November 11, 2025, 10:10 am | Read time: 7 minutes

Yes, you can actually do quite a few things wrong when using a sauna. If you don’t behave properly, you might harm your health or deprive others of the relaxation that the procedure is supposed to provide. With our comprehensive sauna etiquette guide, you can avoid both.

Sauna Etiquette–Things to Avoid

Going to the Sauna Without Showering

Imagine if none of your sauna neighbors had showered beforehand. Gross? Exactly! That’s why sauna etiquette dictates: shower before every sauna session, and use soap before the first one. This is important not only for hygiene but also because it removes the oil film and any cosmetic residues from your skin, which would otherwise clog your pores.

Going to the Sauna Wet

While you should shower before the first sauna session and after each one, you should always dry off well before entering the sauna because dry skin sweats better. And that’s the effect you want to achieve when using a sauna.

Staring

The horror for some women: being openly stared at in the sauna. Unfortunately, there are always sauna-goers who are just out to spot naked skin. But, dear voyeurs, let it be said: The sauna is for relaxing, not for staring! If you absolutely must get excited, please do so in an appropriate establishment called a sauna club.

Not Using a Towel

Almost as gross: sitting on the sauna bench without a towel or with one that’s too small. Especially those who sit on the upper benches should ensure that no sweat drips down.

Wearing Too Much

You go to the sauna naked–at least that’s the rule for most saunas here and in some other countries, such as Finland, the home of the sauna. There are supposedly good reasons for sweating as unclothed as possible: Evaporation and thus cooling of the body would be hindered by too much fabric on the body, it is said. Some also believe that sweat trapped in textiles, such as swim trunks or a bikini, could harbor germs and bacteria–though there is no conclusive evidence of this. If you’re uncomfortable being exposed to others’ gazes, it’s advisable to simply wrap a towel around certain areas. But don’t forget to lay down another towel!

Fooling Around

Another taboo in the sauna: fooling around–whether with strangers or your own partner. If you absolutely need the heat of a sauna for that, you should get one for your home or also go to the sauna club.

Wearing Jewelry

Necklaces, rings, bracelets: Metal jewelry heats up significantly in the sauna and can feel uncomfortably hot on the skin or–depending on the temperature and proximity to the heater–even cause burns. An exception is jewelry that has full skin contact, such as a snug wedding ring. This transfers its warmth directly to the skin. Be cautious with hairpins or hair ties with metal parts: When heated, they can damage the hair.

Also interesting: 7 Things to Avoid When Practicing Naturism

Sauna Too Hot

Another tip in our sauna etiquette guide: Especially as a beginner, you shouldn’t immediately go into a sauna that’s 100 degrees Celsius. It’s best to start with a milder version, such as the bio sauna, which is usually between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius. If only a traditional sauna is available, it’s best to start on one of the lower benches, as it’s cooler there than at the top. Then you can slowly “work your way up.”

Staying Too Long in the Sauna

Another typical beginner’s mistake: staying in the sauna too long. A sauna session usually lasts between 8 and 12 minutes and never more than 15 minutes, with only experienced sauna-goers typically reaching the maximum duration. In the milder bio sauna, you can stay much longer–but only as long as you still feel good.

Getting Up Too Quickly

If you want to leave the sauna, you shouldn’t get up abruptly, as this could lead to circulation problems. It’s best to move from a lying to a sitting position for a few minutes before the end and then stand up slowly.

Getting Too Close to the Heater

The heater and the stones usually inside it are extremely hot, which is why it sizzles so nicely during the infusion. You should never accidentally touch the heater, for example, when entering or exiting, or even reach into it.

Also interesting: Guide–How Sauna Types Differ

Being Loud

In the sauna, you want to relax. Therefore, you should avoid talking loudly–at least when other guests are present–according to sauna etiquette. Also unnecessary and for some even gross: wiping off sweat noisily.

Going to the Sauna on a Full Stomach

This is not a good idea, as the body is then too busy digesting. All together, it can strain the circulatory system. Similarly, you shouldn’t go to the sauna on a completely empty stomach.

Not Cooling Down

You only achieve a health-promoting effect when using a sauna if you cool down after each session. It’s best to go outside for 1 to 2 minutes, if possible, to cool the airways and get some oxygen. Then take a cold shower. If you’re brave, you can also go into the plunge pool–but only after showering once beforehand.

Not Resting Between Sessions

Just as important as cooling down is resting. After the cold shower, you should wrap yourself in a dry bathrobe and lie down in a quiet place, such as the spa’s relaxation room.

Not Allowing Enough Time

Some people make the mistake of not allowing enough time and squeezing three sauna sessions into an hour. That’s definitely too little, as the rest periods in between are inevitably too short. You should plan at least two hours for three sauna sessions, preferably more.

Also interesting: Do You Really Have to Be Naked in the Sauna?

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Going to the Sauna When Sick

If you have a bad cold or even a fever, you should definitely not go to the sauna. Not only do you risk infecting other sauna guests, but you also harm your own body, as the heat weakens the immune system in its fight against pathogens. If you notice a cold coming on, you should also avoid the sauna, as it could trigger the illness.

Drinking Alcohol

The last point that should not be missing in a sauna etiquette guide: You should completely avoid alcoholic beverages before and, of course, during sauna use. Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate and blood pressure to drop. The body is burdened by the breakdown of alcohol, and it could lead to circulatory problems. Additionally, alcohol dehydrates the body, an added strain during the sweat bath. It’s best to drink plenty of water, spritzers, or teas while using the sauna.