German Spa Culture: A Beginner’s Guide

Germans take wellness seriously, which means German spas can intimidate newcomers. The rules: nudity is standard in saunas (swimsuits forbidden), mixed-sex saunas are normal, and the ritual involves stages — heat, then cold shower, then rest, repeat. Aufguss sessions involve a sauna master waving scented steam. The classics: Friedrichsbad in Baden-Baden, Therme Erding near Munich, Caracalla Spa in Baden-Baden. Start there, learn the customs, and discover why Germans schedule spa time into their diaries.