A few decades ago, visiting a sauna or a wellness area was only something for luxury travelers who could afford hotels with corresponding facilities. In the meantime, a large number of hotels have saunas and wellness areas. This has even developed into a separate sector of tourism and some regions of the world specialise specifically in wellness and relaxation. A visit to a sauna is an essential part of cleaning and relaxing your body. But also here, different rules apply from country to country. Particularly in German-speaking countries, it can happen to tourists from other countries that they step in faux pas during their visit to the sauna. So to avoid being one of those travellers, read the following article and you will be perfectly prepared for a sauna visit in Germany, Austria, and (most parts of) Switzerland.
1. The different sauna types
Not all saunas are the same. Many tourists who come to Europe and want to go to a sauna think mainly of a hot room with benches and a sauna oven. But in reality, there is a wide variety of different saunas. In each one there are benches or seats and a stove that produces heat.
The Finnish Sauna
The Finnish sauna is probably the quintessence of the sauna and the most common type. As the name suggests, it comes from the birthplace of the sauna – Finland. In the Finnish sauna, you will find a dry heat between 80 and 110 degrees Celsius (176 – 230° F). The vast majority of these saunas are heated to exactly 90° Celsius (194° F). However, the air humidity is only 13% at most. This also has its sense, because at a higher humidity the heat is perceived as unpleasant and burning on the body. Nevertheless, the Finnish sauna is not for everyone. Especially newcomers should (if possible) first try the so-called „Biosauna“
The Biosauna or Sanarium
The Biosauna is ideal for beginners. It is not as hot as the traditional Finnish sauna and yet you can sweat very well here. As a rule, the bio-sauna, which is sometimes also called „Sanarium“, is heated to around 60 to 75 degrees Celsius (140 – 167° F). The humidity can be higher than in the hot Finnish sauna due to the lower heat and is usually around 20 to 30%. Organic saunas, in particular, are used for infusions with a wide variety of fragrances.
Biosaunas often have their own terms, such as „meditation sauna“. These names are given by the company that runs the sauna
The Caldarium
The Caldarium is an invention from ancient Rome. Even the Romans knew that a visit to a hot room has a good effect on health. However, the Caldarium is one of the coldest saunas there is. In total, only around 45-50 degrees Celsius (113 – 122° F) are reached, with a comparatively high humidity up to 100%
The Steam bath
the steam bath is also known as „Hamam“ in many countries, although in the German-speaking world the term „Hamam“ usually refers exclusively to a Turkish steam bath with a corresponding cleaning ceremony and washing. The steam bath, which is also known as „Roman steam bath“ is similar to the Caldarium. The boundaries between the steam bath and Caldarium are fluid. In the steam bath, there is almost 100% humidity with relatively high heat (around 50° C / 122°F). Steam baths are often also used for infusions, which has a positive effect on the respiratory tract. Mostly salt is also evaporated, but other mild fragrances are also used. These special steam baths are then called „salt grotto“, „salt gallery“ „herbal bath“ or similar
The Infrared-sauna or Infrared-cabin
Infrared saunas are a relatively special type of sauna, since infrared lamps do not heat the air in the sauna, but the body itself. Usually, you sit under or next to infrared lamps that are directed at you. These produce a temperature of around 50 degrees Celsius (122° F) on the surface of the body, which makes you sweat. Infrared saunas, sometimes also called infrared cabins, are similar to a Biosauna, but in my opinion the gentlest form of sauna, so ideal for sauna novices
2. Who should not got to a sauna?
Even though a visit to the sauna is generally considered to be positive for health, there are certain groups of people who should not go to the sauna.
These include people who suffer from cramp veins in particular. Although it is possible to go to the sauna if you have varicose veins, you should then put your feet up in order to increase blood circulation.
Also, people suffering from high blood pressure, heart problems, or chronic diseases should always consult their doctor before visiting the sauna. Especially high temperatures and the switch between hot and cold can severely interfere with the blood circulation.
Is it ok to go to the sauna with a common cold?
The question of whether a sauna visit with a common cold is possible or not is discussed frequently and in detail. In principle, you should not go to the sauna if you have a cold. On the one hand, you could infect other sauna visitors and on the other hand, you could make your cold even worse, depending on the stage it is in. Basically, doctors say that you can still go to the sauna when a cold starts and possibly even stop it, but if an infection has already broken out, you should not sweat any more in order not to put additional stress on your body. All in all, you should avoid going to the sauna when a cold is on its way.
