Free entry to Zagreb city pools offered this weekend during  heatwave

Mladost (Photo: stanove Upravljanje sportskim objektima/Grad Zagreb)

Zagreb’s Šalata swimming pools reopened on Wednesday, 25 June, following extensive work to upgrade the water-quality maintenance system at the popular outdoor complex.

The reopening comes as the Croatian capital experiences its first heatwave of the year.

To provide residents with additional places to cool down, the City of Zagreb has announced that entry to all city pools managed by the Sports Facilities Management Institution will be free from Friday to Sunday.

Šalata has long been one of Zagreb’s best-known summer swimming locations.

Mayor Tomislav Tomašević said the reopening had been timed to coincide with the period of high temperatures, adding that the upgraded pool system would provide improved conditions and greater safety for visitors.

The works at Šalata included the repair and replacement of the entire filtration system and pool equipment responsible for maintaining water hygiene and cleanliness.

The project was valued at almost €750,000, including VAT. Following completion of the works, the Dr Andrija Štampar Teaching Institute of Public Health carried out the required tests of water-quality parameters.

The tests confirmed that all conditions for the safe use of the pools had been met.

Visitors can also access the Šalata complex via the recently renovated Schlosser Steps.

In addition to Šalata, several other city pools are available to the public during the summer.

The outdoor pool at Mladost Sports Park has been open to visitors since 1 June, while indoor pools at the Mladost, Utrina, Iver and Jelkovec complexes are also available.

Opening hours for the city’s swimming pools are available on the Sports Facilities Management Institution website.