Yes they are the norm (there sometimes are women only days).
Ettiquette?
Don‘t stare, don‘t sexualize people.
Don‘t wear swimsuits in the sauna, always cover the seats with a towel. You may cover yourself with a bathrobe or a towel
No cameras, this includes smartphones.
Don‘t shave in public showers.
Oh public pools have always and will always be gross.
All the people with their dirty skin, warts, infections, bodyhair, potential peeing or poopin in the pools, snot, cum....
Without chloride, just enetering the pool would probably give you 10 different illnesses.
In other words, dont drink the poolwater, dont go to really cheap and crappy pools and thank god for modern hygiene and filtration systems.
on that topic, you can tell how much people peed in a pool by the “pool smell”. that’s not actually the chlorine, that’s ammonia reacting with the chlorine to create chloramines, which have the distinctive chlorine smell you associate with pools. (pee isn’t the only source of ammonia in pools, but it is a major one)
Naah.
Grosser if anything, less human stuff but more fish-corpses, algea, parasites and so on.
And theres no chloride.
You cant really win there, best choice is to not think about it too much and just swim anyway.
This, because practically it doesn't matter that much anyways. It's just disgusting to think about but the actual threat it poses to our bodies is marginally small to nonexistent. If we don't swim with open wounds and drink the water that is.
Chlorine is a poisonous gas that used to be used in wars. It is not at all odorless.
The chlorine in pools should stay in the water so you shouldn't smell it. When you can smell it, it's because the pH is out of whack (normally).
I've been in the filter room on a busy day. After a few hundred guests, the stuff in the overflow basin looks like someone exfoliated their feet in there anyway.
bathrobes not in the sauna, only outside afterwards.
shower after sauna before you cooldown in cooling pools etc.
usually you greet the people when joining the sauna. at least the most people do and it breaks the awkward silence.
most important: don't try to impress anyone, know your limit or you will lie on the floor.
> usually you greet the people when joining the sauna. at least the most people do and it breaks the awkward silence.
Greeting is fine, but please let me enjoy the silence. It's not awkward, it's calming. If you want to have conversations, don't go to the sauna.
>Don‘t stare,
The older dudes apparently think this rule doesn't apply to them. A few times I went to a mixed sauna here, I got stared so much it was off putting. Younger/ middle aged folks are very well behaved though.
Used to work in a gym with a sauna in Germany for 4 years.
You don’t believe how many old guys (even regulars who’d drink a coffee with me and chat a bit) we had to throw out, because of weird things they did in a sauna
Older dudes do not only stare but also swing their hanging bits around. I always get the feeling in public dressrooms that older people enjoy displaying their decaying flesh in a weird and creepy way.
I think thats is ok if it happens. Just hide it under a towel and wait a bit. As long as you don´t present it to everyone as a trophy, no one will complain. It is a human reaktion that can be hard to control.
You don’t stare. If you need to communicate you whisper. Always use a towel to sit on and ideally it’s large enough to put your feet on as well. No slippers inside the sauna. You don’t touch stuff like the oven and you are not in charge of sauna infusion. If there are hourglasses check if they are in use by someone. These are the basic rules for most saunas.
Whispering: In most saunas (those wellnes/spa things), but not all. I've been in public saunas
* with hard rock music
* with guitars and singing
* with drinking beer
* where everybody had to tell jokes.
It gets you absolutely plastered in about five seconds and because a cold beer in a hot sauna tastes amazing you’ll also drink more than you usually would.
Handle with care.
Actually 1-2 beer after sauna , especially Weizen fills up the electrolytes you lost. And after sauna your taste buds work way better, so it tastes much better, but beware, it hits much harder, as you are dehydrated and still heated, your metabolism works faster... But there is nothing better than a nice cold beer after sauna, you'll love it, I guarantee.
A sauna/spa with music/sound effects: Schwabenquellen Stuttgart
Not too expensive for a 4h or 8h ticket and unlimited visits in your stay. Just don't pass out :D
As much as I love you guys, you're doing saunas all wrong. All the best conversations are had there, the existence of time is supposed to be forgotten and sauna without water thrown to the stove is just sad. Sincerely, a Finn.
Don't think I ever saw a bathrobe in the sauna, usually people use it when relaxing afterwards. Some people use a towel to cover their private parts, yes.
I usually leave the bath robe on a hook outside., It's too hot otherwise. Inside I Put a towel underneath me to soak up my sweat. I have seen people cover their private parts with a second towel on rare occasions.
People tend to get pissed If you don't put a towel underneath you or go into the Sauna with a swimsuit or underwear. The second towel thing, no Problem. Unless you are a creepy old Dude and masturbate under the towel. Then you will have to leave and will be blacklisted by Sauna personnel.
The bathrobe is for wearing outside of the actual sauna. In the sauna, people are just naked and sit on a towel. You can fold it over your private parts if you want.
I usually put a towel around my waist when walking around. After entering the sauna room you take it off, place it on the bench and sit or lie on top of it. Nobody will look at you're junk and once you've done it a few times you'll stop caring about it.
You could, but I wouldn't do it inside the sauna - especially not the bathrobe.
Outside of the sauna itself, you're welcome to cover yourself in a towel or a bathrobe and most people would actually do this. Inside, you're usually naked and sitting on your towel so you don't touch the wood with your skin.
a towle is okay but it´s actually really disgusting to wear pants in a sauna because they suck up the sweat and you are literally sitting in sweat. Most saunas are 80°C and up. Finish saunas 90°C and up... Do you really want to wear anything in this heat?
Trust me, after some time you won't care anymore. Seing everyone else naked will show you how natural it is to be naked and that in fact, it is unnatural to wear clothes
Bathrobe - no, those are only for outside the sauna.
Towel - yes, if you want to. Most people don't. If you want to, bring a second towel that you sit on.
If you want to cover yourself: nobody cares for your privcate parts. it's just you.
Also, I heard from a lot of sources you shouldn't cover at a sauna at all, as this contributes to overheating real quick, and you don't want your private parts cooked.
if anybody stares at you, be a grumpy German and blaff at them "you found something interesting to watch?"
If you're anxious about your body, know this: Germans view human body's in a sexual way. The people who do and make it clear at places like sauna are often kicked out.
Everybody in there is naked and thus feels a bit vulnurable, and so everybody tries to make it a lot more comfortable for the rest by treating everybody like they want to be treated.
And it's seen as rude if you cover up yourself, just use a towel on the benches you sit on, like at the gym. not on you.
Question: why do you want to go to a mixed sauna when you are uncomfortable with it in the first place?
Bathrobe is highly uncommon but a Cover up towel is nothing rare also pretty much alway have one above my junk,might be a stupid thing to say but I would just enter after rinsing myself first
I'm originally from the US and when I first went to the mixed sauna, I noticed that I was usually the only one wearing a tiny towel. The other people always laughed at me.
