“Monocle 24 – The Urbanist” Fernando Augusto Pacheco takes the plunge into one of Zürich’s lakeside public baths.

Badis are essentially public “baths” or “swimming areas”, where you can come to swim in the lake or the river, and then cool off on the wooden docks or grass, grab something to eat or drink, socialize and pass the hours reading, sleeping, tanning or just enjoying the sun. Most badis in Zürich cost 8 Francs to enter, though some are free.