I first heard about German sauna rules 10 years ago when I first lived in Germany. My Finnish friend told me that she could not understand the German sauna rules. Back then, I had no idea what she meant.
Now it has become clear to me what the German sauna rules are.
German sauna rules
The first time I was in a German sauna was just over ten years ago. It was a gym sauna and quite different from a spa sauna. I was allowed to throw steam myself and sat on my sauna pefletti (a piece of cloth placed on the sauna bench) and no one said anything. Some women sat on big towels and one waved a towel over her head.
I was a little confused then; why is she waving her towel? But it was so nice to be in the heat of the sauna that I did not pay much attention to it.
German sauna rules:
- Take a shower first.
- Wash your feet or take a foot bath.
- Go to the sauna (80-100 degrees).
- Stay in the sauna for 10-15 minutes. Be sure to turn the hourglass.
- Cool off and relax.
- Go back to sauna and stay there for a couple of minutes.
- Take a cold shower or a dip in a cold pool.
- Cool off and rest for at least 15 minutes.
- Take another cold shower.
- Wash your feet or take a foot bath.
- Get a massage.
- Go to the sauna (80-100 degrees).
- Take another cold shower.
- Go to the sauna for the third time at 80-100 degrees.
- Cool and rest for at least 15 minutes.
- Visit a solarium.
- Drink refreshments.
Note: This is just one example, there are many of these rules.
It sounds like hard work, following all these rules. I am sweating just thinking about it!
Following all these rules will take you more than 2 hours. That is why many Germans spend all day in the sauna world.
Read more: German sauna culture.
There are signs on the walls that tell how you should act in the sauna: do not sweat on the benches, do not throw steam (only staff is allowed to throw steam) and be quiet.
There is also a sign in the sauna world that says that you are not allowed to reserve the sung loungers. In reality, everyone does it.
Not all Germans follow these instructions to a t. But then there are people who stay in the sauna even if they already feel sick.
I think it is good that Germans have these sauna rules. Without them, people would have no idea how to act in the sauna. I think this is the reason why they have come up with all these complicated rules!