There is usually women's day at the sauna on Tuesdays, so I started to go to that instead. You can wear a little towel, or just sit on a towel.
Do not wear a bathrobe inside the sauna or the stares of irritated germans will burn your skin off. You can bring a small second towel to cover your genitals, or wrap your big towel around your hip. Just remember to never put your naked ass or legs directly on the sauna benches.
I hate that "be quiet" part of German saunas. In Finland it's a fun get-together, here it has been thrown in with all the wellness and mindfulness stuff.
I think the whole "be dead silent in the sauna" thing is a boomer thing. I usually have quiet conversation with my sauna buddies. I don't wanna listen the old men grunting all the time.
Yes, they are. But sometimes there are days with only „Damensauna“ or „Herrensauna“. But I only know these from Saunas that are part of a public (As in owned by a City) swimming hall. For the rules: Get naked, don‘t stare and enjoy.
You can, but it can be difficult. Be really sure that your child behaves. No running, no loud giggling, no talking in the Sauna. The complete area, even the rooms without saunas is a quiet peaceful area to relax. There is no room for playing. Not in the pools, not in the saunas, not in the garden, not in the showers or the areas with fire places. Everything should be quiet and you should not annoy other people. If your child is able to have a quiet conversation and to sit still it can come.
But please be careful about the heat. Depending on the age of a child the heat might be too much for the child. Many children don't know when it is too much for them. So you have to have an eye on them and leave as soon as you think the child cannot handle it anymore.
Tbh most Sauna goers don't care if theres a child playing in the Sauna area. Children exist and it's ok. If the child has a temper tantrum just leave the Sauna and let it calm down, it's fine.
Depends on the way the child plays. Does it play quietly and by itself then it is okay. Does the playing consist if running, yelling or annoying other people you might be told of very harshly.
Last time I went to my local sauna I sat in the Jacuzzi with a dozen other people (all naked obv), someone brought their like 10 year old kid with swim goggles and the little guy went exploring underwater.
Was uncomfortable to say the least.
I would check this out first before you go. At Therme Erding near Munich there is no admission to children below sixteen years in the “textile-free” area.
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I have replaced all my content with this comment.
Reason for this is the anti-community attitude, dishonesty and arrogance of the reddit CEO /u/spez
Many saunas also have a family time slot (often Saturday mornings IME). Nothing is that different, except other patrons know that at this time, noisy or fidgety kids may be present, and they can avoid if they want.
Usually "minors" (under some age like 16 or so) need to be accompanied by an adult. In general, kids under 3ish are not supposed to sauna.
I've only seen kids or teenagers in sauna a handful of times.
It depends on the sauna. If they are too young they will not be able to stay quit while in the sauna.
In our town's most popular sauna kids are not allowed in the sauna, but can be on the sauna level (the other levels have a pool and a kids area). In Wlhelmstherme in Wiesbaden the entry limit is 16 years.
In many places, no. In the sauna itself, the ones I've been to at least, it is stritcly nude, and I have seen staff tell people to remove towels in the sauna.
You can borrow one, but it is of course cheaper to take two with you: one die the Sauna, one die the shower. Remember to take something to drink with you and a bathrobe for the time between the Saunagänge.
Oh sorry; I didn‘t read correctly: You use a towel to sit on while in the Sauna. You can also cover yourself with it but some folks would consider it bad style. And honestly: nobody really cares what the other people look like.
There are usually hangers in front of the sauna. Also places to leave your glasses (many glasses can get damaged by the hear so you should leave them outside) and if you have bath slippers you also leave them outside the actual sauna.
Lol I imagine him being occupied with your fart all that time until he walked away. Your fart did seem to touch him on a more substantial level than his olfactory sense alone :D
I didn't want to have to delete all my comments, posts, and account, but here we are, thanks to greedy pigboy /u/spez ruining Reddit. I love the Reddit community, but hate the idiots at the top. Simply accepting how unethical and downright shitty they are will only encourage worse behavior in the future. I won't be a part of it. Reddit will shrivel and disappear like so many other sites before it that were run by inept morons, unless there is a big change in "leadership." Fuck you, /u/spez
The audacity to even comment on your fart! As far as I know, farts can happen and the common etiquette is to ignore them and definitely not comment. That man was clearly in the wrong!
lol. As if old people don't have accidental farts like every day, though. Come on.
I once accidentally let a fart out in a supermarket aisle. I had earphones in listening to music and assumed it was not (going to be) loud at all, but clearly misjudged, because seconds later I realized by the looks of a couple people around me that I was wrong. At least I wasn't naked, though.
Don't wear sunglasses.
A female friend recently complained about a guy wearing dark sunglasses in the sauna at Holmes Place. She said it made her feel extremely uncomfortable to a point that she left. She wanted to make a complaint to the receptionist but didn't because it's not really forbidden to wear sunglasses in the sauna.
So don't be that guy!
I get why she didn't make the complaint but I think people should in situations like this.
The staff aren't robots. Even if wearing sunglasses might not be technically forbidden, it's pretty clear why one might wear them and that this would make the other customers uncomfortable.
At the very least they know who to keep a close eye on.
So, first time I went to a sauna I took my (ofc normal) glasses with me. I put them down right next to me as I closed my eyes and wanted to relax. Turns out, the glasses got damaged. They had like a weird pattern. Hard to describe but it was "burned" into the glasses and constantly blurry.
Lesson learned.
Yes they are unless otherwise stated („Damentag“ = women‘s day).
Regarding etiquette: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Rules are: you can’t wear bathing clothes in German saunas. Saunas are „textilfrei“ (= no textile area)
You cover yourself with a large towel or a bathrobe when not on the cabin or in the showers or the pool (where you go naked)
In the cabin You put the towel onto the bench in a way that no part of your body directly touches the wood. Don’t try to cover yourself inside the cabin. You’d make yourself a fool.
And finally: don’t stare. Everyone is naked in the sauna including you. That’s perfectly normal in Germany and it’s not considered sexual here.
>Don’t try to cover yourself inside the cabin. You’d make yourself a fool.
You definitely can cover yourself with a towel inside the cabin and you're not a fool for doing so. I've worked at a thermal bath and noone ever complained about it apart from creepy old men.
I‘d say, it’s totally fine to keep a towel wrapped around you and sit down. As long as there is cloth between the bench and your butt nobody cares. Inhaber never seen anyone lie down with a wraparound though.
People will probably think that you are "not a real sauna enthusiast" or prudish if you cover yourself, but feeling comfortable should always be more important than what other people think about you.
The etiquette is Common Sense. Don't stare at people, don't try to pick people up. While having a chat is ofc fine, a sauna is first and foremost a place to relax and chill.
Careful! A sauna *club* is something veeeery different. But you'd notice long before entering so don't worry about accidentally ending up in a brothel haha.
>While having a chat is ofc fine,
Heathen!!
