I’ll admit it. I’m a prude when it comes to being naked! That might be fine in Canada where I’m from, but in Germany where I now live? It’s a little bit odd!
My German partner at the time first introduced me to the naked German sauna when I was visiting him from Canada.
Swimsuits are not allowed for hygienic reasons – don’t ask me to explain that one! I swore it would be my last visit to a German sauna. And it was.
For a couple of years at least. I realized that the German sauna culture was one that I had to familiarise myself with before attempting another visit.
When we were invited on a skiing trip that would inevitably involve seeing 15 of his male friends and their wife’s naked bodies, I bailed. I mean, hello, how awkward would that be?
Not so much for him, as it turns out. Do you want your guy friends to see me naked? I asked him in disbelief. He just shrugged his shoulders. Why not? It’s just nature. It was one of the many shocks I experienced while with a German man.
It took me two years to recover from my initial sauna experience before I decided to give it another try. And yes, I fully admit I’m a prude.
Related Reading: Wellness Hotels in Germany to Check into for Ultimate Relaxation
Best Spa Hotels in Germany (with Saunas)
Berlin: The Mandala Hotel
Feel like a celebrity with world-class service and an elegant spa, just 100m away from Potsdamer Platz
Hamburg: Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (4 Seasons)
Relax on the beautiful terrace overlooking Alster Lake, dine in a Michelin star restaurant and rejuvenate at the luxury spa.
Munich: Rocco Forte The Charles Hotel
Overlooking the Old Botanical Garden and centrally located the spacious spa area features a pool, sauna, steam room, and a modern gym.
Bavarian Alps: Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden
Choose from both an outdoor and an indoor pool, while enjoying picturesque views of the mountains for the ultimate relaxation after a day exploring the mountains.
I’ll be honest. I’m still not a big fan of saunas in general and tend to feel faint after a few minutes.
But I have discovered some tips that can help the German sauna experience a bit easier for shy girls like myself if you aren’t lucky enough to have a sauna at home like this one for two people.
I’ve even come to find the “textile-free” areas of spas…gasp….not totally horrible. Albeit it is not totally comfortable either.
There is no doubt that regularly visiting a sauna has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and alleviating muscle pains.
I’m still much more of a fan of wellness hotels that offer saunas and in addition, lounging areas, indoor and outdoor pools, and beauty treatments.
Check out these wellness hotels in the Bavarian Alps on Booking.com.
Or, if you can’t overcome your shyness, or just love saunas, then consider a DIY sauna outdoor so that you’ll be able to enjoy it anytime you want!
Tip #1: Choose a Sauna Far From Home
Or at least a couple of hundred kilometres. That way, you’re far less likely to run into anyone you know.
Europe’s largest thermal bathing complex, Therme Erding is located near Munich, where I lived. I do not doubt that it’s spectacular. And I know that there are areas where you can wear clothes, but most of the areas require you to be naked.
My American friend and her husband were there in one of the naked areas and who did they run into? Her husband’s boss and his wife! It was understandably awkward for her. She said even her German husband didn’t know how to react!
By going farther away, you’re less likely to run into people that you know. And while I won’t go to a sauna at home, I usually choose a wellness hotel within a 2-hour drive. Otherwise, getting stuck in traffic disintegrates the relaxation effect.
Tip #2: Visit the Sauna at Off-Peak Hours
Go at off hours when it’s less likely to be busy. You can ask the spa if you’re not sure.
If you’re staying at a hotel near a ski hill, you can probably bet that the sauna is going to be busy in the evening when the skiers are relaxing their sore muscles. But perhaps it’s not so busy in the afternoon or first thing in the morning.
By going at off-peak hours, you also reduce your chances of sitting skin-skin beside a sweaty stranger in a sauna – which for me, is the complete opposite of relaxation!
Related Reading: What It’s Really Like to Stay in a Castle Hotel in Germany
Tip #3: Take Some Time for Personal Grooming
The naked sauna is not a sexual experience. Yes everyone looks at everyone else, but it’s not sexual. You don’t have to have the body of a model.
You’ll see all shapes and sizes and some jiggly bits. But the one thing that most people are? Well-groomed, especially the ladies.
I was surprised to see that almost every woman, regardless of her age, paid attention to her grooming situation. And let’s just leave it at that.
Tip 4: Go When the Sauna Has a Women Only Day
Some of the larger saunas have sections exclusively for women. The smaller ones will likely have a day of the week or one day of the month where only women are allowed.
This is a gentle introduction to your first German sauna if you’re not ready for a mixed sauna.
