On a grey Sunday in May, I walked through the gates of Strandbad Zug for the first time since the rebuild and stopped. The Badi I’ve been bringing my kids to for twenty years has doubled in size, and the whole place was humming with the energy of something brand new.
Strandbad Zug reopened on May 9th, 2026, after a major expansion that adds a second side to the original Badi. New lawns, new lake access, new jumping platforms, and a gravel path that links the two halves.
The old side is still there: the big trees, the diving tower, the kids’ pool (now doubled in size).
The new side is greener, brighter, but a few summers away from being shady.
Together, they make Strandbad Zug the largest free lake bathing area in Zug, and one of the best free lake bathing areas in central Switzerland.
Here’s everything you need to know before you visit, from a local who’s spent more summers here than she can count.
What’s New at Strandbad Zug
The expansion didn’t replace the old Strandbad, it extended it!
A new section has been built alongside the original, connected by a curving gravel path that runs through the whole site.
The New Side
The new side is unmistakable. Very green grass, freshly laid. Young trees that won’t give real shade for years. The boundary is shaped by curved wooden slats, that contain the space without loosing the openness.
Sun loungers are new, stacked in piles, free to use with a coin deposit, much like a Swiss supermarket trolley.
The new side is home to the new self-service restaurant, part under cover, part open-air, with weather proof tables and chairs.
No umbrellas yet. And once the sun arrives properly that’s going to be a problem. So BYO shade is a must.
The lake access on the new side is via a wooden stepped platform that walks you straight down into the water. Or by the new sandy beach, ready for sand castles.
New flat rocks have been laid out for warming up after a swim – they’re going to be fought over.
There are two new floating platforms out on the lake to catch a breath in between strokes.
The Old Side, With a Touch of New
The old side is just as I remember. The big trees are still there, throwing deep shade the new side won’t have for years.
The kids’ pool has stayed, but has doubled in size, perfect for paddling.
The original diving tower is still here, but now it’s no longer the centre piece of the swimming spot.
In the distance, the alps are magnetic, just waiting to frame the sunset Zug is famous for.
d'Badi — "duh BAH-dee" — the public swimming spot
In Swiss German, every lakeside bathing area is "d'Badi" (or just "Badi"). You don't say "I'm going to the Strandbad" — you say "Mer gönd i d'Badi" ("we're going to the Badi"). It's a word every Swiss kid learns before they can swim.
Where Strandbad Zug is and How to Get There
By Bike or on Foot
Strandbad Zug sits on the lakeshore along the Chamer Fussweg, a short walk from Zug’s old town and the harbour. There are plenty of bike racks at both entrances and most locals arrive on two wheels.
By Public Transport
From Zug train station, it’s a 15-minute walk along the lake promenade. The Schutzengel train station, accessed by the local trains, is closer.
By Car
If you come by car, still plan to walk. The closest car park is at the Harbour and fills up quickly. If it is full, check at the Stierenmarkt. If there are no events on, the city opens up this gravel arena for summer parking. Check the parking signs first.
Opening Hours and Entry Price
Entry is free!
Strandbad Zug, like every Badi in the city of Zug, has no entrance fee. This is one of the best decisions the city of Zug has voted upon!
Opening hours are 9.00am till 10.00 pm, weather permitting, with Swimming allowed until 7.30pm, the change rooms close at 8.00pm. The restaurant closes at 9.30pm.
If the weather is mixed, always make sure you check their website (on the top lefthand side) to check if it is open. You don’t want to be standing outside a closed Badi.
The swimming season runs from early May until mid-September, weather permitting.
What to Bring to the Badi
- Towels and a picnic blanket: The lawns are generous, pick your spot
- Sun shade: The new side has very little of it. A small beach umbrella or sunshade is a smart investment.
- A 2 CHF coin: for the loungers if you want one. Also useful for the lockers in the change rooms.
- Sand Toys: The beach is grainy sand and the kids pool is shallow enough that buckets and spades earn their keep.
What not to bring
- Your stand-up paddle board: still not allowed, move down to Brüggli for that.
- Cameras: Photography and filming is not permitted, for the privacy of other guests
- Dogs: Sorry Bronte (my adorable Labradoodle), you will have to stay at home.
Eating and Drinking at the Strandbad
We now have two choices for eating and drinking at the Strandbad.
- The Kiosk: The old side has turned more into a kiosk, with drinks, ice creams, coffees and limited food. But don’t worry the amazingly salted French fries are still available on this side.
- Self-Service Restaurant: On the new side is where you will find a more substantial menu. Expect your standard Badi-fare, nuggets, burgers, Fischknusperli, to which you can add a side of fries or a mixed salad. New is the weekly special, hummus and pita, olives and pinsa.
Swimming in Lake Zug: What to Expect
Lake Zug is one of the warmer lakes in central Switzerland, regularly hitting 22-24°C in July and August. The water at the Strandbad Zug is clear, and the bottom slopes gently, one of only a few Badis in the region where small children can wade into the lake safely.
From the Badi’s shores you can see Pilatus and Rigi on most days, and on a clear day, the Eiger sits behind them in the distance. Even on the grey day of my visit, the view is spectacular.
Other Badis Around Lake Zug
While the Strandbad Zug is the central Badi on Lake of Zug, if you are spending more time in the canton, there are many more swimming areas to check out, each with its own character.
- Strandbad Hünenberg
- Badi Hirsgarten in Cham
- Tellenörtli in Oberwil (also free)
- Seeliken in Zug (also free)
- Brüggli just further on from the Strandbad (also free)
- Walchwil
- Arth
Walking through the new Strandbad, I find myself favouring the old side. The tables under the old trees. The shade that’s already there. But the new side will grow and adapt. What it always will be is the best free Badi in the canton, with the very best sunset.