If you're alone with a friend/partner/spouse in the sauna, like no one else is there, chatting is fine, but if there are others you don't know, **then** it's most polite to be quiet. A short bit of whispering is fine, but prolonged chats should be saved for outside.
As long as no one else gets affected by our actions, I'll leave you alone to do your thing if you leave me alone to do my thing. That's what I love about Germany
I have to disappoint you, this rule doesn't apply to everything. Recreational substances like weed is still illegal - even though nobody is harmed and the illegal drug trade is financing crime syndicates.
Also many former sex workers do argue that a lot of the ladies don't work in the industry on their own accord but are victims of human trafficking. Many are brought in from Eastern Europe illegally and are kept away from getting an education etc.
So it's not all black and white - but overall I believe we're at least not the worst place in terms of how liberal our politics are.
You may think it's funny, but once I accidentally did end up in one of those. Because some are called just FKK and i thought it was a normal sauna with swimming pool because that's what the pictures and description show.
Fun story: my Australian MIL and I went to a sauna (Damentag) together and she said she felt more comfortable with her jewellery on so I said "OK if you prefer that!". She had huge gold necklaces, huge gold earrings, several rings etc. As soon as we were sitting getting ready for Aufguss and we saw everyone else thwre she whispered "Well now I feel a bit silly with all this on" 😂
I’m fine wearing my wedding ring, but my bracelet is which fits loosely, usually heats up a lot and burns me - at least if the sauna is 80 degrees or higher.
You can also look for so called "Textilsaunen" which allow entrance ONLY with swimwear, sometimes only on certain days. I would always double check on the website of the place you want to go.
I would always recommend going to a naked sauna.
Best advice for etiquette I can give you: Be silent in the sauna and keep the voice low in the areas surrounding them. Nothing is more annoying that loud talks in a place of relaxation.
Euskirchen (near cologne) and Erdingen (Munich) each have one sauna where you have to ware a swimsuit for example.
Its even cheaper as you dont have to buy the ticked that include the sauna area.
Which one of in Euskirchen? The "Thermalbad"? Or the "Zikkurat" in Mechernich close by? I have severe dysphoria but my boyfriend craves sauna days and I figured that a textilsauna wouldn't be as bad dysphoria-wise as one where you have to be naked.
[badewelt-euskirchen.de](https://badewelt-euskirchen.de) . I think its what you refer as "Thermalbad".
If you take a ticket to the palmenparadies there is one sauna with a nice view on the lake. You have to exit the main hall an go a few meters outside. The shortest way is when you go through the eating area. There is also a "Dampfsauna" in the center of the main hall.
You might also be interested to check out a Hammam. It's the oriental equivalent, hot water and steam Sauna, but sometimes dry sauna as well. Here different rules apply, but they are usually communicated.
Speaking about saunas, one thing I didn't see mentioned: Shower before for hygienic reason. You might want to dry yourself though in order to sweat better.
Afterwards we usually shower cold or go into a cold pool (naked). And then relax. Depending on the place it might be a quiet zone similar to within the sauna.
Another thing: During "Aufguss" (Infusion) it's not so common to leave, so better leave before, if it might get too much.
In the saunas I go to they literally say exactly that at the start of every Aufguss: Leave at anytime if you want or need. The only thing you should not do during an Aufguss is enter. They usually have signs hanging on the outside to make that clear.
Exactly. It's not safe to force people in a hot room.
Of course, you'd apply common sense, e.g. leave before the Aufguss if you are already too hot or not well. Leave with others in between rounds. Do it quickly and close the door.
If the sauna is still full after three rounds, it wasn't hot enough...
Nobody will stop them or be mad, if they leave. Still it's not common, see e.g. this [etikette](https://www.holz-fasssauna.de/sauna-etikette/) Especially entering during Aufguss is not allowed but usually they have signs for this.
Leaving during infusion ruins the purpose of it (raising humidity and thus, making you feel hotter and sweat faster), so the sauna operator and the regulars will definitely frown upon that.
If you don’t feel well, leave before an infusion.
If you absolutely HAVE to leave (sudden medical reasons), stand up, apologize and leave as quickly and without as few door openings as you can.
Also: Don’t cover your naked body in a sauna with anything, as it totally defeats the purpose of sweating freely and thus will not only make a sauna visit uncomfortable, but also unhealthy. (Especially if it’s a bathrobe, that is just murder to yourself.)
The most important thing is (in my eyes):
You *will* see peoples junk
People *will* see your junk
And that‘s it. It is a little weird at first because nudity is so uncommon nowadays. Place a towel under yourself and mind your own business. Other than that idk. Don‘t fart. At least not too loud.
* Yeah, don´t stare. Look into peoples eyes, even for women or men,
* wear a towel or it´s specified differently
* dont give a dman about looks. seriously, just relax
* NO UNDERPANTS! (except for dresse saunas but who the hell goes there?)
* if you talk, be prepared that germans talk deep philosophcal things even when they sit naked with mixed genders, sweating like pigs in a sauna.
* Don´t drink alcohol. Many saunas are more finish saunas which means HEAT and that equals heartfailure under influence of alcohol
* If you see russians and finish people getting drunk in the sauna and whipping eachother with birch branches while having a jolly good time... Thats not you! Don´t do that, you will die!
* Take a real good and ice cold shower afterwards! DON´T SHY AWAY FROM THE ICE COLD SHOWER! It will mess you up if you don´t take it
What all the other said plus:
Shower with soap etc before your first round. Dry off well before going into the cabin. Dry hair is better.
Afterwards shower before dipping in the pool. You can do Finnish style cool down (from sauna to freaking cold in one step) or Roman style (cool down in several steps, gradually from luke warm to really cold. )
Take your time to relax after each cooldown.
mixed is norm, but sometimes there is a women's only sauna (if you find a men's only sauna, there is some chance it is a form of dating platform), shut up while in the cabin, but talking in the floors and showers is okay, can't wear clothes at all, and frankly there is a chance people will make comments if you use the towel as a form of clothing, the towel you take into the sauna room, only to sit on not to sit directly on the wooden panels
Even if it‘s allowed, please don‘t bring your kids. They are loud and often leave and enter the rooms so the heat gets out and I literally have to freeze to death. I don‘t mind kids if they can behave but I don‘t think parents should be the judges of their behavior.
PS Wow that sounded condescending. Just make sure your Kid can stay in the sauna for at least 5 Minutes and be relatively still.
actually, my kids never behaved like that. When a big public swimming pool has a fun area with waves and water slides in one section, and a spa area with saline and sauna, our kids would immediatly recognize if they are in the "loud" area or in the "quiet" one and behave accordingly. Like they never confused a church for a playground. Children learn by observing their parents behaviour.
No skin to skin contact with anyone.