3. Rules in a German sauna
Nudity
in German-speaking countries, the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries it is completely normal to go completely naked into a sauna, even in mixed-gender saunas. In this nudity, there is absolutely nothing sexual to it and those who have been in a German sauna more often will notice that the other sauna visitors are not interested in your body or even staring at you. However, especially for visitors from English-speaking countries (UK, USA, Australia, Canada), undressing completely always requires some effort.
As a tourist, you should nonetheless bite the bullet here, as otherwise, you run the risk of catching attention even more if you are the only person in a bathing suit in the sauna. It can even happen that you’re thrown out by the bath attendant or the „Saunameister“.
Of course, while you are not in the sauna, you do not walk around completely naked but usually put on a bathrobe and slippers that you have with you.
Of course, it is also allowed to walk around naked for a short time, especially if you go straight from the sauna to the shower in order to take a quick shower and rinse off sweat.
No skin on wood
But even if you are completely naked in a German sauna, there is a special rule that everyone observes. A disregard of this rule can lead to harsh comments. So under all circumstances, follow this rule:
No skin on wood!
The benches and walls of a sauna are usually made of wood. Unfortunately, wood has the habit of absorbing moisture like a sponge, especially when it is warm and dry. This also happens with human sweat. Therefore, avoid under all circumstances that your sweaty skin comes into contact with the benches and walls. For this reason, you usually have a pretty large bath towel with you, on which you sit or lie.
Please also note that if you are sitting on the wooden bench, the towel is placed in such a way that your feet are also on it… because you won’t believe how much you will sweat on your feet.
This rule does not apply to steam baths. Here it would make no sense at all to go in with your towel because it would be dripping wet in no time. In steam baths you don’t sit on wooden benches but rather the seatings are usually made of stone or ceramic tiles.
Never use a wooden pillow as footrest
Wooden pillows are available in nearly every sauna. They are placed on the benches and are made of (you guessed it already) wood. You might think that this is a footrest, because it looks similar. But this is not the case. So never never never put your feet on it, not even if you put a towel underneath. This would immediately attract looks and comments.
Only use the wooden pillow for your head when you lie down on the bench (if there is enough space) and always put a towel under your head (see ’no skin on wood‘-rule).
Never wear slippers inside the sauna
When you enter the sauna area, you should wear slippers. This not only helps to prevent you from slipping, but also prevents the spread of foot mycosis.
However, when entering the sauna, you should take them off. You will quickly notice this if there are already some slippers in front of the entrance door to a well frequented sauna. Just add them to it too and go barefoot into the sauna.
Pro tip: Keep in mind where you have left your slippers. If you notice that there are a lot of identical slippers and there is a danger of confusion (for example in hotels where every guest gets the same looking slippers), try to mark them beforehand (e.g. with a pen). If it’s already too late to mark, try to place the slippers in a way that you recognize them (e.g. put them in each other, put them on top of each other).
Take a shower before using the sauna
Before you enter the sauna, you should always take a shower. And I don’t mean that you should take a shower at home or in your hotel room, but right before entering the particular sauna cabin. Therefore, there are enough showers in every sauna area, usually only a few steps away from the sauna cabins.
Whether you use shower gel or just clear water is up to you. When using the shower prior to your sauna session, the point is to open the pores of your skin so that you can sweat more easily and more effectively. It also helps to wash off any sweat that may already be present, as this can smell unpleasantly, which would then intensify in the heat of the sauna and quickly scare off the other sauna guests.
Never enter the sauna cabin completely wet
Even if you take a shower directly before using the sauna, you are not allowed to enter the sauna when you are still dripping wet. Dry off first! Of course you don’t have to dry yourself so much that you could slip into clothes, but you should be towel-dried. This is not only true for your body but also for long hair.
If you were to go into a sauna room dripping wet, the sauna guests would most likely immediately ask you (more or less politely) to dry off first.
Try not to talk inside the sauna cabin
The sauna is a place of well-being and relaxation. For this reason it is usually quiet in all saunas. The sauna guests speak as little as possible and concentrate on themselves. In German saunas this rule is strictly observed.
When you visit the sauna with your partner or friends, try not to talk in the cabin or try to talk as little as possible. If you need to talk, use your inside voice, whisper and postpone conversations for a few minutes.
Take a shower after using the sauna
Right after you come out of the sauna cabin, you should take a shower. This will rinse off the sweat and also refresh your body. Whether you take an ice-cold shower or a warm one is up to you. The ice-cold shower, however, stimulates the circulation. In many saunas, cold plunge pools or cold splash showers are available. Use them when you need a boost of refreshment.
After you shower, dry yourself off and rest a little before you take your next sauna session.
