Germany loves nudity and German saunas are reliably naked places. If you’re confused about German sauna etiquette, here’s everything you need to know before visiting one.
It may be a surprise to outsiders or newcomers beginning to deconstruct their stereotypes of Germany, but this country loves to be naked. And we don’t just mean topless.
Freikörperkultur, FKK for short and “free body culture” in English, has a rich history in Germany and it means having the option to strip off - everywhere from sauna, to the beach, to a designated area in the park.
FKK grew out of the mid-19th century Lebensreform movement and is based on similar principles to nudism or naturism, that being naked in the natural environment fosters creativity, as well as physical and psychological balance. Naturists believe being in your birthday suit is the best way for humans to truly return to nature.
Wherever you are in Germany, an FKK area won’t be far, and there’s no time like the present to embrace your Evakostüm.
As the German summers see locals flock to the lakeside to sun their bare bottoms, the German winter demands a cosy alternative for the long dark months.
This is where the sauna comes in. Though it's admittedly not as popular in Germany as in neighbouring Scandinavia, Germans still love to sauna. In the federal republic, you’ll find privately-run saunas, as well as saunas at many public swimming pools, music festivals, lakesides and spas.
Regardless of the sauna’s location or the time of year, unless otherwise specified you can expect your fellow sauna visitors to all be naked. Saunas are also normally mixed gender, but many will also run a women-only or FLINTA timeslot or day.
For clarification, say you were to meet the pair in the above picture at a sauna in Germany, they would likely be actually naked, not modestly covered with towels to make them appropriate for a photoshoot for an article about saunas.
While being naked can mean freedom, it also means vulnerability. So, if you’re heading to a German sauna, here are the rules and etiquette you should follow to make sure that you and everyone else has a nice time in the nude!
While nobody can force you to be naked, it is etiquette to be naked in a German sauna, and some saunas and spas may explicitly say that they are “textilfrei” (textile-free). Even if the sauna isn’t explicitly textilfrei, you can expect to be the only one in swimwear if you choose to wear it. Most likely, you'll be the one getting the funny looks.
That said, it is helpful to bring a swimming costume to the sauna. If there is an adjoining pool, you may have to wear swimwear while in the pool, while you can be naked in the showers or sauna.
Alongside your swimwear, you should bring a towel. Not only can you use the towel to cover yourself when moving between the changing room and the sauna, but most saunas require that you sit or lie on a towel while inside, rather than directly on the wood slats. Ideally, even your hands and feet should be on a towel, not on the wood.
In a steam room, you should use water to rinse down the surfaces before and after your session.
The most important rule of the sauna. Since everyone is naked in a German sauna, you should make a special effort to respect people’s space and privacy. This means sitting an appropriate distance from people, and not looking at or touching other people’s naked bodies.
If you feel like someone in the sauna is not respecting space and privacy, you can inform a member of staff working at the sauna, spa or pool.
Saunas are peaceful places, not places for loud socialising. If you’re making a trip to the sauna with your friend, it is best to keep the chat to the poolside or changing room. If you have to say something or need to talk to another visitor in the sauna, it is considered polite to whisper.
All of these rules mean that everyone visiting the sauna will find it easier to relax to the max, so don’t forget to do that too!
Thumb image credit: Poppy Pix / Shutterstock.com