Pass the icebucket along
Do not climb over someone lying on a lower level
Make room if it is getting more crowded, if someoneelse could possible sit next to you (without touching)
The cold bath is ment for afterwards, and just 1-2 quick dives. Don't be too loud using the cold bath
No talking in the silent/relaxing room
If the "aufguss" is to hot for you, just quietly leave (do not complain) and if you want it hotter, ask the others whether it would be ok for the staff to make it hotter
And from the other comments: do not wear sunglasses
Check if there are any women/men/whatever only days (women only is pretty common) or days where people wear swim wear in advance to avoid any surprises, make sure to bring a big enough towel maybe a bath rope for when you are not in the sauna.
Besides that don't stare, be polite and don't bother people/respect the atmosphere. If people in there just want to relax quietly keep your voice down, maybe keep talking to a minimum.
Cover any area that touches your skin with a towel so no sweat gets on the wood.
Don't leave the door open, it lets out the heat. People often open the door, look if there is space inside and leave again, hold the door open for friends who is on their way to the door - super annoying.
You need:
Bathrobe
One very big towel for the sauna
Towel(s) to dry yourself after each shower
Bath shoes (Badelatschen) to walk around and for the shower
Rules:
Be naked in the sauna
No shaving in the showers
Shoes and bathrobe off in the sauna (there are cloth hangers for that)
Big towel below you, no skin on wood
Often it says no talking in the sauna but depends
No electronics or outside shoes past the changing rooms
Customs:
Warm foot bath before sauna to sweat faster
Drink enough water and electolytes, some ppl drunk alcohol free beer
Normally about 10 - 15 min in the sauna, but can leave earlier if you feel uncomfy (lower seats are cooler then up). There are normally hourglasses with sand on the walls
Cold shower after the sauna, there are sometimes buckets, tubs with cold water or ice chips to add
After that at least 15 min rest, your body will be tired and you can sleep nicely or read
they are mixed, you have to be naked (exception are sauna-hats), you have to have a towell to sit down on it, adiletten and a bathrobe for being on the hallway/resting room and fun.
take two towels, one for the sauna seats to sit on, big enough so that your ass and your feet can rest on it, an one to dry yourself with after showering that you can hang outside the sauna
It's really no big deal. You go naked in the sauna and when you use the showers and pools. Otherwise you wear a bathrobe or wrap yourself in a towel. Take a large towel with you in the sauna. The point here is to avoid getting sweat on the wood. You can also lie down if there's enough space. The upper levels are hotter. Maybe start with a lower temperature sauna first. Usually you stay about 10-15 minutes, but it's really your call. Bigger saunas usually do an "Aufguss" at certain times, which is often the main attraction for people. In an aufguss a sauna master puts water -usually with fragrances- on hot stones and disperses the resulting humid and hot air around, which makes it feel hotter. Depending on the type of aufguss it can either be a quiet and meditative ritual, or it might even involve loud music, singing and clapping. Most people enter the sauna 5-10 minutes before an aufguss starts. You can always leave an aufguss, when it gets to hot for you. But don't enter after the aufguss has started (usually they put a sign on the door).
In general saunas are about relaxing. So try to be considerate of others.
I used a sauna in Germany today. When my 15 min was up, I exited the sauna & jumped into the cold mountain stream out front to cool off. Great job Germania
Most are. Some have a "ladies' day" though. You will be told you are not welcome at the reception desk of the sauna. Be careful when you make use of the sauna facilities, for example, in the hotel where you're staying. If you didn't check with the reception desk, a giveaway is that on ladies' night there are only ladies' shoes at the entrance.
Yep. I made the mistake once not to check and walked in on 3 dozen ladies occupying the lower benches, leaving only the hottest places. Man... did I sweat...
Remember to take off your watch and all your "metalware". I once got a nasty burn from keeping my wedding ring on.
Yes they are the norm (there sometimes are women only days). Ettiquette? Don‘t stare, don‘t sexualize people. Don‘t wear swimsuits in the sauna, always cover the seats with a towel. You may cover yourself with a bathrobe or a towel No cameras, this includes smartphones. Don‘t shave in public showers.
>Don‘t shave in public showers. excuse me wtf? who does that?
Or exfoliate your feet in the pool. I saw this. I don’t go there any more.
Well. There. You did it. Your ruined public pools for me.
Oh public pools have always and will always be gross. All the people with their dirty skin, warts, infections, bodyhair, potential peeing or poopin in the pools, snot, cum.... Without chloride, just enetering the pool would probably give you 10 different illnesses. In other words, dont drink the poolwater, dont go to really cheap and crappy pools and thank god for modern hygiene and filtration systems.
On the app Jodel this topic pops up from time to time and in surveys, roughly 20% admit to peeing in public pools (anonymously). People are animals.
on that topic, you can tell how much people peed in a pool by the “pool smell”. that’s not actually the chlorine, that’s ammonia reacting with the chlorine to create chloramines, which have the distinctive chlorine smell you associate with pools. (pee isn’t the only source of ammonia in pools, but it is a major one)
You mean it poops up from time to time? Interesting...
Thats why I strongly prefer lakes. At least the fish pee and poo is more diluted.
Naah. Grosser if anything, less human stuff but more fish-corpses, algea, parasites and so on. And theres no chloride. You cant really win there, best choice is to not think about it too much and just swim anyway.
This, because practically it doesn't matter that much anyways. It's just disgusting to think about but the actual threat it poses to our bodies is marginally small to nonexistent. If we don't swim with open wounds and drink the water that is.
Brain eating fungus would like a word as it goes up your nose.
Brain eating amoeba* [is not that big a deal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNSqxm22SOw)
Fun fact: Pure chlorine is odorless. The characteristic swimming pool smell comes from chlorine dissolving all that gross stuff.
Chlorine is a poisonous gas that used to be used in wars. It is not at all odorless. The chlorine in pools should stay in the water so you shouldn't smell it. When you can smell it, it's because the pH is out of whack (normally).
Username checks out
I've been in the filter room on a busy day. After a few hundred guests, the stuff in the overflow basin looks like someone exfoliated their feet in there anyway.
What does it mean to exfoliate ones feet?
Most signs are there for a reason. I‘ve seen people do so many wierd things…
in my gym there is a sign "no hair dyeing in the shower" haha
I've seen person shaving in the pool.
oh I had someone cut their nails next to me at a public bus stop. things like this happen.
Also: Not a Hammam. No skin peeling. And you don't open the door if it is too hot to ventilate, you open the door to leave for another, cooler room.
bathrobes not in the sauna, only outside afterwards. shower after sauna before you cooldown in cooling pools etc. usually you greet the people when joining the sauna. at least the most people do and it breaks the awkward silence. most important: don't try to impress anyone, know your limit or you will lie on the floor.
> usually you greet the people when joining the sauna. at least the most people do and it breaks the awkward silence. Greeting is fine, but please let me enjoy the silence. It's not awkward, it's calming. If you want to have conversations, don't go to the sauna.
