Schwarzsee in Kitzbühel: A Practical Guide to the Lake

The Schwarzsee is the answer to “where do you swim in Kitzbühel?” It’s close enough to walk to, warm enough for children, and small enough to walk round before dinner. This guide covers the lido, the free shore walk, getting there without a car and when to avoid the crowds.

What the Schwarzsee is

It’s a natural moor lake in a nature reserve between Kitzbühel and Reith, at 762 m above sea level and about 7 m deep. The Tirol tourism board calls it the warmest moor lake in Tyrol.

The water is dark because of the peat and nutrients in the moor, and that’s also why it warms quickly. Kitzbühel’s tourist board says the dark, nutrient-rich water heats up fast and often stays pleasantly warm well into September (kitzbuehel.com). Tyrol’s board lists an average water temperature of 22 °C. Those are the official figures; we haven’t measured it.

For most visitors it’s one easy afternoon of a wider trip. If you’re planning the rest of the season, start with our overview of summer in Kitzbühel, or see everything else to do in Kitzbühel across the year.

Swimming at the lido

The main place to swim is the municipal lido, the Städtisches Freibad at Am See 5. It has a sunbathing lawn, slides including a children’s slide, a springboard and diving platform, a baby pool, a playground, beach volleyball, table tennis, a restaurant and boat hire, according to the Tirol tourism board’s listing.

If you’re staying overnight in the Kitzbühel region, the KitzCard guest card took €1 off the day ticket and €5 off the 10-visit pass in 2026 (kitzbuehel.com, as of November 2026).

The lido is open in summer only. We couldn’t confirm the 2027 season dates or daily hours on an official page, so check the lido’s page on kitzbuehel.com or call the town office before you go.

Our view: if you’re with children, the lido is worth the money for the slides and the baby pool alone. A couple who just want a swim can save the full-day ticket and come for the cheaper late-afternoon slot.

Can you swim for free?

We can’t give you a clear answer. The official pages describe the municipal lido and a separate lakeside beach at the Alpenhotel, but none of them say whether swimming from the open shore outside those areas is allowed. Much of the shoreline is a nature reserve, so don’t assume you can wade in anywhere. If free swimming matters to you, ask at the tourist office in town.

Getting there

The lake is about 2 km from the centre, in the direction of Reith and Kirchberg (Tirol tourism board). You have four options.

On foot. About 25 minutes from the centre, per the same listing. It’s an easy walk on the flat.

By train. The lake has its own stop, Kitzbühel Schwarzsee, about five minutes’ walk from the lido entrance. This is the easiest option if you’re staying near one of the town’s railway stations.

By bus. Buses from Kitzbühel towards Reith stop by the lake, and a bathing bus (Bäderbus) runs in July and August. Check the current timetable at the tourist office, as we couldn’t confirm line numbers.

By car or bike. There’s a free car park right by the entrance (Kitzbüheler Alpen). On hot weekends it fills, so cycling is often quicker.

If you’re arriving by air, our guide to transfers from Salzburg Airport covers the trip into town.

Walking around the lake

You don’t need a ticket to walk round the Schwarzsee. The Schwarzsee Loop is 2.5 km with 33 m of climbing, mostly on gravel paths, and it passes through the nature reserve. During the bathing season the loop is reached via the car park entrance.

It makes a good evening walk after dinner in town. If you want more than a lake loop, the Bichlach walking route links the Schwarzsee with the meadows towards Reith, about 8.4 km and 3 hours according to kitzbuehel.com (as of November 2026).

Neither will feel like the mountains. For that, pick a proper mountain hike from the lifts, or spend the other half of your day on the Horn and its alpine garden, which pairs well with an afternoon swim.

With children

The Schwarzsee is one of the easiest family days in Kitzbühel. The lido has a baby pool, a children’s slide and a playground, and the café means you don’t have to pack lunch. The lake warms up faster than mountain lakes, so even younger children can stay in for longer.

Keep an eye on them by the diving platform and in the open lake, which is 7 m deep at its deepest. For more ideas on other days, see our guide on what to do with children.

When to go

Go on a weekday morning or after 4 pm on hot days. The afternoon ticket is cheaper and the lawn empties as families head home. Midday on a sunny weekend in July or August is the time to avoid.

June to August is the main season, and the tourist board says the water often stays warm into September. Our page on the best time to visit compares the summer months.

In winter the tourist board lists a Schwarzsee winter walk from the town centre. Conditions on the shore and any ice depend on the weather, so never walk on the lake unless it’s officially open.

Nearby: golf and staying close

The Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith golf course runs along the lake, and our page on the golf courses compares it with the others.

If the lake is the centre of your trip, consider staying near the lake or in Reith: it’s quieter than the old town, and you can walk to the water before breakfast.

Is it worth it?

If you want one easy warm-weather afternoon in Kitzbühel, this is it. Take the train or walk, pay for the lido if you have children, and walk the loop at the end of the day. Then spend the next clear morning on the Horn.