Getting your sauna gear off depends on where you are

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 20 February 2020
The increasing popularity of European saunas and spa holidays has prompted SpaDreams, part of the Fit Reisen Group, to remind intending holidaymakers of the appropriate dress code to ensure that there are no unintentional conflicts in saunas during wellness holidays:
In Sweden and Finland, for example, it is good manners to sauna naked. Even business deals are concluded here in an 'Adam’s costume'.
In Norway, on the other hand, sauna-lovers wear a towel - as they do in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, Croatia and Great Britain.
 
In the 'banya', the Russian equivalent of the sauna, the following rule applies: When men and women sauna together, intimate parts of the body remain covered. When men are alone, they usually wear only a traditional felt headgear to protect their heads from excessive heat. The same applies in Latvia.
 
In catholic states such as Ireland, Italy, Portugal or Spain, it is correct to cover intimate parts with swimwear. In France, Poland and Hungary, an additional towel is mandatory.
Abroad, hotel guests should check the sauna dress code. 
 
Claudia Wagner, manager of Fit Reisen and a passionate travel and sauna-lover explains: "Many hotels orientate themselves towards their guests and try to avoid discrepancies between different nationalities and customs. It is therefore advisable either to orientate oneself towards other guests or, in case of doubt, to ask politely in advance."
 
Wagner adds: "The reasons for or against nudity in the sauna are not - as often claimed - hygienic concerns, but mostly have a purely cultural background.

Getting your sauna gear off depends on where you are

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 20 February 2020
The increasing popularity of European saunas and spa holidays has prompted SpaDreams, part of the Fit Reisen Group, to remind intending holidaymakers of the appropriate dress code to ensure that there are no unintentional conflicts in saunas during wellness holidays:
In Sweden and Finland, for example, it is good manners to sauna naked. Even business deals are concluded here in an 'Adam’s costume'.
In Norway, on the other hand, sauna-lovers wear a towel - as they do in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, Croatia and Great Britain.
 
In the 'banya', the Russian equivalent of the sauna, the following rule applies: When men and women sauna together, intimate parts of the body remain covered. When men are alone, they usually wear only a traditional felt headgear to protect their heads from excessive heat. The same applies in Latvia.
 
In catholic states such as Ireland, Italy, Portugal or Spain, it is correct to cover intimate parts with swimwear. In France, Poland and Hungary, an additional towel is mandatory.
Abroad, hotel guests should check the sauna dress code. 
 
Claudia Wagner, manager of Fit Reisen and a passionate travel and sauna-lover explains: "Many hotels orientate themselves towards their guests and try to avoid discrepancies between different nationalities and customs. It is therefore advisable either to orientate oneself towards other guests or, in case of doubt, to ask politely in advance."
 
Wagner adds: "The reasons for or against nudity in the sauna are not - as often claimed - hygienic concerns, but mostly have a purely cultural background.