You can find historic thermal towns along with their thermal baths and spas throughout Europe, and Germany is no exception. These places are where some of the wealthy used to go and still do, and you can see why.
Today, spa fans continue to visit thermal towns for various reasons including health and wellness (such as soaking in the healing water), relaxation (think of a nice massage), beauty and facial treatments, or even trying their luck at a casino. Some vacationers spend their time indulging for a week or two, patients go for specialized treatment or to follow doctor’s orders and others like yours truly may go to a facility for an afternoon to swim, steam or enjoy the different pools.
Getting naked
One important thing to know about Germany is the concept of being naked at the thermal baths. Being unclothed is one way Germans express themselves and let loose, as I wrote about in a previous post. It is called Freikörperkultur (FKK), which literally means culture of the free body. Being bare in the spa and other specific places is normal for Germans, as well as for some other cultures. As a heads-up, I never saw so many naked bodies in my life as when I was in Germany!
Dress code and more
Therefore, if you are on the more prudish side, find out what the “dress code” is for where you are going because some swimming pools do require swimsuits. Additionally, find out about ladies’ days, facilities for men or women, or when all sexes are together at once.
Normally, people don’t ogle each other, but that is not always true as it happened to a colleague of mine on mixed sexes day.
Baden-Baden, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Weisbaden
Whether you are going to a famous location, a boutique hotel, a city facility or a thermal bath, you will likely need to book tickets beforehand and pay for the amount of time you spend there, as well as any special services. Below are four favorite locations from my own experiences as well as from friends and family.
Detailed is everything from Baden-Baden in the south, to Berlin in the east, and Düsseldorf and Wiesbaden in the west. The good news is that this is just a sampling – there are plenty more establishments to explore.
Baden-Baden is one of the premier spa towns in Germany. This spa town with a population of 57,420 is located in the Black Forest, which means your surroundings will provide you with a sense of calm and one more reason to go. Two popular choices are the high-end, almost 150-year-old Friedrichsbad (Roman-Irish Bath), where your nakedness is required, and the more modestly priced Caracalla Therme (Baths of Caracalla), where swimsuits are required unless you are in a specified nudist section.
You can see hours and prices for the the Friedrichsbad here.
You can see hours and prices for the Caracalla spa here.
If you have time while you are in Baden-Baden, stroll through the old town, take a walk through the forest or take the funicular to the top of Berg Merkur.
BERLIN
Feel like a midnight swim in a Neo-Renaissance pool? Make a reservation at the Hotel Oderberger in Berlin, with its recently renovated, over 125-year-old, stunning pool. The fabulous pool is open to the public. Hotel guests do not need to book a time slot online; they can stop by at the reception desk. If you aren’t staying at the hotel, you can still go; just book a timed ticket online (in advance) to avoid waiting times and bring a towel to prevent a fee.
Also, bring your swimsuit as this is a hotel and not a spa!
Highlights include the Swimming Pool & Sauna and the Exclusive Midnight Swim. You will be amazed at the architecture inside this boutique hotel. You can see hours and fees here.
Once you are done, you can explore Berlin!
DÜSSELDORF
The historic Münster-Therme is also a favorite of two friends of mine, who recently went there during a lovely snowfall. It offers a wide range of activities, including lessons and classes. Münster-Therme is an indoor swim facility dating back to 1902. The building has preserved its original Grunderzeit and Art Nouveau charms, making it a favorite spot for spa and wellness enthusiasts. Visitors can enjoy massages, sauna, and steam rooms in this historic establishment. The facility boasts a tiled pool surrounded by two ;evels of changing rooms and features an outdoor solebecken (saltwater pool].
Yes, bring your suit.
Wiesbaden, a sophisticated spa city of 285,522, also has a long history of health and wellness dating back to 1836. Two spacious and relaxing spots to recommend include the centrally located Kaiser Friedrich Baths and the Aukammtal Thermal Baths which are northeast of the city center.
At the Kaiser-Friedrich-Therme, there are a myriad of amenities in the Art Nouveau setting: the indoor swimming pool, a cold-water pool, a thermal bubble bath, a Finnish sauna, a stone steam bath, and a tropical ice rain facility. Other treatments on offer included “massages, sand baths, oriental rasul, soft packs and cosmetic treatments.”
You can see hours and fees here.
The Thermal Bath Aukammtal on the other hand, is worth it for the surroundings as well as its indoor area (six different saunas, massage and beauty treatments) as well as an outdoor pool. With its high salt content, Aukammtal Thermal Baths provide relief from all sorts of ailments. After indulging, you can stroll around the town, have a nice meal, hop on a tourist train as we did, or in the evenings, attend the theatre or gamble at the Casino.
Viel Spaß! Have a nice time.
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See more about spas and thermal baths here in Dispatches’ archives.
Mary Porcella is a Europhile who has lived in Germany, Norway, Italy, and the U.S. She is a writer, editor, and photographer who loves seeing new places, returning to old haunts, and meeting up with family and friends. Her travels have taken her to more than 20 European countries, and she hopes to visit the rest in the not-too-distant future.
