.
Tickets can be purchased online, with discounts available for early birds and families with children [1]. The BBB provides updates online about the pool's occupancy levels on hot days [1].
[1] Enrichment Data: This data was deemed relevant and has been integrated into the article to provide additional context about the reasons for the low turnout and the factors affecting the outdoor swimming season.
The community could consider implementing temporary measures to boost attendance during the sluggish outdoor swimming season, such as providing vocational training for lifeguards or offering free hours of health-and-wellness classes, including fitness-and-exercise sessions, to attract more visitors. Additionally, the city council may want to review the community policy regarding pool heating, considering the impact of cold water temperatures on attendances, and explore alternative, sustainable solutions for pool heating, like integrating science-backed technologies to keep water temperatures comfortable for swimmers.