Related Reading: 15 Most Romantic Hotels in Europe
Tip 5: Don’t Go the German Sauna With Friends of the Opposite Sex
Much to my chagrin, many of my friends have seen my then-partner naked! Let me explain.
After playing badminton, he often goes to the sauna before grabbing a bite to eat. A few of the ladies in our badminton group go as well, so voila, everyone becomes more intimately familiar with each other.
Needless to say, that’s waaaaaay too much familiarity for me. Instead, I head straight to the restaurant and order a glass of wine.
It’s become a running joke now where every week he asks me whether I’ll be joining him in the sauna, knowing full well that I won’t.
Check out these wellness hotels in the Bavarian Alps on Booking.com
Tip 6: All Saunas Are Not Equal
Related Reading: Wellness Hotels in Germany to Check into for Ultimate Relaxation
Some, like the one at my badminton club, are small. So, if there are more than 3 or 4 people, there’s a good chance you’ll be in contact with another sweaty body!
Others are pure heaven. My favourite of all time is the Aqua Dome located in the Ötzal region of Austria.
The spa area is HUGE! You could spend several days exploring it. While there are clothing-required areas, like the incredible levitating pools, the majority of the areas require nudity.
This is not as much of a problem as you might think. Many of the rooms are dimly lit (as shown in the two above photos). And the saunas are large enough that everyone has his/her space.
Or if you’ve decided that you’re not that shy after all, you could swim lengths – in the naked pool :).
Check out this book for more insights into German Culture: German Men Sit Down To Pee And Other Insights Into German Culture
Also, check out these wellness hotels in Germany, which in addition to having sauna areas, also have wellness areas.
Hello Laurel. Read your post a few months back. Very informative about spas in general. Comments by others very helpful and entertaining. This past July, I finally had opportunity to experience (unfortunately without my wife but hope next time) a German sauna and Roman bath in Baden-Baden. I was still nervous and anxious to be naked with strangers but what did I have to lose other than all my clothes? I first started at Caracalla Therme. It’s a wonderful place with many different saunas and jacuzzi. So, I have my towel for some coverage. After a few minutes, I was all in with just using my towel to protect wood benches. Back and forth to all the saunas, full exposure. It was invigorating for this prudish American, a changed prudish American. I enjoyed my 2 hours. Then, I went next door to Friedrichsbad, the complete nude Roman bath. Even though I was just enjoying the saunas, I still had some anxiety. But, this experience was on my bucket list (public nudity) since obtaining milestone age. Let’s go so I paid for 4 hours. After removing clothes in locker room, I go to the first of 17 stations as they label them. So, here I am buck naked and greeted by 3 women attendants. Anxiety yes but I proceed forward as I have paid. After the hot dry air saunas, I proceed to the soap scrub. Guess gender attendant? Female! She motions me to table and states “face up”. There I am, naked and manhood in full exposure with female attendant. But, she was very professional and I just relaxed. I was hoping to stay longer but only 10 minutes. After that, I then enjoyed the various pools and moist saunas. Back and forth, very relaxing. After 3 hours, it was time to relax in warm blankets wrapped as a burrito. But, it was great. Then, I had some tea in final room. As i enjoyed my tea, I wondered to balcony. While enjoying the outside on balcony, I said to myself – “hello world. I am naked and enjoying myself with no more anxiety”. 4 hours and worth it. I hope you enjoyed my story and others will enjoy also. For many, public nudity is a challenge. Experience it and you will be grateful. It is nerve wracking at first but you will overcome.
Hello Laurel. Thanks for sharing your story, your experience. I enjoyed reading as I was investigating proper etiquette in German spas, saunas & baths. Reason to investigate is that my employer is Germany based so I have been traveling to Germany a few times. This past July, I knew that I would be traveling with colleagues (and unfortunately without my wife). I decided to investigate as mentioned and read the stories. All were quite informative as I prepared to stop in quaint town of Baden-Baden. There are 2 facilities; Caracalla Therme and Friedrichsbad. There is an upstairs in Caracalla Therme that has variety of saunas. This was going to be my first adventure with public nudity, a bucket list item since attaining a key age milestone. After a few temperature controlled saunas I was feeling relaxed with reduced anxiety. 2 hours passed quickly. Next stop same day was Friedrichsbad. You can investigate on own but this is a complete naked Roman bath (except dry steam rooms where you have cloth to lie on while reclining on chairs – they are hot). Upon entrance, I was greeted by female attendants (clothed) as I went on a mixed gender day. Some anxiety but not too bad. After the dry steam rooms, you can opt for soap scrub. I paid for service and it was wonderful. Again, female attendants and you start the scrubbing face up so my manhood is on full display. Female attendants are very professional so there is no “happy ending” as one would experience in other world locations. Shower off and off to warm pools and moisture laden steam rooms. So relaxing to point that one’s nudity anxiety is gone. I ventured to all these areas next 2.5 hours and was so relaxed. End with tea is quiet room. As I sipped tea on balcony (still fully naked), I said to myself “here I am world, complete naked and no more concerns.” I mean, what else did I have to loose at this point other than all my clothes. If you have never visited Baden-Baden, please go. Go and enjoy both locations. Go and be free of all anxieties regarding nudity.
