Not only can you swim in the rivers of Bern and Basel— but thousands of locals regularly take the plunge. From a morning commute to a relaxing weekend escape, discover how rivers are at the heart of everyday Swiss life. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim, follows the currents of Switzerland's alpine rivers into the depths of history, culture and identity. 

How Rivers Reveal Years of Swiss Culture

In this episode you will learn: 

• How the Rhine was transformed into a meeting place for swimmers


• What river swimming reveals about the people and culture of major Swiss cities


• What our changing world could mean for the future of alpine river swimming.  

Behind Every Great Swiss City, There’s A River.

Don’t miss these transformative travel moments: 

[5:19 ] A legacy of guarding the rights of swimmers in Basel.

[8:14 ] Three distinct relationships with the Rhine.

[11:07 ] An insightful swim at Rheinbad Breite, a 125-year-old bathhouse. 

[12:54 ] What does climate change mean for the future of Alpine river swimming?

Swimming for a Slice of Life

Afar contributor, and author of Why We Swim, Bonnie Tsui has swimming in her DNA. Her parents met in a pool in Hong Kong, she worked as a lifeguard growing up in New York, and she often swims when she travels—she's the perfect person to explore Switzerland’s river swimming culture. 

In this episode you’ll learn how to enhance a trip to Switzerland by swimming its rivers, hear how locals see rivers as an important thread in the fabric of Swiss life and culture, and be inspired by the people who are working to protect the future of alpine river swimming. 

Resources

• Read the transcript of the episode

• Order Bonnie’s book Why We Swim

• Read more of Bonnie’s work on her website. 

• Pre-order Bonnie's latest book, On Muscle:The Stuff That Moves Us and Why it Matters. 

Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Unpacked, which unpacks a tricky topic in travel each week.