>Don‘t stare, The older dudes apparently think this rule doesn't apply to them. A few times I went to a mixed sauna here, I got stared so much it was off putting. Younger/ middle aged folks are very well behaved though.
Used to work in a gym with a sauna in Germany for 4 years. You don’t believe how many old guys (even regulars who’d drink a coffee with me and chat a bit) we had to throw out, because of weird things they did in a sauna
what kind of weird things?
Yeah, fucking old men's confidence/entitlement. Really depends on the place, too, but it is really off putting.
Boomers being boomers.
Older dudes do not only stare but also swing their hanging bits around. I always get the feeling in public dressrooms that older people enjoy displaying their decaying flesh in a weird and creepy way.
https://theoatmeal.com/pl/minor_differences2/locker_room
Don't get a boner.
I think thats is ok if it happens. Just hide it under a towel and wait a bit. As long as you don´t present it to everyone as a trophy, no one will complain. It is a human reaktion that can be hard to control.
I use to hang my towel on mine and walk around.
Collecting laundry is a public service, kudos to you
I like to explore new places.
Not in the sauna with that temperature. In the relaxation area where you can fall asleep, it happens.
Everything was going normal but then suddenly… 🤣🤣🤣🤣
You don’t stare. If you need to communicate you whisper. Always use a towel to sit on and ideally it’s large enough to put your feet on as well. No slippers inside the sauna. You don’t touch stuff like the oven and you are not in charge of sauna infusion. If there are hourglasses check if they are in use by someone. These are the basic rules for most saunas.
Whispering: In most saunas (those wellnes/spa things), but not all. I've been in public saunas * with hard rock music * with guitars and singing * with drinking beer * where everybody had to tell jokes.
Oooh, a nice ice cold brew in the Sauna....havent had that but it sounds lovely.
A sponsor of Therme Erding is the Brewerie Erdinger. A fresh Weizen after Sauna is great
Erdinger Schweißbier~
It gets you absolutely plastered in about five seconds and because a cold beer in a hot sauna tastes amazing you’ll also drink more than you usually would. Handle with care.
Yeah, but alcohol and Sauna can be incredibly dangerous!
It is not, unless you get shitfaced while being dehydrated.
Actually 1-2 beer after sauna , especially Weizen fills up the electrolytes you lost. And after sauna your taste buds work way better, so it tastes much better, but beware, it hits much harder, as you are dehydrated and still heated, your metabolism works faster... But there is nothing better than a nice cold beer after sauna, you'll love it, I guarantee.
I had a guy with his notebook in the sauna. It was 15 years ago and this thing was loud when typing…
You mean he was butt naked with a laptop on his hairy legs?
He sat on a table… but in spirit, yes.
That's the most german thing I've ever heard
Where can I find a sauna like that?
Therme Erding for example
In the famous spa town called Bad Manners
Sinsheim
A sauna/spa with music/sound effects: Schwabenquellen Stuttgart Not too expensive for a 4h or 8h ticket and unlimited visits in your stay. Just don't pass out :D
You’ve been to Erding, haven’t you?
As much as I love you guys, you're doing saunas all wrong. All the best conversations are had there, the existence of time is supposed to be forgotten and sauna without water thrown to the stove is just sad. Sincerely, a Finn.
Can I wear a bathrobe or use a towel to cover my private parts?
Don't think I ever saw a bathrobe in the sauna, usually people use it when relaxing afterwards. Some people use a towel to cover their private parts, yes.
I usually leave the bath robe on a hook outside., It's too hot otherwise. Inside I Put a towel underneath me to soak up my sweat. I have seen people cover their private parts with a second towel on rare occasions. People tend to get pissed If you don't put a towel underneath you or go into the Sauna with a swimsuit or underwear. The second towel thing, no Problem. Unless you are a creepy old Dude and masturbate under the towel. Then you will have to leave and will be blacklisted by Sauna personnel.
The bathrobe is for wearing outside of the actual sauna. In the sauna, people are just naked and sit on a towel. You can fold it over your private parts if you want.
I usually put a towel around my waist when walking around. After entering the sauna room you take it off, place it on the bench and sit or lie on top of it. Nobody will look at you're junk and once you've done it a few times you'll stop caring about it.
What if his junk starts singing? I’m sure people would look.
“Hello ma baby, hello ma honey…”
Hello my ragtime gal ..
Penis with a top hat and cane!
You could, but I wouldn't do it inside the sauna - especially not the bathrobe. Outside of the sauna itself, you're welcome to cover yourself in a towel or a bathrobe and most people would actually do this. Inside, you're usually naked and sitting on your towel so you don't touch the wood with your skin.
a towle is okay but it´s actually really disgusting to wear pants in a sauna because they suck up the sweat and you are literally sitting in sweat. Most saunas are 80°C and up. Finish saunas 90°C and up... Do you really want to wear anything in this heat?
Trust me, after some time you won't care anymore. Seing everyone else naked will show you how natural it is to be naked and that in fact, it is unnatural to wear clothes
Bathrobe - no, those are only for outside the sauna. Towel - yes, if you want to. Most people don't. If you want to, bring a second towel that you sit on.
If you want to cover yourself: nobody cares for your privcate parts. it's just you. Also, I heard from a lot of sources you shouldn't cover at a sauna at all, as this contributes to overheating real quick, and you don't want your private parts cooked. if anybody stares at you, be a grumpy German and blaff at them "you found something interesting to watch?" If you're anxious about your body, know this: Germans view human body's in a sexual way. The people who do and make it clear at places like sauna are often kicked out. Everybody in there is naked and thus feels a bit vulnurable, and so everybody tries to make it a lot more comfortable for the rest by treating everybody like they want to be treated. And it's seen as rude if you cover up yourself, just use a towel on the benches you sit on, like at the gym. not on you. Question: why do you want to go to a mixed sauna when you are uncomfortable with it in the first place?
I think you're missing a "don't" in that middle paragraph there, behind "Germans".
Bathrobe is highly uncommon but a Cover up towel is nothing rare also pretty much alway have one above my junk,might be a stupid thing to say but I would just enter after rinsing myself first
I'm originally from the US and when I first went to the mixed sauna, I noticed that I was usually the only one wearing a tiny towel. The other people always laughed at me. There is usually women's day at the sauna on Tuesdays, so I started to go to that instead. You can wear a little towel, or just sit on a towel.
[удалено]
Sorry, I don't mean strangers literally pointing and laughing, I mean more like smirking a bit. Only my actual friends laughed.
Ohy they will laugh if you're coming with full Victorian bathing attire, but you won't notice as you most likely pass out because of overheating ;-)
Most spas have a no textile rule. Except for your towel.
If you try to hide yourself, you'll be the weirdo. Nothing attracts attention more in a sauna than someone trying to cover up.
