In this article I’ll tell you what I think are the best things to consider when taking a sauna in the German sauna/sauna world.
Germany has a sauna culture and I think that’s good, even if it’s a bit different from what we’re used to in Finland.
Let me remind you that these experiences are my own. Germany is full of spas and sauna worlds, so not all practices are necessarily compatible with all places.
However, there are a few things that are slightly different and you need to remember that.
Tips for taking a sauna in Germany
You can find saunas in spas, hotels but there are very few public saunas which are common in Finland. It’s all or nothing when you enter the German sauna world.
The Germans are big on saunas and for them it’s just as big a deal as it is for us Finns. If not even bigger? They take every possible rule a bit too seriously.
When you go to the sauna you should take a relaxed attitude, but luckily no one is watching you to see if you do things according to the rules.
Many spas have unisex changing rooms and then separate changing rooms where you are supposed to change clothes. Sometimes it just gets forgotten and the clothes are changed in the corridor in front of the changing room.
So don’t be shocked.
There’s hardly anything behind it other than they want to change clothes right there. And they don’t really care if you’re next to them naked or with your clothes on.
Before the Sauna
Germans carry many different towels, a bathrobe and slippers. You might find something to eat and drink in your bag, and maybe some reading material.
You should take a shower before going to the sauna. It is possible that some of you may have forgotten.
Germans have a funny way of drying themselves off before going to the sauna. We Finns don’t do that.
In the sauna
You go to the sauna naked. Saunas are shared saunas between men and women.
You go into the sauna with a big towel, your skin must not touch the sauna boards at any time. In particular, ‘sweat’ must not be allowed to drip onto the benches.
Slippers are to be left outside the sauna, they must not be brought into the sauna. Although sometimes it would be necessary when the sauna’s lower floors and floorboards are so damn hot.
The walls of the sauna have hourglasses called hourglass and the Germans like to use them. They have times of 5-15 min. And quite often they obey the rule that you can and must be in the sauna for 15 minutes. We’ve seen it and experienced it many times.
After the sauna
The instructions tell them that after the sauna the shower must be cold. Although, of course, everyone is free to do as they please and feel comfortable.
Personally, I hate cold showers, but I’m happy to go into a cold tub.
Which brings me to the other topic of cold pools – there are certainly cold pools in every spa sauna world. They are either indoors or outdoors, personally I prefer to go in the indoor cold pool.
But as I said, everyone does what they feel is best.
German bathing
Germans are instructed to take three sauna sessions. No two without a third. But in reality it doesn’t really matter. What feels good etc.
Germans love to spend the whole day in the sauna world. They eat, drink, rest and read in between the sauna, they know how to relax.
This is one thing we Finns should learn from the Germans. Total relaxation and not just a quick trip to the sauna and out the door.
Cool down
It comes down to the fact that Germans are a resting nation so the deckchairs are taken one way or another. Either someone is lying on it or a towel is left on it. Infuriating. We all know this habit from holidays in the south.
Sometimes I do so by moving the towel away if there is simply no free space elsewhere. So far I have not got into a fight.
The spas have those signs that say you can’t reserve a lounge chair with a towel. But who’s going to follow those signs now? Sometimes they announce that you can’t reserve those sun loungers with towels. But nobody cares.
I hope this article on tips for taking a sauna in Germany helped you when you’re wondering how to take a sauna in Germany, or if you’re coming on holiday to Germany and want to experience the German sauna experience.
Love, Sauna-Kati
