Spanish sauna culture
Are you interested in knowing what the Spanish sauna culture is like?
Do men and women sauna together?
Do you take a sauna naked in Spain?
Are children allowed in the Spanish saunas?
When I started researching the Spanish sauna culture, I was laughed at and told that the Spanish don’t take saunas. Why should they take a sauna when the country is usually always warm?
Spanish sauna culture
However, Spain still has a sauna culture, just like in every country. In some countries, it is less, and in some more, but it is always worth finding out.
So I found out that Spain has a long spa culture. Spanish people are especially familiar with Turkish saunas or hamams.
The Spanish do not take saunas as often as the Finns or have as many saunas as the Finns. At least not yet.
Saunas
Saunas can be found in spas, hotels, and gyms; a few public saunas around the country (Finns usually found them) and in private homes.
Swimming facilities rarely have saunas, although there are, of course, exceptions. For example, Fuengirola, a city popular with Finns, has a swimming centre where you can also use a sauna at a meager price compared to spas.
The spa I visited offered a few different saunas. One sauna was hotter and somewhat Finnish-type. There was a sauna heater, there were stones, a pail and a bucket.
Then there was a steam “sauna” about 45 degrees Celsius.
Taking a sauna
So how do you take a sauna in Spain?
Based on my experience, you always wear a swimsuit in public saunas. A few used seat covers (I guess they were Russian and had brought their own), but the spa did not offer any. There was also no mention anywhere that they should be used.
However, when sitting in a hot sauna, it felt like the boards were blazing hot, and it would have been nice if there had been something between the skin and the wood.
Men and women take saunas together in saunas
The spa I went to had a few different saunas. One sauna was hotter and a bit Finnish-style.
A pail and a ladle were in the sauna, and everyone could throw water on the sauna stove. However, there was a container outside the stove where water was put and from which it slowly flowed onto the stones of the stove.
There was a eucalyptus smell in the water; I believe that fresh eucalyptus leaves were used for it.
Then there was a steam sauna which was about 45 degrees.
Cooling down
The spa I visited also had two cold water pools, one slightly warmer. I didn’t realize at first that the other one was warmer. I just laughed at the person in the pool next to me and said go now; the water isn’t that cold. I didn’t realize that I was in a warmer pool myself.
I also tried the colder pool later, which wasn’t that cold. My duty was to show the Spaniards how briskly to go into cold water.
There were instructions on the walls to take a shower after the sauna.
Spa
This lovely hotel spa also had a small pool for us swimmers. It was nice, and you could swim in complete peace. However, there were no separate tracks, just one big space, pretty much the same as in Germany. That’s always a shame, in my opinion.
The spa pools had different types of massage showers. Each button had an instructional picture of what was meant to be massaged with that particular shower. However, a few funny situations happened here because the water started spraying in a different direction than expected. The neighbour’s shower also started pouring water on me.
At the spa, you could get a towel, bathrobe, bath cap and slippers for the same price. When swimming, you had to wear either your own or the blue bathing cap provided by the spa. I think that’s an excellent rule. The Spanish have long, thick hair, so swimming in water with long dark hair is not pleasant.
In the spas, booking an appointment for various treatments is also possible. What better way to relax after swimming or sauna than to be massaged?
Nudity in saunas
I have previously written about nudity cultures, and ,I also reviewed Spain in that post.
Read more: Nudity in different cultures
In Spain, nudity in front of others is taboo, and shower stalls have doors so no one can see you. Although the saunas are mixed, no one takes a sauna naked. However, you can go naked to the sauna with your spouse in a private sauna. Family members also do not sauna or bathe naked in front of each other. Children have never necessarily seen their parents naked.
Although Spanish women are okay with their bodies, nudity is still taboo.
So, you don’t take the sauna naked; everyone always wears a swimsuit.
Sauna and children
Saunas in spas are often prohibited for people under the age of 16. In some rare places, children can take a sauna. However, saunas are considered “dangerous” for children in Spain.
Changing rooms
The changing rooms are separate for men and women. The changing rooms have individual booths where you can change clothes, and then there was open space, benches and large mirrors.
This particular place I went to didn’t have a hair dryer. Fortunately, at the same time, there was a lovely Spanish woman who lent me hers.
It’s worth visiting the saunas of different countries; you always learn something new!
Sauna vocabulary
Sauna Finlandesa – Finnish sauna
Bano Turco – Turkish sauna
Bano de Vapor – steam bath
Banera de Hidromasaje – hot tub
Cazo – ladle
Cubo / recipiente – pail
Echar aqua – create steam
I hope this article on Spanish sauna culture answers your questions. And I hope you dare to take a sauna in a Spanish sauna next time.
Are you also interested in other sauna cultures? On my blog, you can find comprehensive information about many sauna cultures. You can start with the German sauna culture, for example.
Read more: German Sauna Culture
Love Sauna-Kati
