Summer weather draws people to outdoor pools

Outdoor pool operators in Saxony are delighted with this year’s many sunny days and strong visitor numbers. Both the outdoor pools in Leipzig and Chemnitz are seeing higher attendance than during last year’s season, the pool operators reported when asked. Dresden’s outdoor pools have recorded a similar number of visitors so far as in 2025, spokesperson Lars Kühl said. One fewer outdoor pool is open there this year than last year.

June was good, July mixed

Warm days in May and especially in June drove visitor numbers up, reported Katja Gläß, spokesperson for Leipzig’s public swimming pools. In July, turnout was more subdued due to changeable weather and the summer break, explained her Dresden-based colleague Kühl. “We’re now hoping for stable summer weather and a return of vacationers.”

The two outdoor pools in Plauen extended their hours by one hour last week due to summery weather. No such extension is planned in the major cities. In Leipzig, most outdoor pools are open until 8:00 p.m. anyway, and the Schreberbad is even open until 9:00 p.m. The outdoor pools in Chemnitz are also open until 8:00 p.m. In Dresden, swimming is available until 7:00 p.m., and at the Georg-Arnhold-Bad, even until 9:00 p.m.

Outdoor swimming season runs through late August/early September

The outdoor swimming season will continue at least through the end of August. In Chemnitz, the season is scheduled to end on August 30. The city announced that the outdoor swimming season could be extended if the weather forecast is favorable. Leipzig will follow on the first weekend of September, with the option to keep two pools open for an extra week if the weather permits. The outdoor pools in Dresden will close on September 6 and 13, respectively.