The 7 best places for ice bathing and what the trend really brings

There are things that people generally don't do: jumping from hills into meter-deep abysses, consciously getting into a fist fight or voluntarily jumping into ice-cold water. And then there are people who do exactly that and overcome their inner rejection. That's exactly what happens whenIce bathing– a hobby that is becoming more and more popular every year. If you also want to try it out and/or have a taste for it: we'll tell youthe most beautiful placesand also tell you,what effects ice bathing has on your health.

We admit: yourselfIce bathingTo dare and put yourself in really nasty cold water takes a lot of effort. But like so many things in life, once you've made it, you really feel like you can move snow-capped mountains.

Ice bathing is scientifically proven to be healthy – as long as you do it “right” and pay attention to a few important details. Here are the 11 basic beginner rules that you should definitely keep in mind:

The Ammersee, after all the third largest Alp lake in Bavaria (after Lake Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg), is not only a well-known bathing lake, but also a well-known ice bathing lake. Although it has to be said: the most famous ice bathing event of the season has already taken place, namely the Herrschinger Christmas swim. This always takes place on Christmas Eve and has a long tradition. The first Christmas swim took place more than 25 years ago. But even away from the Christmas bohei, you can go to the Ammersee when the outside temperatures are freezing - even if you sometimes have to make holes in the frozen lake with an ice ax.

An ice bath in the natural ice palace in the Hintertux Glacier is definitely something special. This is generally a great excursion destination because it is a unique natural gem in the world, about an hour and a half away from Innsbruck. It is an ice cave in which the temperature is around 0 degrees all year round, meaning: you can go ice bathing there even in summer if necessary - directly under a glacier, completely surrounded by ice. Definitely an experience that you won't soon forget. However, you must provide a medical certificate stating that there are no health concerns. If you decide to chicken out spontaneously, you can instead hike through the ice cave or take a boat through it. The lake in the glacier ice is also the training area of ​​the International Ice Swimming Association.

Another incredibly good spot for ice bathing is Lake Faak in Carinthia, Austria, south of Villach, which offers perfect conditions for diving into the icy cold water. Anyone who has previously been to Eisbaden also has the opportunity to take part in appropriate workshops under professional guidance, which are offered by the Karnerhof, for example.

From a tourist perspective, the Kaunertal Glacier is known primarily as a ski area, but the milkmaid or milkboy calculation is simple: Where it is cold and there is water, you can also go ice bathing - including in Weißsee on the Kaunertal Glacier. The surrounding glacier, but also the low water temperature around freezing point, make ice bathing in Weißsee a unique, albeit quite cold, experience.

In Sweden, and in Scandinavian countries in general, ice bathing is part of the culture. Whether old or young, winter swimming in the cold water is practiced by many people, mainly in lakes somewhere in nature. However, if you prefer something a little more comfortable, you can also visit a cold bath house instead, such as Riberborgs Kallbadhus in Malmö. In addition to the possibility of ice bathing, this also offers changing rooms, showers and a sauna. And above all, Ribersborgs Kallbadhus is also very beautiful architecturally. It is also one of the oldest in the country and is already 125 years old - so much for the trend. At the end of an approximately 300 meter long jetty, the “Kallis” stands on stilts in the sea. In the winter months you sometimes have to swim from jetty to jetty between small sheets of ice. But in the end, the sauna and whirlpool definitely make up for the cold exertions.

Another great place for ice bathing is the beautiful Fuschlsee in Austria in the Salzburg part of the Salzkammergut, which belongs to the municipality of Fuschl am See. If you stand there trembling and don't dare, there's a tip for you: If you jump for three minutes straight, your brain assumes that you're happy and releases the corresponding happiness hormones. Then your inner bastard is significantly smaller.

The best thing about ice bathing in the Swiss Untersee near Arosa is that they call it Eisbadi, don't you agree? And when someone asks you and says: “Gömmer go iisbade”, then you almost can’t say no anymore. This “first ice bath in Europe” has existed since 2021, where beginners can go ice bathing every day from 2:30 p.m. under professional supervision. The spot is freely accessible to professionals at any time. Ice bathing there is particularly beautiful under the full moon and torchlight. Various events also take place there, from readings to snow yoga. And also good to know: There is also a sauna there to warm up later!