Badeschiff, Arena, Schlessiches Tor, Xberg

On Thursday I went to Badeschiff; created from a recycled river cargo container and floating on the river Spree, is one of Berlin’s most unusual swimming pools. Since its opening in 2004, it has become a true hot spot in town: deep blue swimming pool, wooden boardwalks, an open-air bar, stunning view and a hell of a lot of trendy people. The small 32m by 8m pool is kept to a comfortable 24 degrees Celsius and non-swimmers aren’t allowed in the water, so don’t even try!

Originally conceived by local artist Susanne Lorenz, the Badeschiff has inspired similar projects in urban rivers around the globe. The splashing fun isn’t just limited to the summers, though—each year between November and March the entire area is covered by a translucent shell and transformed into an enclosed wellness area. Architect Gil Wilk’s prize-winning design for the Winter Badeschiff includes two saunas, an outdoor cooling platform, a heated pool, a bar and relaxing areas, making Berlin’s long winter a bit more bearable.www.arena-berlin.de/badeschiff