Sauna etiquette: how to follow the most important rules
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Anyone visiting a public sauna for the first time often wonders: what is actually allowed here – and what counts as rude? In truth, there is a whole set of unwritten sauna rules that exist for hygiene, safety and a relaxed atmosphere for everyone. The good news: sauna etiquette is quickly learned. In this guide you will get all the important rules explained clearly – from showering beforehand and laying down a towel to aufguss etiquette and the right behaviour in the public areas.
Why sauna rules exist in the first place
Sauna rules are not arbitrary regulations but serve three goals: hygiene, safety and considerate coexistence. In a sauna, many people share a warm, humid room – without clear rules that would quickly become unpleasant. Once you know the most important points, you feel confident from the start.
Before worrying about etiquette, it is worth looking at the basics: how a complete sauna round works and how to cool down correctly is explained in our beginner’s guide to sauna bathing the right way.
Before the round: shower and dry off
The most important rule comes before the cabin: shower thoroughly before every sauna round. This removes sweat, creams and dirt – both out of consideration for the other guests and for the health of your own skin.
Just as important: dry yourself well afterwards. Dry skin sweats faster and more evenly, while wet skin delays perspiration. Going into the sauna dry is therefore not only polite but also more effective. Also remove jewellery and glasses, because metal becomes uncomfortably hot in the heat.
Always lay down a towel
The iron rule of every sauna is: no part of the body touches the wood directly. Always sit or lie on a generously spread-out towel – positioned so that your feet rest on it too, not on the bench or the floor.
The reason: sweat should not soak into the wood. A second towel is for drying off; the first stays as your underlay. In many saunas at least two towels are therefore mandatory. If you lie down, make sure the towel also covers the area under your feet – one of the most frequently overlooked rules.
Quiet and silence in the cabin
The sauna is a place of relaxation, not a venue for loud conversation. Inside the cabin people speak softly or not at all. Loud chatting, laughing or even phone calls noticeably disturb the calm of the other guests.
Your phone stays outside too – not only out of politeness, but because the heat and humidity damage the device. Move calmly and enter or leave the cabin without rushing. By respecting this quiet atmosphere, you help ensure everyone can enjoy their sauna visit.
Aufguss etiquette: what to keep in mind
During an aufguss (infusion), the sauna master pours water, often with essential oils, onto the hot stones and distributes the steam with a towel. For many this is the highlight – but it has its own rules:
- Arrive on time and take your seat before it begins.
- Do not enter or leave the cabin in the middle of an infusion – this lets heat escape and disrupts the ceremony.
- Only wave the towel yourself if it is explicitly allowed – usually the sauna master does this.
- Step out if it becomes too much – but as discreetly as possible, ideally during a pause.
If the topic interests you in more detail, our article shows how you can make a sauna infusion yourself – including the right scents.
Cooling down and using rest phases properly
After sweating comes cooling down – and consideration applies here too. First go briefly into the fresh air and then cool down with cold water, always from the feet upwards towards the heart. Before the plunge pool you shower or hose yourself off so that no sweat reaches the water – this is one of the most important hygiene rules of all.
The following rest phase is an essential part of the process. Wrap yourself in a towel or a bathrobe and relax until your circulation has settled. Do not crowd the plunge pool and do not reserve loungers with items you are not actually using.
Etiquette in public areas: nude or textile?
In German-speaking countries many classic saunas are used nude – this is considered more hygienic because no sweat stays in swimwear. Inside the cabin the towel is your underlay; in the areas before and after, many people wear a bathrobe.
There are, however, also textile saunas and mixed times with a swimwear requirement. Check the rules of your sauna in advance, then you will feel comfortable. In general: consideration comes above all. Do not stare at other guests, keep a respectful distance and behave discreetly. If you are still unsure about the heat, our comparison of an infrared cabin versus a sauna offers a gentler alternative – and the overview of sauna versus steam bath helps you choose the right kind of heat session. If your wellness hotel is by the sea, a thalasso seawater treatment in the spa makes a lovely complement to a sauna round.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Sitting without a towel: The most common offence. Always lay one down, including under your feet.
- Not showering before the round: Unhygienic and unpleasant for the other guests.
- Talking or phoning in the cabin: Disturbs the calm enormously.
- Entering or leaving in the middle of an aufguss: Lets heat escape and interrupts the ceremony.
- Jumping into the plunge pool while sweaty: Always shower off first.
- Saunaing with alcohol or a full stomach: Strains the circulation unnecessarily.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I always have to lay down a towel in a public sauna?
Yes, this is the central hygiene rule. No part of the body should touch the wood directly – so you sit or lie on a spread-out towel, with your feet resting on it as well. In most saunas at least two towels are therefore mandatory: one as an underlay, one for drying off.
May I leave the cabin during an aufguss?
Ideally not, because every opening of the door lets heat and steam escape and disrupts the ceremony. If it becomes too hot for you, step out – but as discreetly as possible and preferably during a pause between the waving phases.
Do I have to be nude in the sauna?
In many classic saunas, nude bathing is customary and desired for hygienic reasons. There are, however, also textile saunas and mixed times with a swimwear requirement – simply inform yourself about the rules of your sauna in advance.
May I take my phone into the sauna?
No. The phone stays outside – out of consideration for the calm of the other guests and because heat and humidity damage the device. The sauna is deliberately a place without digital distraction.
