Turkish Baths in Munich

Anyone know of this in Munich? I Googled but everything that came up was in a hotel. Nice for the tourists and whatnot, but we're not wanting to pay tourist prices.

I've heard that the bath in Erding is very nice. The only thing that I have not been able to get an explaination for is why it is REQUIRED that you be naked. Apparently this is standard here.

Other than Erding, I think there are baths all around the city, Westbad, Nordbad, Michealibad, Volksbad(?), ect.

I was told that Erding is nice and spacious and well worth the trip out of the city. You can get a combo ticket for the S-Bahn and the bath from Hauptbahnhof.

TT bath night anyone?

hmm. That's interesting, pao. Thanks for the link. Looks good for the summer months.

But I was actually thinking more along the lines of something indoors and smaller. Little more intimate, you know.

Not dirty intimate, and no requirements of nudity; but a place where you can go and soak, have a sauna, etc.

I think Nordbad near our apartment just might be the closest I can get to it in Munich without going to a hotel. But the boyfriend seems to think it's more about swimming and less about soaking, not to mention geared a bit more toward the Frauen and he wants to find a place where men can hang about and feel like men. Okay, whatever that means.

Nordbad is one of the nicer baths in the Maxvorstadt/Schwabing neighborhood. You can either get a pool pass, or a sauna pass (about 11 Euros for 4 hours).

The sauna area is very nice and clean - 4 saunas of various sizes and heat, footbath, steam room, solarium, massages, hot and cold relaxation baths and for the nice weather, an outdoor relaxation area. One day is a women's only day - otherwise, it is usually a good split between men and women of all ages.

With that said, get used to the fact that here, the baths are nude. Staying toweled up is fine. Expect everyone else to be pretty much starkers. The changing rooms are also co-ed. If you try wearing a bathingsuit into the sauna/steam areas, one of the attendants will run in and require you to strip or leave.

Agree, Nordbad is a pretty excellent sauna. Nudism is not a problem, unless you're American and haven't gotten over the prudishness, or you're a guy (because, ah, I've had to beat a hasty retreat from some sleazy elder once before - haven't seen that happen to girls). The outdoor pool is really for teenagers, and the indoor pool is good for a workout.

If you want to soak - Erding is excellent; and they have an additional pool with a in-water wetbar for those who prefer clothing free swimming/gawking. They also have a nice flotation pool with underwater classical music - which is really nice, however, it too is clothing free, and the people tend to look a tad silly floating in 2 feet with their bodies spread-eagled for view. But the music is a very relaxing touch. Mineral pools, whirlpools, and saunas abound.

We had this topic some time back, maybe it's time to resurrect the thread.

Sauna discussion

My favorite place has to be the Volksbad.
The Stadtwerke site at www.swm.de lists all the Bäder in Munich with descriptions of the facilities and pics, prices, what day is Ladies only etc.

There are saunas at the olympic swimming pool. Never used them though, so can't comment.

They also have a whirlpool-type thing in the swimming area which is included in the 3 Euro swimming ticket.

Hiya
Therme Erding is very nice apart from the pool bar/swingers club at the front which I dash past every time I go. I am however one of the above mentioned silly people in the floation pool but I don't give a stuff.
Their salt sauna (particularly if you manage to get in when they are doing the salt self-rub-downs) is excellent as are the Aufgüsse (where water and often scented oils are added to the sauna rocks by the staff, raising the air humidity and really making you sweat and the staff gives you something to look at because sitting sweating can be a bit dull otherwise) which are good and hot. Nordbad isn't as hot and their staff are not as enthusiastic with the Aufguss, it is ok but not all that. Ladies' night is Wednesday.
Müllerisches Volksbad has beautiful interiors and on ladies' night (http://www.swm.de/privatkunden/pages/mbaeder_sauna.htm has all the opening times and ladies' and men's nights) looks like a renaissance painting with the women lazing on the seats, quite lovely. OOOO they are doing honey cream specials on Fridays in the Volksbad ooooo. Anyway I still go to Erding more though although on 7th Dec I made my yearly pilgrimage to my favourite spa, Schwabenquelle in Stuttgart which is just fabulous (100°C 20min Aufguss? Yes, bring it on! I'd rather have 10 mins of total blast furnace than 40mins in a trepidarium) and very luxurious. I can also recommend http://www.taunus-therme.de/ which has one of the few 120°C saunas in Germany and is always full of Finnish bankers so you know that it is a good one.
As for the nudity, mostly it isn't a problem apart from in Erding and Schwabenquelle where people tend to show off their piercings a bit but those new to the nude will get used to it faster than you would ever believe...
Katrina

you can find hundreds of turkish baths and infact showers, sinks and toilets in hasenbergl or neuperlach

@ acquascutum... wonderful!!! but i'm surprised it took like 10 posts b4 somebody said it...

i used to live in yorkshire and often visited the turkish baths in harrogate... old style... nice... then some tea and cake in bettys...

all of the baths/spas i've been to here are very modern in comparison and lack the kind of luxurious atmosphere...

i've been to erding a few times, although being the good cath-o-holic young fellah i am, i've never ventured into the nuddy zone... but i has a relaxing time none the less

i've heard something about some baths down towards garmish that are supposed to be a bit more in the old style... anyone?

only saying what people think.
have had wrists slapped on for doing it on here before...

