What to wear in a public sauna
In most US bathhouses you wear a swimsuit. The big exception is the Korean spa, where the bathing floors are nude and separated by gender. Banyas, Nordic-style saunas and private studios each have their own habits. Here is what to wear where, and what to pack.
The short answer
- Co-ed social bathhouses and contrast studios: swimsuit, always.
- Korean spas: nude on the gender-separated bathing floors, spa-issued clothes in the shared areas.
- Russian banyas and old steam baths: varies. Swimsuits in co-ed rooms, often a towel or nothing on men's or women's days.
- Private sauna rooms and infrared studios: whatever you are comfortable with, since you are alone or with your own group.
- Outdoor and floating saunas: swimsuit, plus warm layers for between rounds in winter.
Of the places on this site that publish a rule, most require a swimsuit. Each listing shows the rule under "Swimsuit", so check before you go.
Co-ed bathhouses
The new wave of social saunas and bathhouses, such as Bathhouse, Othership and Moki Sauna, is co-ed and requires swimwear in every shared area. A normal swimsuit or swim trunks is fine. Avoid anything with metal parts, which can get very hot, and avoid street clothes, gym shorts and cotton T-shirts.
Most of these places give you a towel and many include a robe and sandals. The listing shows whether towels are included.
Korean spas
Korean spas, or jjimjilbang, work in two parts:
- The bathing floors are separated into men's and women's sides. You undress completely, shower at the seated washing stations and use the hot and cold pools, saunas and steam rooms nude. Swimsuits are usually not allowed in the pools.
- The shared floors, with heated rooms, lounges and restaurants, are co-ed. The spa gives you a cotton T-shirt and shorts to wear there.
Nobody stares, and the regulars include families and older people. If being nude is new to you, it gets easier within a few minutes. Find them on our list of Korean spas in the US.
Russian banyas and old steam baths
Banyas in the US vary a lot. Some are co-ed and require swimsuits everywhere. Others keep separate men's and women's days or areas, where people use a towel, a sheet or nothing. A felt hat is common in the hot room to protect your head from the steam, and many banyas sell or lend them. See what is a banya and our list of Russian banyas.
Clothing-optional bathhouses
A few places, mostly community bathhouses in the Pacific Northwest, are clothing-optional. Portland has two in Northeast Portland. The listing will say "Swimsuit optional".
Private saunas and infrared studios
In a private room you can wear what you like. In infrared studios most people wear a swimsuit, light shorts or nothing, and sit on a towel. Contrast studios that share a cold plunge between rooms still expect swimwear in shared areas.
Outdoor, lakeside and floating saunas
Wear a swimsuit, and in winter bring a warm hat, sandals or water shoes for snow and ice, and a robe or warm layer for sitting outside between rounds. Water shoes help on rocky shores and slippery docks.
What to bring
- swimsuit (unless you are going to a Korean spa only)
- flip-flops or sandals
- a towel if the listing says towels are not included
- a water bottle
- a hair tie for long hair
- a bag for wet things
Leave jewelry at home. Metal heats up in the sauna, and small items are easy to lose in pools.
How Nordic saunas do it
In Finland and Sweden, the sauna at home or at a summer cabin is usually nude, with family or friends. Public saunas there are often separated by gender and nude, while mixed saunas use swimsuits. Read more in how Swedes and Finns use the sauna.
Frequently asked questions
Do you wear a swimsuit in a sauna?
In most US public saunas and bathhouses, yes. Co-ed bathhouses require swimsuits. Korean spas are the main exception: their gender-separated bathing floors are nude.
Can you wear clothes in a sauna?
Street clothes, gym clothes and cotton T-shirts are not a good idea and are banned in most bathhouses. Wear a swimsuit, or the clothes a Korean spa provides in its shared areas.
Are Korean spas nude?
The bathing floors, which are separated by gender, are nude. In the co-ed lounges and heated rooms, everyone wears the T-shirt and shorts the spa provides.
Why do people wear felt hats in the sauna?
Felt hats protect the head and ears from very hot steam, especially in Russian banyas. Many banyas sell or lend them.
What should I bring to a bathhouse?
A swimsuit, flip-flops, a water bottle and a hair tie. Bring a towel if the listing says towels are not included, and leave jewelry at home.