Sometimes all it takes is a day by the water to reset and recharge. From shady woods to the Sportpark and Schäl Sick shores – Cologne’s summer scene might just surprise you. We picked a few spots that strike the perfect balance between switching off and getting moving.
Lentpark – pool and natural lake combo
Lentpark is anything but ordinary – a mix of outdoor pool, natural swimming pond and winter ice rink.
In the summer, the outdoor pool and eco-pond are perfect for cooling off. The crowd’s a colourful mix, the vibe super laid-back. The pond is chemical-free – no chlorine, just algae doing the natural cleaning. It smells like real lake water (in a good way).
And in the winter? You can skate laps on the ice rink while the heat from the cooling system keeps the indoor pool nice and warm.
In the sports pool, you can hit the 50-metre lanes. There’s also a non-swimmers’ section, a cliff-style jumping rock, a wide slide and a splash area for little ones. A proper paradise for kids – and yeah, adults too – all year round
Lentpark pool, Lentstraße 30, 50668 Cologne
Stadionbad – Sportpark Müngersdorf’s own outdoor pool
The ultimate outdoor pool in Cologne for action lovers. The vast grounds in Sportpark Müngersdorf boast no fewer than 6 pools, including a 50-metre sports pool and a leisure pool (also 50 metres) with a water cannon and current channel. If it’s adrenalin you’re after, you can take the plunge – literally – into the 3.5-metre-deep diving pool from a one, three, five, seven and a half or ten-metre diving board.
After a full-on session in the pool, smashing it at table tennis, beach volleyball or basketball, the French fries from the snack bar taste even better. And if you’re more about chilling than sweating: Stadionbad‘s got plenty of grassy areas and big old trees for shade and good vibes. also has lots of green spaces of course, where you can chill in the cooling shade of the trees.
Stadionbad, Olympiaweg 20, 50933 Cologne
Waldbad Dünnwald – nature with a side of action
Looking for a real insider tip? We’ve got you covered. The Waldbad is hidden away in the woods of Dünnwald and feels like a proper mini getaway. You swim beneath the trees, hear the leaves rustle overhead – and right next door there’s a wildlife park and a campsite.
There’s a giant slide, beach volleyball and beach soccer courts, and even two barrel saunas. If you want to literally dive into nature, this is your spot.
Waldbad Dünnwald, Peter-Baum-Weg 20, 51069 Cologne
Naturfreibad Vingst – Holiday feeling complete with a sandy beach
If you’re into something a bit different, Naturfreibad Vingst is your place. Once a gravel pit, now a local legend on the “Schäl Sick“ – perfect for anyone who prefers the smell of lake water over chlorine. Wild shrubs line the banks, and the fine sandy beach brings all the summer feels.
Next to the beach, there’s a lawn with mature trees for natural shade – and hammocks you can borrow for free to kick back and do absolutely nothing. The water quality? Top notch. And kids will love the massive adventure playground with climbing ship, zip line, water play areas and all the bells and whistles.
Heads-up: the opening hours can be a bit random, so check online before you go.
Naturfreibad Vingst, Vingster Ring, 51107 Cologne
Swim. Dive. Paddle. Repeat – summer at Fühlinger See
Fühlinger See is made up of seven lakes, all linked by a regatta course. Swimming’s only allowed in three places – at the marked bathing zones on lake 1 and lake 7 (at your own risk), or safely supervised at Strandbad “Blackfoot Beach“. Think white sand, clear water, beach volleyball, shady cabanas and a cocktail bar right by the lake.
But swimming’s not the only thing going on here – there’s a high ropes course to climb, stand-up paddleboards, canoes and kayaks for rent, and a diving school to explore what’s happening under the surface. And don’t miss the Summerjam Reggae Festival on the first weekend of July – it brings proper Caribbean vibes to the lakeside.
Blackfoot Beach, Stallagsbergweg 1, 50769 Cologne
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