Swiss people swim the river home after work

To beat the summer heat and avoid rush-hour traffic, many Swiss people choose to travel home by river after work. But they do not travel by boat. In the capital Bern, after work, many employees put their belongings in waterproof bags, change into swimsuits and float down the clear Aare River to go home.

"It only takes me about 30 seconds to walk from my office to the river," said local resident Evelyn Schneider-Reyes. "I put all my clothes, shoes, wallet and phone in a waterproof bag and swim for about 15 minutes to get home."

The temperature in Switzerland in the summer is around 18-28 degrees Celsius, the water temperature of the Aare River fluctuates between 15-22 degrees Celsius. The capital's authorities have set up red-painted entry and exit points for people to hold on to when they get to shore.

https://video.vnexpress.net/embed/v_403693

Swiss people swim home after work on the Aare River in the capital Bern. Video: Digital Journey Channel

In the city of Basel, about 100 km north of Bern, locals also follow the flow of the Rhine River to get home after work. Authorities have also set up shower houses along the riverbank so people can shower and change clothes.

"Everyone has a fish-shaped waterproof bag to put their things in. Before and after work, adults, children, dogs, everyone floats along the Rhine to move,"

Alexas, a travel blogger, described. Videos of these river routes in Switzerland have attracted millions of views on social media. "It's unbelievable. They use the flow to take them home, they can exercise, relax, enjoy the sun and beautiful nature," one commenter wrote.

https://www.tiktok.com/@pubityearth/video/7150616921094819078

Swiss people swim home after work on the Rhine River in the city of Basel. Video: TikTok/@pubityearth

According to local media, although the Aare and Rhine rivers are safe to navigate, people can be in danger if they are inexperienced at swimming or do not follow certain safety measures, such as entering the water while intoxicated.

"Swimming in the Aare is one of the summer joys of the capital's residents, but some serious incidents still occur," Bern authorities advise.

"You should also not be too relaxed when going with the flow. It is important to understand the current and know where to go in and out safely," said Anna Baehni, who lives near the Aare. She went swimming for the first time with experienced friends.

Accoding Vnexpress