Swimming in spring

Bathing beauties meet at the Klagenfurt lido

The first brave swimmers were already in eleven-degree water.(Bild: Katja Bieche)

The mood could hardly be better at the Klagenfurt lido, which has already opened its doors for two days. 

Splashing water, beads of sweat on your forehead and the smell of suntan oil in your nose - that's summer! But isn't it only April? And it lives up to the saying "April Fool's Day". Because the thermometer in Carinthia is set to rise to 30 degrees this Sunday! This highlight is thanks to high "Peter".

Want to cool off?
And with temperatures like these, a dip in the cold water is naturally tempting. For this reason, the Klagenfurt lido has also opened the boat bridge for two days - yesterday, Saturday, and today, Sunday - from 10 am to 6 pm, with free access.

"Since people come to the water anyway, we thought we'd make the whole thing official with lifeguards in order to offer bathers safety," says Erwin Smole, CEO of Stadtwerke. Barbara, one of the two lifeguards, emphasizes: "If anyone has problems or needs help, we are there. We supervise all bathers and, above all, point out that you shouldn't underestimate the cold water!" The water temperature of Lake Wörthersee is currently eleven degrees. So it's not for everyone. "It takes a bit of courage and a bit of overcoming to throw yourself into the water," says the expert.

Bettina enjoys the beautiful weather and goes swimming because it's a pleasant way to cool off when the outside temperature is so high!(Bild: Katja Bieche)

The two lifeguards Karoline and Barbara are ready for any assignment.(Bild: Katja Bieche)

Christine has to be in the water for the first time in 2024. "It was pretty fresh, but after two or three times the body gets used to the cold."(Bild: Katja Bieche)

Hermann goes swimming when the water temperature reaches 10 degrees. "I love this little corner of the world. As pensioners, we spend a lot of free time here!"(Bild: Katja Bieche)

Margarete even goes ice swimming in winter: "I don't mind the eleven degrees at all. It's pure relaxation after a hard week!"(Bild: Katja Bieche)

Erwin Smole, CEO of STW Klagenfurt: "The offer is very popular, we're looking forward to two hot spring days!"(Bild: Katja Bieche)

This has never happened before
Bathing mermaid Bettina seized the opportunity: "I've been going to the Klagenfurt lido every year since I can remember and I can't remember ever being able to jump into the water so early." This weekend is a warm-up, so to speak, for the official start of the lido swimming season on April 27. "We use these two hot spring days to give citizens a little summer feeling. And it's been well received," says Smole.

A quick trip to the lake
Before the temperature plummets and it rains on Tuesday, people can enjoy the heat by swimming in Klagenfurt's lido until Sunday evening.