Pools and Spas
Whether it's a thermal bath or spa to help you relax and unwind or a large water park where you and the children can have a blast, Germany has many options to fulfill your needs.
Most cities and many villages have pools, some inside (Hallenbad) and others outside (Freizeitbad). Some require bathing caps and others do not. Some of the Thermal Baths or pools have areas that are for use with Textiles (swimming suits) and some are FKK (without textiles).
There is a whole bathing/spa culture in Germany and Europe that can be very different than what one is used to in their own country. German spa culture is an adopted tradition taken from the Romans. During the time of the Roman Empire, bathing was used by soldiers returning from battle as a form of hydrotherapy. The word spa itself is a Latin acronym meaning 'health by water' or sanus per aquam. Mineral sources were particularly soothing remedies then as now.
Today, Germany has one of the most comprehensive spa cultures in Europe. The German equivalent for spa is Heilbad or 'healing bath' or Kurort which literally mean 'cure place'. Any town in Germany can qualify and choose to use the prefix 'Bad' or bath before their town name i.e. Bad Soden. Those towns that qualify have met the strictest air and water quality standards and have been able to establish the necessary medical staff and infrastructure to cater to those seeking treatment.
Another wellness option popular in Germany are thermal baths or Therme. These are strictly leisure-focused day spas and not cure facilities, which are purely medicinal. Thermal baths are often modern designed oases of relaxation in a natural atmosphere and not simply an indoor pool. Guests come to enjoy the soothing surroundings without splashing, noise or chaos.
Typically a Therme houses a variety of different saunas, steam baths, whirl pools, and tanning beds, with a separate section dedicated to cosmetic spa treatments such as facials, manicures and pedicures, massages and body wraps.
Germans are very particular when it comes to spa etiquette and if you want to blend in easily make sure you pay attention to certain unwritten rules. Swimsuits are worn in many of the areas and in the pool but in the saunas, steam baths and massage areas it is typically "towel only" or as it is more commonly referred to in German "Freie Körper Kur" or FKK. Europeans have a very casual attitude toward the human body; baring all is not seen as shameful or embarrassing. Showering before you enter the pools, saunas and steam baths is expected. Hang up your bathing suit on the hooks provided as you enter the designated "towel only" areas. Your flip-flops or bathing shoes are left outside of the saunas but can be worn in the steam baths. Always enter the sauna quickly and close the door well to ensure minimal heat loss. Sit or lie on your towel with every body part on it. Germans are very particular about not water-staining the wooden benches.
For more information on spa culture click here.
Most cities and many villages have pools, some inside (Hallenbad) and others outside (Freizeitbad). Some require bathing caps and others do not. Some of the Thermal Baths or pools have areas that are for use with Textiles (swimming suits) and some are FKK (without textiles).
There is a whole bathing/spa culture in Germany and Europe that can be very different than what one is used to in their own country. German spa culture is an adopted tradition taken from the Romans. During the time of the Roman Empire, bathing was used by soldiers returning from battle as a form of hydrotherapy. The word spa itself is a Latin acronym meaning 'health by water' or sanus per aquam. Mineral sources were particularly soothing remedies then as now.
Today, Germany has one of the most comprehensive spa cultures in Europe. The German equivalent for spa is Heilbad or 'healing bath' or Kurort which literally mean 'cure place'. Any town in Germany can qualify and choose to use the prefix 'Bad' or bath before their town name i.e. Bad Soden. Those towns that qualify have met the strictest air and water quality standards and have been able to establish the necessary medical staff and infrastructure to cater to those seeking treatment.
Another wellness option popular in Germany are thermal baths or Therme. These are strictly leisure-focused day spas and not cure facilities, which are purely medicinal. Thermal baths are often modern designed oases of relaxation in a natural atmosphere and not simply an indoor pool. Guests come to enjoy the soothing surroundings without splashing, noise or chaos.
Typically a Therme houses a variety of different saunas, steam baths, whirl pools, and tanning beds, with a separate section dedicated to cosmetic spa treatments such as facials, manicures and pedicures, massages and body wraps.
Germans are very particular when it comes to spa etiquette and if you want to blend in easily make sure you pay attention to certain unwritten rules. Swimsuits are worn in many of the areas and in the pool but in the saunas, steam baths and massage areas it is typically "towel only" or as it is more commonly referred to in German "Freie Körper Kur" or FKK. Europeans have a very casual attitude toward the human body; baring all is not seen as shameful or embarrassing. Showering before you enter the pools, saunas and steam baths is expected. Hang up your bathing suit on the hooks provided as you enter the designated "towel only" areas. Your flip-flops or bathing shoes are left outside of the saunas but can be worn in the steam baths. Always enter the sauna quickly and close the door well to ensure minimal heat loss. Sit or lie on your towel with every body part on it. Germans are very particular about not water-staining the wooden benches.
For more information on spa culture click here.
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