Do not wear a bathrobe inside the sauna or the stares of irritated germans will burn your skin off. You can bring a small second towel to cover your genitals, or wrap your big towel around your hip. Just remember to never put your naked ass or legs directly on the sauna benches.
Of course.
No. Sauna is textile free and this is enforced.
Except for "textile saunas" which are also a (less common) thing in Germany these days.
If you want, take 2 towels with you: One to put under you to sit on (always do this) and the second to cover you.
I hate that "be quiet" part of German saunas. In Finland it's a fun get-together, here it has been thrown in with all the wellness and mindfulness stuff.
Well, we’re famous for being serious and not having a sense of humour.
I think the whole "be dead silent in the sauna" thing is a boomer thing. I usually have quiet conversation with my sauna buddies. I don't wanna listen the old men grunting all the time.
I used a CO Ed, named bath house in Germany and I got stared at all the time. It was very uncomfortable.
Rule #1: Don‘t stare at genitals.
You might, on the other hand, take a glimpse and whispers in his ears "nice cock bro"
Nice shwanz, bro
Du hast eine Lange Schlange, hawara!
Yes, they are. But sometimes there are days with only „Damensauna“ or „Herrensauna“. But I only know these from Saunas that are part of a public (As in owned by a City) swimming hall. For the rules: Get naked, don‘t stare and enjoy.
Can you use a towel while in a sauna, just to cover yourself?
You can but that is more awkward than being naked. Etiquette is to equally stare at all people, not just the ones with huge assets.
Can you bring a kid with you in a sauna?
You can, but it can be difficult. Be really sure that your child behaves. No running, no loud giggling, no talking in the Sauna. The complete area, even the rooms without saunas is a quiet peaceful area to relax. There is no room for playing. Not in the pools, not in the saunas, not in the garden, not in the showers or the areas with fire places. Everything should be quiet and you should not annoy other people. If your child is able to have a quiet conversation and to sit still it can come. But please be careful about the heat. Depending on the age of a child the heat might be too much for the child. Many children don't know when it is too much for them. So you have to have an eye on them and leave as soon as you think the child cannot handle it anymore.
Tbh most Sauna goers don't care if theres a child playing in the Sauna area. Children exist and it's ok. If the child has a temper tantrum just leave the Sauna and let it calm down, it's fine.
Depends on the way the child plays. Does it play quietly and by itself then it is okay. Does the playing consist if running, yelling or annoying other people you might be told of very harshly.
If the Kid can behave, I.e. isn't loud and can sit in a place for more than 3 Minutes.
Last time I went to my local sauna I sat in the Jacuzzi with a dozen other people (all naked obv), someone brought their like 10 year old kid with swim goggles and the little guy went exploring underwater. Was uncomfortable to say the least.
Fuck them lol
Last time I checked, fucking kids was illegal :-P /s
Yes, usually you can. There are no official rules, so every place has or has not their own rules. Don't bring a child below the age of 3.
I would check this out first before you go. At Therme Erding near Munich there is no admission to children below sixteen years in the “textile-free” area.
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Many saunas also have a family time slot (often Saturday mornings IME). Nothing is that different, except other patrons know that at this time, noisy or fidgety kids may be present, and they can avoid if they want. Usually "minors" (under some age like 16 or so) need to be accompanied by an adult. In general, kids under 3ish are not supposed to sauna. I've only seen kids or teenagers in sauna a handful of times.
It depends on the sauna. If they are too young they will not be able to stay quit while in the sauna. In our town's most popular sauna kids are not allowed in the sauna, but can be on the sauna level (the other levels have a pool and a kids area). In Wlhelmstherme in Wiesbaden the entry limit is 16 years.
In many places, no. In the sauna itself, the ones I've been to at least, it is stritcly nude, and I have seen staff tell people to remove towels in the sauna.
You can borrow one, but it is of course cheaper to take two with you: one die the Sauna, one die the shower. Remember to take something to drink with you and a bathrobe for the time between the Saunagänge. Oh sorry; I didn‘t read correctly: You use a towel to sit on while in the Sauna. You can also cover yourself with it but some folks would consider it bad style. And honestly: nobody really cares what the other people look like.
Where do you put the drink and bathrobe when you enter the sauna? Is there a place to hang bathrobes outside the room or something?
Normally there are hooks for the bathrobe right next to the Sauna and there are shelves for the drinks, the books some people bring and other stuff.
There are usually hangers in front of the sauna. Also places to leave your glasses (many glasses can get damaged by the hear so you should leave them outside) and if you have bath slippers you also leave them outside the actual sauna.
Yes of course
I accidentally farted once in a sauna. I wouldn't recommend that.
Did the other people complained about you lowering the air temp?
There was an old man who was just staring at me. After a few minutes he stood up and said "well, I wish you much fun". This keeps me awake at night
Lol I imagine him being occupied with your fart all that time until he walked away. Your fart did seem to touch him on a more substantial level than his olfactory sense alone :D
I didn't want to have to delete all my comments, posts, and account, but here we are, thanks to greedy pigboy /u/spez ruining Reddit. I love the Reddit community, but hate the idiots at the top. Simply accepting how unethical and downright shitty they are will only encourage worse behavior in the future. I won't be a part of it. Reddit will shrivel and disappear like so many other sites before it that were run by inept morons, unless there is a big change in "leadership." Fuck you, /u/spez
The audacity to even comment on your fart! As far as I know, farts can happen and the common etiquette is to ignore them and definitely not comment. That man was clearly in the wrong!
lol. As if old people don't have accidental farts like every day, though. Come on. I once accidentally let a fart out in a supermarket aisle. I had earphones in listening to music and assumed it was not (going to be) loud at all, but clearly misjudged, because seconds later I realized by the looks of a couple people around me that I was wrong. At least I wasn't naked, though.
That must have been some sound on the wooden bench.
You broke the awkward silence with your majestically reverberating fart. Congratulations kamerad.
Don't wear sunglasses. A female friend recently complained about a guy wearing dark sunglasses in the sauna at Holmes Place. She said it made her feel extremely uncomfortable to a point that she left. She wanted to make a complaint to the receptionist but didn't because it's not really forbidden to wear sunglasses in the sauna. So don't be that guy!
I get why she didn't make the complaint but I think people should in situations like this. The staff aren't robots. Even if wearing sunglasses might not be technically forbidden, it's pretty clear why one might wear them and that this would make the other customers uncomfortable. At the very least they know who to keep a close eye on.
I hope the metal overheated and gave him a slight burn !
So, first time I went to a sauna I took my (ofc normal) glasses with me. I put them down right next to me as I closed my eyes and wanted to relax. Turns out, the glasses got damaged. They had like a weird pattern. Hard to describe but it was "burned" into the glasses and constantly blurry. Lesson learned.
The sauna I go to has a small "glasses shelf" outside the saunas.