Hello Laurel. Researching various web sites and blogs that I eventually found yours. Reason to search was to become informative about German saunas, spas and Roman baths. I work for a German company and knew that I would eventually have opportunity to visit these types of naked establishments. Opportunity occurred this past July. Unfortunately, I traveled solo, without my wife. I stopped by Baden-Baden and checked out Caracalla Therme and Friedrichsbad. Both places offer wellness in the nude. Ok. So, I am a prudish, unique American. Since turning a milestone age, I had desire to go naked in public because I had nothing to lose other than all my clothes. Here I am in Baden-Baden. Caracalla Therme is a wonderful sauna area with many areas to visit. After 2 hours, I went to Friendswood. This place is 140 years old and quite fascinating with Roman decor. Going to the saunas first helped relieve anxiety because I was completely naked the whole time except in dry steam area. It was very hot so the sheet provided protection while lounging on chairs. The only other anxiety area was soap scrub as the attendants tell you face up so my manhood was completely exposed but they were very professional. After that, I enjoyed the wet steam rooms and various pools. So relaxing in the buff. By the end in the tea room ,I stood naked on the balcony and said to myself, “look at me world as I am completely naked and have no more concerns”. Hope you enjoyed my story, my experience in Baden-Baden. If you have not visited yet, go for it and be relaxed with no clothes.
Thank you so much for both of these articles!!!!!!! I am an American who now lives in Bavaria. Let me clarify: I was raised in the South, as in the Bible belt, as the daughter of a Southern Baptist preacher. I wasn’t allowed to roll my sleeves up at soccer practice (heaven forbid the boys see my shoulders), let alone wear even a bikini. I had just, kind of, gotten used to quickly changing from a swimsuit in the women’s locker room at my gym back in the states before I moved to Germany.
My boyfriend, however, is from New York City. He has absolutely no problem going to naked saunas- he’s all about immersing himself in the German culture- and he, in fact, loves it. Thankfully he’s super busy at work, so he hasn’t taken me yet. Every feeling you expressed about going is exactly how I feel about it. I think it’s pretty gross that there are sweaty balls and vaginas everywhere. The boyfriend says that everyone can wear a towel/ sit on a towel, but I’ve heard plenty of stories to the contrary. I’m terrified of going to my first sauna where clothes aren’t allowed. TERRIFIED.
@Savannah – It is a terrifying experience and you can sit on a towel. I’ve been probably 15 times now and it’s less terrifying now, but I still don’t feel 100% comfortable. Best of luck!
Savannah, I promise once you experience this, you will feel a liberation that is incomparable.
Remember, the Europeans have done this for centuries and it’s not a sexual thing. You may notice an exceptional body hear and there but it is not a place to gauk and you will appreciate that if someone looks briefly at you, they should not stare at you but only for a second. Americans have made the human body a dirty thing but the European people, especially families, do not tip toe around trying to avoid other family members from seeing them naked. Dad,Mom, teenage daughters and sons all move around the house from bathroom to bedrooms without acting like prudes.
Once you experience these spa’s, you will understand my point. It’s the best !!
I live in the UK and we are Europeans as well. We do not have our bodies on display. The body is not a dirty thing but there are some things we simply do not need to see.
If clothes aren;t important then why do you wear them on the streets?
I probably should have mentioned that I’m an American, not German or Canadian. I know that in general Germans are way, way more comfortable with nudity than most Americans. I’ve been told by one coworker of mine who was born and raised in Canada that she feels that in general Canadians are slightly more comfortable with locker room nudity than most Americans. She said it’s not a huge difference, but that she feels that most Canadian women are a bit more comfortable with being nude in the presence of other females in locker rooms and saunas and places like that than American women are in general.
Although, as I mentioned, almost all of the women and teen girls at my health club are pretty comfortable being nude in the open showers or walking to and from the lockers and showers.