When the weather starts heating up, it’s time to cool off in refreshing nature pools and stop for a gelato afterward, right? One thing I love about Vicenza is that you have a lot of scenic places with clear, refreshing water right in your backyard. Here’s my guide on places to go outdoor swimming near Vicenza where you can find all the coolest (literally) nature pools and waterfalls.
Outdoor Swimming Near Vicenza – 8 Awesome Day Trip Ideas
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First up – want to make the most of your time in Vicenza?
Before we get started, if you want to adventure to the fullest check out my Ultimate Vicenza Bucket List.
It’s got 50 outdoor adventures, 50 town adventures, 50 4-day weekend adventures, 7 leave block plans, and 10 unique events. Basically a huge list to help you make the most of your time living in Vicenza.
Contra Pria
Distance: About 40 minutes from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use ‘Contra Pria’ or coordinates ’45°49’09.5″N 11°22’07.1″E’
Contra Pria is a gorgeous natural swimming area with a scenic mountain backdrop. The beautiful, emerald water is a bit cold, but super refreshing on those hot summer days.
The biggest challenge is finding a spot as it can get crowded on weekends (it’s best to arrive early if you can.) You can chill out at the beachy areas which tend to be more crowded or do a mini hike to find a quieter area on the rocks to hang out.
It’s a good spot for swimming, sun baking, or even doing a little cliff jumping off the bridge if you’re a bit more adventurous. I’ve also seen people kayaking and snorkeling in some areas. There’s something for everyone!
Contra Pria
Pozze Smeraldine
Distance: About 2.5 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use ‘Area Picnic Tramonti di Sopra / Tramonç disora’ or coordinates ’46°18’07.2″N 12°46’57.2″E’
Pozze Smeraldine, or the Emerald Pools, is another awesome natural swimming spot. The Google Maps location I suggested will take you to the parking area.
There’s a nice picnic area by the water and you can simply stay there if you want, or walk along the water to find more swimming areas. It’s a long stretch and pretty easy to find your own quiet spot.
It’s a nice place to cool off in the water, have a picnic lunch, and get some sunshine.
Pozze Smeraldine
Tramonti di Sopra nature pool
Distance: About 2 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: 46°15’46.1″N 12°44’21.8″E
If you want to swim in a local spot that’s a little more off the beaten path, then this nature pool is a great option.
There’s a cool waterfall, pool area, and you can walk along the water to find other swimming areas. That’s kind of an ongoing theme with these nature pools – you don’t have to be restricted to one area.
If you plan to stay for a while, you’ll want to bring your snacks and water because there’s not much around within walking distance.
Check out my full guide for visiting Tramonti di Sopra here.
Tramonti di Sopra nature pool
Lago di Garda
Distance: Varies but there are a good range of spots about 1-2 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Of course, you can’t miss out on Lago di Garda. It’s beautiful any time of year, but especially in summer when you can swim in that iconic water.
It’s huge so there are a lot of different areas you can go for a swim and they range from super crowded to quiet (by Garda standards anyway.) There’s also a range of things to do from just swimming on your own to water sports, boat rentals, and even some hikes nearby.
Since it is so popular and touristy, it’s best to arrive early to make it easier to find a park and expect slightly higher prices for things like food and parking.
Check out my full guide on places to swim at Lago di Garda here.
Lago di Garda
Cascate del Silan
Distance: About 40 minutes from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use ‘Cascata del Silan’ or coordinates ’45°47’01.5″N 11°41’35.1″E’
This one is not a swimming area as such, but it’s really close to Ederle and makes for a nice place to cool off in summer if you want an easy adventure.
Cascate del Silan is an easy hike that takes you to a waterfall. There’s not a swimming pond at the bottom of the waterfall but you can splash in the water a bit and it’s a good spot for kids since it’s shallow.
There’s also a cool natural jacuzzi above the waterfall but of course that’s up to you if you want to veer off the trail to swim in that.
Check out my full guide on hiking to Cascate del Silan here.
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Cascata del Pisulat
Distance: About 2 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use ‘Cascata del Pisulat’ in Google Maps or coordinates ’46°15’44.8″N 12°50’05.6″E’ for the beginning of the hike.
If you want to add a hike to your swimming adventure, this one’s for you. And, really you can swim in the pools anywhere along the trail so if you don’t want to hike the whole way, you can still enjoy cooling off at the peaceful area.
If you do hike all the way, you come to a pretty impressive waterfall with a big pond at the bottom to swim in.
The coordinates I shared are where the hike begins, but you will need to park a little further back and walk there.
It’s best to have lightweight hiking shoes for this hike since you walk through water in a few areas. I swear by these ones for water hikes and they’ve lasted me for years. They’ve got great stability for slippery sections and dry off really fast so you’re not bogged down with water filled shoes.
If you’re interested in more hikes in the area, check out my guide on hikes in the Dolomites.
Cascate Pisulat
Cascate di Crosis
Distance: About 2 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use ‘Cascate Di Crosis – Crosis waterfall/Pissande di Crosis’ or coordinates ’46°14’13.9″N 13°13’46.0″E’
Cascate di Crosis is another local waterfall spot with lots of ponds to swim in.
This one doesn’t have a long hike to get to it, instead you just walk down a short path off the side of the road. Maybe that sounds like it’s crazy but it’s a really family friendly spot and the path is pretty easy.
The waterfall is made from a dam above. If you hear an alarm go off while you’re there it means they’re about to release water from the dam and you should move away from the bottom of the falls.
Aside from the pond under the waterfall, you can also follow the water and swim in the ponds downstream. Overall, a cool off the beaten path place to cool off.
Cascate di Crosis
Torrente Canali
Distance: About 2 hours from Caserma Ederle.
Google Maps info: Use coordinates ’46°11’58.2″N 11°51’57.1″E’ for the parking area.
This family friendly spot is an awesome place to go for a swim because the bright, blue water is just mesmerizing! Since many of the other nature pools are bright green, this one has a fun uniqueness to it.
Not only that, but you can make a full day of your time here because there are a lot of hikes by the water (they’re well marked so you can just look for the signs), and incredible mountain views.
If you just want to chill out, there’s room to sit at the edge of the water to sit and relax too.
Check out my full guide on Torrente Canali here.
Torrente Canali
If you prefer swimming pools
If you prefer to swim in pools, you also have a couple of options nearby.
Firstly, I’d recommend Terme di Relilax in Abano Terme. Abano Terme is a thermal spa town about 30 minutes from Caserma Ederle.
The whole town is full of hotels that offer day visits to their relaxing indoor and outdoor pools, as well as saunas, steam rooms, and spas. It’s definitely a cool place to visit while you’re living in Vicenza!
I really liked visiting Terme di Relilax and especially loved the outdoor pool and aromatherapy showers.
Another option is the Aquardens in Verona which is an awesome option for a family day out. At this waterpark they have a big range of pools, swim up bar, activities for kids, and spa.
Lastly, you can also make a weekend trip to the mountains where you can plan a relaxing spa getaway. I really love and recommend Hotel Miramonti which has a fantastic infinity pool and the Japanese onsen pool pictured below.
Hotel Miramonti
Other guides you might enjoy:
- Treat Yo’Self – 5 Awesome Luxury Spa Hotels Near Vicenza
- 14 Easy Hikes Near Vicenza – Kid And Dog Friendly Day Trips
- My Favorite Local Businesses In Vicenza That Will Make Your Life Better
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