Houseboat vacations and swimming
Get your feet wet on the Mediterranean’s beautiful sandy beaches. Many of our cruises bring you to perfect swimming spots that kids—and adults—will love. Swimmers love cruises in the Midi, the Camargue, the Charente, the Lot, Italy, and Belgium, in particular. Our base operators can give you the scoop on where to swim, and where to stay on the boat. While we do not recommend swimming in the canals or some of the other waterways, there are plenty of places to safely take a dip.
Our top houseboat vacation destinations for swimming
Flanders, Belgium
This region includes the seaside hotspot of Nieuwpoort. So, there are plenty of opportunities to combine a tranquil canal cruise with fun on Nieuwpoort’s long, sandy beach which is full of vacation atmosphere, has excellent facilities and gives access to safe swimming in the sea.
Mecklenburg & Brandenburg, Germany
Lake Muritz, the biggest lake in Germany is a perfect place to drop anchor and go for a refreshing swim. In August, hundreds of swimmers head for Waren to take part in the Müritz Swim which has taken place annually for over 30 years over a 1,950 meter long course.
Lot, France
As its name suggests, The River Lot is a natural flowing river and as such, it is cleaner than man-made canals and perfect for swimming in. Furthermore, there are many riverside beaches dotted along the way such the ones at Caix & Bouzies, which are ideal for sunbathing and enjoying a refreshing dip.
Camargue, France
The Canal du Rhone a Sete runs almost parallel with the coast giving access to a long stretch of seaside resorts and opportunities to swim in the Mediterranean sea. You will also cruise through the vast inland lake, the Etang de Thau, which is also good for swimming and is warmer than the Med. It has a good beach close to Meze. And for more energetic fun in the water, Aqualand Cap d'Agde is one of Europe's best known water parks, with nine slides and a huge wave pool.
Venice & Friuli, Italy
This region includes several beach resorts including Jesolo, Grado, Bibione and Lignano all with plenty of shops, restaurants and amusements. Bibione and Lignano, in particular, boast 8kms of fine sandy beaches and the sea is clean and safe - every year Lignano is awarded a blue flag for excellence. For fun in the pool, take the kids to Aqualandia in Jesolo, a water park with rave reviews.
Looking for more vacation inspiration?
Take a look at all our houseboat rental vacation activities to see what else you could discover on your Le Boat vacation.