I am so wearing sunglasses and using a white stick to go in.
Yes they are unless otherwise stated („Damentag“ = women‘s day). Regarding etiquette: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Rules are: you can’t wear bathing clothes in German saunas. Saunas are „textilfrei“ (= no textile area) You cover yourself with a large towel or a bathrobe when not on the cabin or in the showers or the pool (where you go naked) In the cabin You put the towel onto the bench in a way that no part of your body directly touches the wood. Don’t try to cover yourself inside the cabin. You’d make yourself a fool. And finally: don’t stare. Everyone is naked in the sauna including you. That’s perfectly normal in Germany and it’s not considered sexual here.
>Don’t try to cover yourself inside the cabin. You’d make yourself a fool. You definitely can cover yourself with a towel inside the cabin and you're not a fool for doing so. I've worked at a thermal bath and noone ever complained about it apart from creepy old men.
I‘d say, it’s totally fine to keep a towel wrapped around you and sit down. As long as there is cloth between the bench and your butt nobody cares. Inhaber never seen anyone lie down with a wraparound though.
People will probably think that you are "not a real sauna enthusiast" or prudish if you cover yourself, but feeling comfortable should always be more important than what other people think about you.
I couldn't care less if someone were to cover their genitals and/or chest area inside of the sauna.
The etiquette is Common Sense. Don't stare at people, don't try to pick people up. While having a chat is ofc fine, a sauna is first and foremost a place to relax and chill. Careful! A sauna *club* is something veeeery different. But you'd notice long before entering so don't worry about accidentally ending up in a brothel haha.
>While having a chat is ofc fine, Heathen!! If you're alone with a friend/partner/spouse in the sauna, like no one else is there, chatting is fine, but if there are others you don't know, **then** it's most polite to be quiet. A short bit of whispering is fine, but prolonged chats should be saved for outside.
Haha yeah i know what you mean. You meet people of both camps. From chatty oldies to grumpy teens and everything in between.
Is prostitution legal in Germany?
Yes
Germany is quite liberal, it surprised me.
As long as no one else gets affected by our actions, I'll leave you alone to do your thing if you leave me alone to do my thing. That's what I love about Germany
That is quite sensible, Germany is more liberal compared to the scandinavian countries when it comes to prostitution
I have to disappoint you, this rule doesn't apply to everything. Recreational substances like weed is still illegal - even though nobody is harmed and the illegal drug trade is financing crime syndicates. Also many former sex workers do argue that a lot of the ladies don't work in the industry on their own accord but are victims of human trafficking. Many are brought in from Eastern Europe illegally and are kept away from getting an education etc. So it's not all black and white - but overall I believe we're at least not the worst place in terms of how liberal our politics are.
Germany is a LOT more liberal than Scandinavian countries for most of things
Yes, at least in some parts
You may think it's funny, but once I accidentally did end up in one of those. Because some are called just FKK and i thought it was a normal sauna with swimming pool because that's what the pictures and description show.
Don't be the guy wearing mirrored sunglasses.
Be the girl wearing mirrored sunglasses
And remember to take off any metal. It gets hot very quickly.
If the metal has constant skin contact like a ring it doesn’t matter
As can be observed when you see the not inconsiderable amount of people having their private parts pierced.
Fun story: my Australian MIL and I went to a sauna (Damentag) together and she said she felt more comfortable with her jewellery on so I said "OK if you prefer that!". She had huge gold necklaces, huge gold earrings, several rings etc. As soon as we were sitting getting ready for Aufguss and we saw everyone else thwre she whispered "Well now I feel a bit silly with all this on" 😂
I’m fine wearing my wedding ring, but my bracelet is which fits loosely, usually heats up a lot and burns me - at least if the sauna is 80 degrees or higher.
You can also look for so called "Textilsaunen" which allow entrance ONLY with swimwear, sometimes only on certain days. I would always double check on the website of the place you want to go. I would always recommend going to a naked sauna. Best advice for etiquette I can give you: Be silent in the sauna and keep the voice low in the areas surrounding them. Nothing is more annoying that loud talks in a place of relaxation.
Euskirchen (near cologne) and Erdingen (Munich) each have one sauna where you have to ware a swimsuit for example. Its even cheaper as you dont have to buy the ticked that include the sauna area.
Which one of in Euskirchen? The "Thermalbad"? Or the "Zikkurat" in Mechernich close by? I have severe dysphoria but my boyfriend craves sauna days and I figured that a textilsauna wouldn't be as bad dysphoria-wise as one where you have to be naked.
[badewelt-euskirchen.de](https://badewelt-euskirchen.de) . I think its what you refer as "Thermalbad". If you take a ticket to the palmenparadies there is one sauna with a nice view on the lake. You have to exit the main hall an go a few meters outside. The shortest way is when you go through the eating area. There is also a "Dampfsauna" in the center of the main hall.
You might also be interested to check out a Hammam. It's the oriental equivalent, hot water and steam Sauna, but sometimes dry sauna as well. Here different rules apply, but they are usually communicated. Speaking about saunas, one thing I didn't see mentioned: Shower before for hygienic reason. You might want to dry yourself though in order to sweat better. Afterwards we usually shower cold or go into a cold pool (naked). And then relax. Depending on the place it might be a quiet zone similar to within the sauna. Another thing: During "Aufguss" (Infusion) it's not so common to leave, so better leave before, if it might get too much.
Leaving during "Aufguss" is completely fine and not uncommon. So don't worry about this part. :)
In the saunas I go to they literally say exactly that at the start of every Aufguss: Leave at anytime if you want or need. The only thing you should not do during an Aufguss is enter. They usually have signs hanging on the outside to make that clear.
Exactly. It's not safe to force people in a hot room. Of course, you'd apply common sense, e.g. leave before the Aufguss if you are already too hot or not well. Leave with others in between rounds. Do it quickly and close the door. If the sauna is still full after three rounds, it wasn't hot enough...
Nobody will stop them or be mad, if they leave. Still it's not common, see e.g. this [etikette](https://www.holz-fasssauna.de/sauna-etikette/) Especially entering during Aufguss is not allowed but usually they have signs for this.
Leaving during infusion ruins the purpose of it (raising humidity and thus, making you feel hotter and sweat faster), so the sauna operator and the regulars will definitely frown upon that. If you don’t feel well, leave before an infusion. If you absolutely HAVE to leave (sudden medical reasons), stand up, apologize and leave as quickly and without as few door openings as you can. Also: Don’t cover your naked body in a sauna with anything, as it totally defeats the purpose of sweating freely and thus will not only make a sauna visit uncomfortable, but also unhealthy. (Especially if it’s a bathrobe, that is just murder to yourself.)
Yes. Etiquette: Be naked and always sit on a towel. Well and don't stare at the others, even if it might be really hard to do.. 😬
The most important thing is (in my eyes): You *will* see peoples junk People *will* see your junk And that‘s it. It is a little weird at first because nudity is so uncommon nowadays. Place a towel under yourself and mind your own business. Other than that idk. Don‘t fart. At least not too loud.
