Roundup
Where to swim in the Balkans
Five of the best wild swimming spots in the Balkans, what they cost, how cold the water gets and where swimming is banned.
Founder, from Ruma, Serbia
Why swim in the Balkans
Few corners of Europe pack this much swimmable water into so small an area: karst rivers, glacial lakes, icy spring pools and a coast full of coves. Almost all of it is free.
The rules have changed, and older guides are out of date. Swimming at Krka has been banned since 2021, and Plitvice has never allowed it. Comfortable swims run June to September. Outside that, anything fed by springs or snowmelt is a quick dip at best.
Kravice Waterfalls, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Best for: the classic waterfall swim. June to September. From around €10 entry.
Kravice is a wide crescent of falls around 25 metres high on the Trebižat River, 40 minutes south of Mostar. Park above, walk down and swim in the green pool below the cascades. With Krka and Plitvice off limits, it is the one big waterfall swim left in the region.
Foreign adults pay 20 KM, about €10, and children under seven go free. Keep clear of the base of the falls, where the water churns. Skip midday in July and August, when day trips from Split and Dubrovnik pack the banks. A day tour from Mostar from €40 adds Blagaj and Počitelj.
Blue Eye of Theth, Albania
Best for: a cold-water challenge at the end of a hike. June to September. Free on foot, guided trips from €47.
A small, deep spring pool in the Accursed Mountains, so blue it looks lit from below. It is two to three hours each way on foot from the valley below Theth, through beech forest with cafés along the trail.
The water sits around 5 to 7°C even in August, so this is one gasping plunge, not a swim. Never go in alone, and skip it if you have a heart condition. Don't confuse it with the Blue Eye near Saranda, where swimming is not allowed. Guided day trips run from Tirana, Durrës and Shkodër, but expect an 11 to 13 hour day.
Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Best for: alpine swimming without the crowds. Late June to early September. Free.
Bohinj is Slovenia's largest natural lake, set inside Triglav National Park with mountain walls on three sides. Even in August you can find a quiet stretch of shore. Ribčev Laz at the east end and Ukanc at the west are the easiest places to get in.
The surface peaks at about 24°C, a few degrees colder than Bled, and the official bathing season runs from mid-June to the end of August. In hot, dry spells, check for posted algae warnings. In July and August, arrive before the car parks fill.
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Best for: families and long, easy swims. June to September. Free, boat trips from €72.
Lake Ohrid is more than a million years old and fed largely by underwater springs, which keeps it remarkably clear. No salt, no swell, and in July and August it warms to the low to mid twenties, warm enough to stay in for an hour.
The signature swim is at Kaneo, a pebble beach below the clifftop church of St John: swim out, turn around, and you have the best view in the country. For more room, head along the eastern shore. A full-day boat trip runs to St Naum and its springs. Keep away from harbours and boat lanes.
Albanian Riviera, Albania
Best for: sea caves and coves you can only reach by water. June to September. Beaches free, kayak rental from €30.
The Ionian coast from Dhërmi to Himarë has some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean: white cliffs, pebble beaches and coves like Gjipe, tucked into the mouth of a small canyon. The Riviera is also cheaper than the Croatian coast.
The best swimming starts from a boat or kayak. Paddle out from Himarë to sea caves and beaches with no road access, and swim wherever you stop. This is open sea, so check the wind and stay close to shore. June and September beat the August crowds.
Mrežnica, Una and the Blue Cave
Mrežnica River, Croatia. Small travertine waterfalls under an hour from Plitvice, with green pools in between that warm up in July and August. Guided kayak trips from €55 make it half paddle, half swim, and children from six can join with a parent.
Una National Park, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Clean, clear river water near Bihać. Swimming is allowed on the Una only at marked spots, never within 50 metres of the waterfalls, Štrbački Buk included. Park entry applies; ask at the gate for the designated spots.
Blue Cave, Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. A sea cave near the mouth of the bay where the water glows blue. Three-hour boat trips from Kotor stop for a swim inside, from €37, with Our Lady of the Rocks on the way. May to October, and calm mornings are best.
How to choose
Want one great waterfall swim: Kravice, early or late in the day.
Travelling with young kids: Lake Ohrid or Bohinj in July and August.
Love cold water and a long walk: the Blue Eye of Theth.
Want warm sea and caves: the Albanian Riviera, in June or September.
Already visiting Plitvice: the Mrežnica, for the swim Plitvice won't give you.
Wherever you go, swim with someone, read the signs for local bans and give waterfalls and boat lanes a wide berth. Spring-fed water stays cold all summer, so get in slowly.
Balkan swimming questions
Can you swim at Krka and Plitvice?
No. Krka banned swimming for visitors from January 2021, including the famous pool below Skradinski Buk, to protect the ecosystem. Plitvice has always prohibited it. For a legal waterfall swim, go to Kravice in Bosnia and Herzegovina, about 40 minutes from Mostar.
Where is the best place to swim in the Balkans?
It depends on the swim you want. Lake Ohrid is best for long, warm, easy swims, Kravice for a waterfall, Lake Bohinj for alpine scenery and the Albanian Riviera for sea caves and clear Ionian water. The Blue Eye of Theth suits a short, icy plunge after a hike.
When is the water warm enough to swim?
June to September at most spots. Lake Ohrid reaches the low to mid twenties in July and August, and Lake Bohinj about 24°C at its warmest. Spring-fed water stays cold all summer: Kravice is noticeably colder than the sea, and the Blue Eye of Theth sits around 5 to 7°C year-round.
How much does wild swimming in the Balkans cost?
Most lakes, rivers and beaches are free. Kravice charges foreign adults 20 KM, about €10, and Una National Park charges park entry. Guided trips start from around €37 for a Kotor boat trip with a Blue Cave swim, €47 for Theth, €55 for kayaking the Mrežnica and €72 for a boat day on Lake Ohrid. Prices vary by season and operator, so check before booking.
Is wild swimming in the Balkans safe for children?
Yes, at the calm spots with close supervision. Lake Ohrid and Lake Bohinj have no current or swell, Kravice has no minimum age and children under seven enter free, and Mrežnica kayak trips take children from six with a parent. Keep kids well away from the base of waterfalls, and skip the icy Blue Eye with young children.
Ready for a swim day trip?
Compare guided swimming trips across the Balkans and book with a trusted local operator.
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