When winter comes, it can be a challenge to imagine venturing out into the Berlin chill – but there’s a middle ground when it comes to exploring the city’s abundance of saunas. Totally compatible with the typically German idea of wellness, the health benefits of saunas are numerous. But at this time of year, the sauna is also a sensible choice on a practical level, functioning as a place to both relax and warm yourself a little before heading back out into the refreshing cold air.
Usual suspects like Badeschiff and Liquidrom offer up tried and tested and constantly recommended spots to sweat – but what about the others? Find a few Miniloft alternatives below:
(Note – in most places, you will be naked – so be sure to shed inhibitions alongside clothing… but don’t forget your flip-flops)
Turkish Hamam @ SchokoFabrik,
Mariannenstraße 6/HH,
10997 Berlin
Hamam is a Turkish tradition, with hamam meaning “to warm” in Arabic. At the hamam in the former chocolate factory on Mariannenstrasse, women are treated to both Finnish and infrared saunas, alongside the more traditional baths and massage, alongside supplementary treatments including exfoliations, pedicures and manicures.
Olivin Wellness Lounge
Schönhauser Allee 177,
10119 Berlin
Combining lounge and sauna, Olivin services the swank of Prenzlauerberg with on the hour herbal aromatic steams in their beautiful sauna. Massages can also be booked alongside sweating it out, and you can even rent out robes and slippers.
Saunabad Berlin,
Rykestrasse 10,
10405 Berlin Prenzlauer Berg
Another Prenzlauerberg find, the Saunabad Berlin features a Finnish sauna in the middle of their garden. Massages and other complimentary treatments are also on offer, and the surroundings manage to straddle the line between relatively upscale and welcoming in reality.