Where to Swim, and Learn to Swim, in New York City

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When the city gets hot, and opening a hydrant just isn’t enough, you’ve got to find a place to swim.

Where to do that, what the rules are, what to bring with you — and where to find lessons if you don’t know how to stay afloat — aren’t always easy to figure out.

Here’s our guide on the best places to find a place to take a dip in the five boroughs:

Jump to …

• Where can I go swimming for free in New York City?
• Where can I go swimming for cheap in the city?
• What should I bring to the city’s public pools?
• Will there be lifeguards?
• Can I swim in New York City’s rivers?
• Where can’t I go swimming?
• Where can I learn to swim?
• How do I find swim lessons that are right for me?

Where can I go swimming for free in New York City?

You have two main options: the pool or the beach.

This summer, 50 outdoor city-run pools will be open to the public across the five boroughs. (Opening day corresponds with public school’s end; in 2024, pools open on June 27.) Entrance is completely free, but you have to bring your own sturdy lock to stow away your belongings while you swim.

This year, the pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with an hour break at 3 p.m. for cleaning.

Though historically, the pools offered a free early morning and late evening adult lap-swimming program, that was shut down during COVID in 2020 and has yet to return amid an ongoing lifeguard shortage. A Parks Department official told THE CITY there are no plans to bring back the lap-swimming program.

Of course, there is also the beach.

New York City has 14 miles of public beaches, most managed by the city. For example, Orchard Beach in The Bronx is managed by the Parks Department, while Jacob Riis Beach in the Rockaways is part of the federal government’s national park system. This year beaches are open through Sept. 8, and lifeguards are on duty from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You can find a city-run beach using this look-up tool from the Parks Department.

Where can I go swimming for cheap in the city?

If you can afford a fee, try the city’s recreation centers, 12 of which have pools accessible only to members. In 2024, annual membership fees are $150 for adults and $20 for seniors over age 62, veterans and people with disabilities. All New Yorkers under the age of 24 are eligible for free memberships .

If you’re looking for a private pool, get ready to pay. According to Curbed , there are over 15,000 private pools in New York City, many of them in private buildings. Some of them can be accessed with paid day passes, which you can check out on websites like Resort Pass . Beware, these prices can range from $50 all the way up to $1,250 and availability varies.

What should I bring to the city’s public pools?

According to the Parks Department, as little as possible.

The only things allowed on the pool deck are your towel and yourself. Anything else, including phones, books, newspapers, foods and glass bottles, are not allowed on the pool deck. You must wear a swimsuit onto the deck, and if you bring any clothes to use as a cover up, they must be white and cannot have any colors on them, according to the Parks Department. That rule has been in place for almost three decades and stems from anti-gang measures put in place after a spate of gun violence , including a shooting at a public pool, in 1989.

Your best bet is to leave everything in a locker, and you will not be admitted without bringing your own lock.

Will there be lifeguards?

Yes, but not as many as there should be.

As THE CITY has reported, the Parks Department has been struggling to hire lifeguards for years, despite increased recruiting efforts, an increased hourly rate, and a recently updated contract with the lifeguard union. Lifeguard shortages have led to decreased programming and decreased hours over the last few years.

It is not safe to swim without a lifeguard present, so please don’t do it! According to the United States Lifesaving Association, a vast majority of fatal drownings occur in unguarded waters. In a 2023 study with data from 121 agencies across the country, 86% of all drowning deaths reported were in unguarded waters.

New York State regulations state that swimming is prohibited on beaches without lifeguard supervision, though enforcement varies.

Can I swim in New York City’s rivers?

Taking a dip in the Hudson or East rivers is not technically illegal. But there are a lot of reasons why it’s not a good idea.

While the rivers are as clean as they have been in decades , the waters are still impacted by factors like forever chemicals , algal blooms , and sewage after rainstorms . Plus, if you do it and you’re not prepared for the strong current or are not an experienced swimmer, you’re putting yourself at great risk — and risking the safety of emergency personnel who may have to rescue you.

That being said, sanctioned river events throughout the year for trained swimmers include the New York City Triathlon , the 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim and the Liberty to Freedom Swim . These events and the groups who organize them are familiar with the waters and ensure safety measures to keep their participants from harm.

Michael Dulong, legal program director of Riverkeeper, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Hudson, recommends leaving open water river swims to experienced groups familiar with the rivers and how to safely navigate them.

If you choose to go into the city’s rivers, the Waterfront Alliance recommends the following guidelines:

• Swim from an operating beach (of which there are none for rivers inside New York City’s limits).
• Do not swallow the water.
• Make sure to keep your head and face above water.
• Rinse off after swimming.
• Do not swim in areas with heavy vessel traffic.

But seriously, you might want to consider a pool or the ocean instead.

Where can’t I go swimming?

In general, if the body of water is not designated as an official beach or swimming pool and does not have a lifeguard patrolling the water, you probably shouldn’t swim there. This includes canals, harbors, ports, and reservoirs.

Where can I learn to swim?

Private swim schools provide lessons at a price, but the city parks’ free Learn to Swim program is slated to make a return this summer, according to a Parks Department official. However, date or timeline has yet been set for its restarting.

City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, chair of the Committee on Parks & Recreation, has advocated for wider public access to swim lessons.

“For a city surrounded by water, a shocking number of New York City children don’t know how to swim. This problem is compounded by the lack of public pools, especially in communities of color,” said Krishnan.

Nonprofit organizations are trying to fill the gaps. The YMCA of Greater New York offers lessons year round at 21 locations across the city, with financial assistance available. Other organizations include Rising Tide Effect , Asphalt Green , Swim Strong and First Strokes . Many of these programs prioritize historically disadvantaged communities and offer scholarships. Prices can range from $150 for a package of classes up to several hundred dollars for a package at different locations.

How do I find swim lessons that are right for me?

Kaitlin Krause, CEO of Rising Tide Effect, a nonprofit that provides swim lessons for underserved New Yorkers, recommends thinking about two elements of learning how to swim: water safety education and technical swim skills.

“Look at this whole process of water safety education as starting on land,” says Krause.

According to Krause, some other questions to ask yourself and potential swim schools include:

• Are the instructors Red Cross certified?
• Is there a curriculum the instructors are working off of, or are they making things up on the fly?
• How close or convenient are the lessons to get to me?
• If lessons are too far, will I be motivated to stick with them?

Krause came into this work after a lifetime of competitive swimming and many years as the chief operating officer of a swimming school before founding Rising Tide Effect and working to increase access to water safety and swim skills for underserved communities.

“It is unacceptable that, due to socio-economic hardships, some individuals will never have the opportunity to learn a life skill and experience the water,” Krause says.

For her, learning to swim goes beyond just being safe or having fun.

“Swimming is lifesaving, supports physical and mental well-being, and provides a framework for personal development. I believe swimming can change the world and unite humanity.”

Additional reporting by Katie Honan.

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