A New Ranking Just Revealed the Best Places for Cold Water Swimming
Cold-water swimming is gaining fans who prefer glacial lakes and sea pools to heated resort spas. A new ranking by Icelandic apparel company Icewear analyzed more than 54,000 Google reviews to find the world’s favorite places for cold-water therapy and wild swimming. The study tracked words tied to positive experiences, including “relaxing” and “invigorating.” The final list included locations where travelers willingly trade comfort for the strange satisfaction that follows a cold plunge.
10. The Forty Foot, Ireland
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The Forty Foot near Dublin has hosted sea swimmers for more than 250 years and still draws crowds throughout winter. Concrete steps lead directly into the Irish Sea, where temperatures can feel brutally cold during January mornings. The site once allowed only men until women gained access in the 1970s. Christmas Day swims also became a major tradition here.
9. Brockwell Lido, England
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The Brockwell Lido outdoor public pool first opened in the 1930s and still attracts year-round swimmers today. Winter mornings often bring lines of regulars wrapped in robes and wool hats waiting for the gates to open. Water temperatures can drop into single digits during colder months.
8. Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand
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This lake reaches depths of more than 1,200 feet, which helps maintain year-round low temperatures. Swimmers often head to the shoreline near Queenstown Gardens because the access there feels easier. Local legends claim the lake rises and falls because of a sleeping giant beneath the water.
7. Bude Sea Pool, England
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Bude Sea Pool is located directly against Cornwall’s rugged coastline, where Atlantic waves crash beside a partially enclosed swimming area first built in the 1930s. The pool fills naturally with seawater during high tide, which keeps conditions changing throughout the day. Lifeguards monitor the area during busy summer periods.
6. Fairy Pools, Scotland
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The Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye attract swimmers willing to scramble across wet rocks for a short but memorable plunge. Waterfalls feed these bright blue pools beneath the Cuillin Mountains, thus keeping the water cold year-round. Local guides regularly remind newcomers to wear proper footwear because the rocks stay slippery even during dry weather.
5. Lake Tahoe, United States
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Lake Tahoe earned a place near the top of the ranking thanks to its clear alpine water and reliable summer swimming season. Located along the California-Nevada border, the lake reaches about 21°C during warmer months. This still feels chilly compared to most beach destinations.
4. Banff National Park, Canada
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Banff National Park earned one of the highest scores in Icewear’s ranking thanks to its mix of glacier-fed and warmer swimming spots. Johnson Lake remains popular because it is not fed directly by glaciers, so it’s more comfortable during summer. Visitors looking for colder conditions can find plenty of options throughout the park, surrounded by the Canadian Rockies.
3. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
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Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park earned strong reviews for its collection of cold lochs and rivers surrounded by Highland scenery. Loch Morlich remains one of the most popular spots because it combines mountain views with a sandy beach rarely associated with Scotland.
2. Moraine Lake, Canada
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Moraine Lake is inside Banff National Park, surrounded by steep peaks and glacier-fed water that rarely warms beyond 5 °C in summer. The lake’s vivid blue color comes from light reflecting off suspended rock particles carried by melting glaciers. Most visitors stop for photos rather than swim. The few who actually enter the water usually last less than a minute.
1. Lake Bled, Slovenia
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Lake Bled collected one of the highest percentages of positive reviews in Icewear’s study. The lake is less than an hour from Ljubljana and draws swimmers during summer when temperatures can climb to about 25 °C. Early evening tends to be the calmest time for swimming because tour groups thin out after daytime sightseeing hours.