Fancy a dip? July destinations with the best swimming pools, beaches and lakes
Summer doesn’t have to mean sweltering heat. These cooler spots deliver refreshing swims and lighter crowds – perfect for July travellers who want sunshine without the scorch
08/07/2026
Words: Mike MacEacheran
Nothing says summer quite like the splash of cool water on skin and – ideally – hopping on a plane to get there. Days spent bronzing on a beach, eyes glued to your phone or a good book, or bobbing about on a giant inflatable (preferably a unicorn) are what holidaymakers daydream about for the rest of the year. But there’s also the option of diving in, headfirst, to cool off somewhere less predictable and – dare we say it – cooler. Here are some of our all-time favourite places to swim to escape the heat and the crowds.
Krøyers Plads swimming spot in central Copenhagen (Daniel Rasmussen)
For a harbour swim: Copenhagen
According to the Institute for Quality of Life’s Happy City Index, Copenhagen ranks higher than anywhere else for quality of life. Perhaps one reason is that the Danish capital has prioritised cleaning up its inner harbour over the past decade – and the result is excellent water quality and beautiful, free swimming pools such as Islands Brygge Harbour Bath, where all ages can take a refreshing dip, practise their strokes or loll in the cold water as if it were LA, not latitude 55° north. Another standout is La Banchina, a former ferry waiting room reborn as a lido cafe overlooking a natural harbour pool. It turns out the Danes have been holidaying the right way all along.
Lalaria Beach in Skiathos is accessible only by sea (Getty Images)
For a different dip each day: Skiathos
Koukounaries Beach unfolds like a pristine cinematic landscape, where dramatic, flawless contours meet the Aegean Sea. But this island in the Northern Sporades is home to more than 60 other stunning, mostly sandy beaches, which are quieter and often breezier than those found in the blistering hot Cyclades or Ionian islands. You’ll find more seclusion on the northern and western coasts, with the most rewarding dramatically positioned in out-of-sight coves and accessible only by boat.
The Frauenbad at Stadthausquai historic wooden bathhouse on Zürich’s Limmat River (Siggi Bucher)
For lidos: Zürich
If you hanker for an urban tan, get your skimpiest togs on as Zürich’s cult lake and riverside swimming lidos transport you from the Alpine city to the Mediterranean riviera. The vibe is often straight-from-the-office fluster, but many are quiet bubbles of contemplation, and there are at least a dozen to choose from. Frauenbad at Stadthausquai is an Art Nouveau, open-air cabana exclusively for women, while the male-only version, Männerbad Schanzengraben, opens as the all-inclusive, under-the-stars Rimini Bar in the evenings.
Villatel Orlando Resort has a sprawling aqua park and lazy river
For theme park-free thrills: Orlando
Full-blast theme parks are what Florida is known for but, with Orlando’s lifetime-best hotels set around turquoise lagoons and paradise pools, there’s a compelling argument that your most memorable days will be poolside, not waiting in line. Two daydream bookings to consider are Evermore Orlando Resort in Lake Buena Vista, with a multitude of snow-white beaches and an eight-acre lagoon, and Villatel Orlando Resort, with a water park and top-notch villas with private pools. Ease yourself in gently now… This is the real magic kingdom.
Operastranda urban beach is next to the Oslo Opera House (Didrick Stenersen). Opening image: Oslo’s Sørenga Seawater Pool (Katrine Lunke)
For a fjord with a view: Oslo
Ever since the days of the Vikings, the peninsula of Bygdøy on the Oslo Fjord has doubled as a cheat’s Mediterranean, with glorious beaches and clean Nordic waters. But increasingly Oslofolk are staying within the city centre to swim. Near the polar-cube Opera House, both Operastranda beach and Sørenga Seawater Pool have become go-tos in recent years, while even on bad weather days the Norwegians have cracked it. Urban sauna culture has taken off year-round and, when you get stuck in, you’ll swear this was a better idea than the Med any day.
The calm, turquoise waters of Brownes Beach at Carlisle Bay (Shutterstock)
For out-of-season Caribbean: Barbados
The vanilla sands of Brownes Beach on the edge of Bridgetown on Carlisle Bay burn vividly in the minds of anyone who visits. More than that, though, is the impression the water makes. It’s cartoon-character blue –the colour of tranquillity – with the temperature reaching its warmest, around 29°C, at the height of summer. The clincher? This is the low season, with fewer crowds, and the half-mile beach is expansive enough to deliver that whole intimate, alone-in-the-Caribbean vibe you’re looking for.