Well I've definitely read a lot of good stuff for me--thanks! I'll have to practice the nudity thing on a ladies night first, though.

But the BF's heard of and is looking for the old-style stuff noddy referred to...

So where is Garmish?

fcuk knows. maybe on the lash with his mate Hamish?? when they get together its carnage.

http://www.garmisch-partenkirchen.de
click on Freizeit & Sport > Wellness & Kur > Wellness or on the English site Leisure/Sports > Wellness & Health Spas > Wellness for the spas
they have a map too to tell you where it is.
Also look for http://www.watzmann-therme.de/
I'm quite looking forward to the new Sole-Therme which will be opening next year in Bad Reichenhall, lots of salt water therapy I've seen the plans for that and it looks very good indeed (Herr Indoors is from BGL).
Katrina

My recommendations, Nordbad, (as it's close to me), but also there is a Dampfbad there which is a non-nude as it's open to the general swimmers, although gets very crowded, unless you go in the day time The sauna bit is also good. Volksbad, my fave sauna place, art-deco- roman greek thing going on, but the pool is naff for swimming...

You'll be hard pushed to find a decent non nude sauna in Germany, as they think it is unhealthy to sit in your own sweat in your cozies. Also make note of the sign in the sauna showing you how it is done, i don't bother personally but i have been 'told off' for not following the correct, shower, sauna, cold shower, relax routine...! go figure! My problem is that i don't understand the pictures! Mind you spending 3 hours in the sauna is easily done, take some reading material and relax and enjoy. This is something the Germans have got absolutley right, and suprisingly they are not up tight and stiff (pardon the pun) about it and they are all friendly, saying hi etc when you enter the sauna...must be something to do with the equality of nakedness, if you have never tried it, do it once, it is quite liberating, and then you'll never go back to wear togs again. The UK is so prudish!!

Guys, there is no chance you getting...ahem excited it too darn hot!!! There is a medical reason why if you are interested!

If you want to try and avoid the lechy guy types then try girl day only sauna that most pools do, or go during the day if you can when it is not too busy. Of course the girl only days applies to girls only..sorry guys...

Friday night (girls only) at the Volksbad is definately good at the end of a long stressed out week.

thanks for all the good recs!

Actually Dave, a lot of Germans get it wrong in the sauna too. You should get out in the fresh air and cool down before taking the cold shower/plunge pool as going from a hot sauna into cold water doesn't help you, it could give you a heart attack.
You should do the following (Katrina's handy cut-out-and-keep sauna guide:
shower first (some people use a footbath as well as you should not enter a sauna with cold extremities - risk of blood vessel damage) and dry off well (wet people don't sweat as well), go into a sauna for approx 7-15mins (as long as you feel comfortable, Aufguss or not, say hello wehn you go in and shut the door quickly behind you) naked but sitting on a towel (don't sweat on the wood, you can lie down but remember to sit up for the last 3-5mins otherwise you could get dizzy), leave the sauna (shut the door quickly) and go outside for 5+ mins to get some fresh air, then under the cold shower/into the plunge pool/ice rub down/roll in snow, then lie down for at least 20mins and have a read if you want to. Repeat up to 2 more times with each cycle taking an hour in total, you can float in the pools following the relaxing bit but always go into the sauna warm and dry. A massage is a nice way to finish, some go on a sunbed but that's bad because sunbeds are evil and your skin is more sun-sensitive post-sauna. Try not to drink until the end of the sauna period as this will make you sweat more and drink only water/schorle afterwards (you'll be dehydrated so booze is not a good idea).
Hope this helps
Katrina

right then , i'm with Katrina, next time she goes...

Ok, no one has yet to offer an explaination as to why nudity is required. I still don't understand this. I understand if you would like to be nude, but to go to the extreme and say that you must be nude... any takers?

Garmisch-Partenkirchen is about 45 minutes southwest of Munich, take 95.

It's worth the drive, where I actually live, they have the 1936 Olympics Stadium, the Zudspig (Can go for great skiing or just ride up for the view which is spectacular). it's nestled in between several mountains, very beautiful area.

Neuschwanstein Castle - Fussen, Germany Nearby is the Castle that those dirty rotten American's stole the likliness of for Disney

It's kind of rural, so if you like to drive through the country, you would like Garmich, Couple of Irish pubs, Peaches is the big club (http://www.peaches.de/)

They have a few *textile* free spa/wellness centers, not sure if that is the same as a turkish bath.

pao,

Davek explained it:


goes right up there with that thing about an open window on the autobahn giving you a sore neck. (which my BF swears is true)

You live there and you call it that?? Is that some odd local name for it?

yes its near wank mountain.

Zugspitze

Oh man, I walked into one of those salt-rubs once last year. Best part of it was the shower afterwards - now that's a fresh feeling!

Rubbing salt into yourself and letting it sweat into your body is on par with asking someone to pour hot candle-wax on your nipples. Not something I'd volunteer for again, but I always give an experience at least one shot ...