Your first visit to a gay sauna can be exciting and perhaps a bit nerve-wracking. This guide will help you know what to expect and how to navigate the experience.
What to Expect
Gay saunas typically feature: locker rooms, dry and wet saunas, steam rooms, showers, rest areas, and often a café or bar. Many also have dark rooms or private cabins for intimate encounters.
The Basics
- Check-in: You'll pay an entrance fee and receive a locker key and towel
- Dress code: Most patrons wear only a towel or nothing at all
- Hygiene: Always shower before using the sauna. Sit on your towel
- Consent: A look invites approach; lack of response means no interest
Safety and Health
- Stay hydrated – saunas cause you to sweat a lot
- Use provided condoms and lube for any sexual activity
- Don't mix alcohol or substances with extreme heat
- Know your limits with the heat
Pro tip: Visit during off-peak hours for your first time – it's usually quieter and less overwhelming. Weekday afternoons are often good.
Etiquette
Respect others' boundaries. No means no. Don't stare. Keep conversations quiet in rest areas. Never take photos. What happens in the sauna stays in the sauna.