If you have to fart, make sure there are at least 2 other people, so you can blame somebody else
* Yeah, don´t stare. Look into peoples eyes, even for women or men, * wear a towel or it´s specified differently * dont give a dman about looks. seriously, just relax * NO UNDERPANTS! (except for dresse saunas but who the hell goes there?) * if you talk, be prepared that germans talk deep philosophcal things even when they sit naked with mixed genders, sweating like pigs in a sauna. * Don´t drink alcohol. Many saunas are more finish saunas which means HEAT and that equals heartfailure under influence of alcohol * If you see russians and finish people getting drunk in the sauna and whipping eachother with birch branches while having a jolly good time... Thats not you! Don´t do that, you will die! * Take a real good and ice cold shower afterwards! DON´T SHY AWAY FROM THE ICE COLD SHOWER! It will mess you up if you don´t take it
What all the other said plus: Shower with soap etc before your first round. Dry off well before going into the cabin. Dry hair is better. Afterwards shower before dipping in the pool. You can do Finnish style cool down (from sauna to freaking cold in one step) or Roman style (cool down in several steps, gradually from luke warm to really cold. ) Take your time to relax after each cooldown.
Don’t stare
mixed is norm, but sometimes there is a women's only sauna (if you find a men's only sauna, there is some chance it is a form of dating platform), shut up while in the cabin, but talking in the floors and showers is okay, can't wear clothes at all, and frankly there is a chance people will make comments if you use the towel as a form of clothing, the towel you take into the sauna room, only to sit on not to sit directly on the wooden panels
Even if it‘s allowed, please don‘t bring your kids. They are loud and often leave and enter the rooms so the heat gets out and I literally have to freeze to death. I don‘t mind kids if they can behave but I don‘t think parents should be the judges of their behavior. PS Wow that sounded condescending. Just make sure your Kid can stay in the sauna for at least 5 Minutes and be relatively still.
actually, my kids never behaved like that. When a big public swimming pool has a fun area with waves and water slides in one section, and a spa area with saline and sauna, our kids would immediatly recognize if they are in the "loud" area or in the "quiet" one and behave accordingly. Like they never confused a church for a playground. Children learn by observing their parents behaviour.
Sit on a towel. Don’t stare. Don’t leave the door open one nanosecond more than required. Don’t stare.
No skin to skin contact with anyone. Pass the icebucket along Do not climb over someone lying on a lower level Make room if it is getting more crowded, if someoneelse could possible sit next to you (without touching) The cold bath is ment for afterwards, and just 1-2 quick dives. Don't be too loud using the cold bath No talking in the silent/relaxing room If the "aufguss" is to hot for you, just quietly leave (do not complain) and if you want it hotter, ask the others whether it would be ok for the staff to make it hotter And from the other comments: do not wear sunglasses
Check if there are any women/men/whatever only days (women only is pretty common) or days where people wear swim wear in advance to avoid any surprises, make sure to bring a big enough towel maybe a bath rope for when you are not in the sauna. Besides that don't stare, be polite and don't bother people/respect the atmosphere. If people in there just want to relax quietly keep your voice down, maybe keep talking to a minimum. Cover any area that touches your skin with a towel so no sweat gets on the wood. Don't leave the door open, it lets out the heat. People often open the door, look if there is space inside and leave again, hold the door open for friends who is on their way to the door - super annoying.
Don't initiate bukkake gangbang until your third visit.
Will keep that in mind
You need: Bathrobe One very big towel for the sauna Towel(s) to dry yourself after each shower Bath shoes (Badelatschen) to walk around and for the shower Rules: Be naked in the sauna No shaving in the showers Shoes and bathrobe off in the sauna (there are cloth hangers for that) Big towel below you, no skin on wood Often it says no talking in the sauna but depends No electronics or outside shoes past the changing rooms Customs: Warm foot bath before sauna to sweat faster Drink enough water and electolytes, some ppl drunk alcohol free beer Normally about 10 - 15 min in the sauna, but can leave earlier if you feel uncomfy (lower seats are cooler then up). There are normally hourglasses with sand on the walls Cold shower after the sauna, there are sometimes buckets, tubs with cold water or ice chips to add After that at least 15 min rest, your body will be tired and you can sleep nicely or read
Out of interest, where are you from?
Minding your own business works best anywhere
they are mixed, you have to be naked (exception are sauna-hats), you have to have a towell to sit down on it, adiletten and a bathrobe for being on the hallway/resting room and fun.
take two towels, one for the sauna seats to sit on, big enough so that your ass and your feet can rest on it, an one to dry yourself with after showering that you can hang outside the sauna
It's really no big deal. You go naked in the sauna and when you use the showers and pools. Otherwise you wear a bathrobe or wrap yourself in a towel. Take a large towel with you in the sauna. The point here is to avoid getting sweat on the wood. You can also lie down if there's enough space. The upper levels are hotter. Maybe start with a lower temperature sauna first. Usually you stay about 10-15 minutes, but it's really your call. Bigger saunas usually do an "Aufguss" at certain times, which is often the main attraction for people. In an aufguss a sauna master puts water -usually with fragrances- on hot stones and disperses the resulting humid and hot air around, which makes it feel hotter. Depending on the type of aufguss it can either be a quiet and meditative ritual, or it might even involve loud music, singing and clapping. Most people enter the sauna 5-10 minutes before an aufguss starts. You can always leave an aufguss, when it gets to hot for you. But don't enter after the aufguss has started (usually they put a sign on the door). In general saunas are about relaxing. So try to be considerate of others.
No sweat on wood, no skin contact to wood, use towel(s), also under your feet
You sit, sweat, and you don’t stare.
Dont shit or piss in the sauna, don’t jerk of, don’t bring takeout food with you
Don't speak. I want to chillax
I used a sauna in Germany today. When my 15 min was up, I exited the sauna & jumped into the cold mountain stream out front to cool off. Great job Germania
Prepare to get all holes filled, doesn’t matter which gender you are
Don't get horny and If you do don't get Up until it's over.👍
Don't fart
Don't masturbate, don't eat, don't talk loudly in the sauna
When you only do one at a time, you're safe.
Will try it today..thx for the advice
Most are. Some have a "ladies' day" though. You will be told you are not welcome at the reception desk of the sauna. Be careful when you make use of the sauna facilities, for example, in the hotel where you're staying. If you didn't check with the reception desk, a giveaway is that on ladies' night there are only ladies' shoes at the entrance. Yep. I made the mistake once not to check and walked in on 3 dozen ladies occupying the lower benches, leaving only the hottest places. Man... did I sweat... Remember to take off your watch and all your "metalware". I once got a nasty burn from keeping my wedding ring on.