Für mich die ideale Kombination aus Schwimmen gehen und im Anschluss noch kleines bisschen Spa. In…read moreden Randzeiten morgens und abends unter der Woche angenehm leer. Am Wochenende nur bedingt zu empfehlen, wenn man Bahnen schwimmen möchte. Der Spa- und Spaß-Bereich ist dann leider hoffnungslos überfüllt und manche Familien "besetzen" einen der beiden Whirlpools. Momentan ist das Bad besonders stark ausgelastet, da es als Ausweichbad für das wegen eines Brandschadens geschlossene Ankogelbad herhalten muss. Sobald das wieder öffnet, sollte es auch am Wochenende wieder entspannter werden.

I used to love to go in this spa, you could sunbed in the summer and go for long swims in their…read morecool swimming pool but now is closed for good

Plenty of differently themed saunas, steam baths, hot tubs and cold tubs, reclining chairs indoors…read moreand out and a pool in which you can swim from indoors to outdoors. And there's an hourly saunaaufguss in two of the saunas Restaurant is so-so - okay if you find that you need a snack but not good enough that I'd plan ahead of arrival to eat there. Staff generally doesn't speak English and all signs etc. are in German, so as a service to those who don't understand German language and/or German sauna/spa culture here's a quick intro to avoid getting you into awkward situations with staff and other guests. The biggest shock to people from some other cultures will be that saunas are mixed gender and swimwear is not allowed inside them, meaning that people are in the nude. You can cover up in your towel if you're shy, and outside the saunas and in the big pool bathing suits are allowed, but nowhere are they required. In addition there's a section for women only (with a couple of saunas and hot and cold tubs I believe, but naturally I haven't been there). This mixed gender nudity is completely normal in saunas in Germany (and several other civilized countries) and it is not connected to anything sexual. I'll assume you're smart enough to figure out that it's not cool to ogle nude people so I don't have to tell you. In the sauna you're supposed to sit on your towel, and to not place your feet directly on the bench below. A large towel makes this easier. Also, a short physics lesson for first timers: You might think that it's warmest close to the sauna oven, which means on the lowest shelf. But hot air tends to rise, so actually the higher you sit the hotter it gets. If you've never been in a sauna before I recommend starting low. Stay quiet in the saunas, and don't be loud anywhere on the premises. People are here to relax, and loud talk is frowned upon. Also, mobile phones are not allowed so leave them in the locker. I assume the same goes for laptops, cameras and other gadgets and I can't recall ever having seen a piece of electronics in here. Do not go directly from the sauna to the cold tub or pools. Rinse off in the shower first. Yes, it's soo nice to run out of the sauna and jump directly in the cold water, but hundreds of people go in the same water and none of us want to swim around in the others sweat so basic hygiene is to be observed. There a "saunaaufguss" in two of the saunas once per hour. In practical terms this means that a member of the staff will come to the sauna, throw some scented water (which quickly evaporates) on the stones of the sauna oven and swing a towel around to mix up the air. The effect of all this is that you get a whiff of whatever the water is scented with and, most importantly, the higher humidity makes the air feel a lot hotter. The time and scent of the next aufguss is announced on a sign next to the sauna, and it's advisable to be there a few minutes early as it tends to get crowded. Again, if you're new to saunas I highly recommend starting out on the lowest bench. Also, opening the door during the aufguss is frowned upon as it lets hot air out and cold air in so don't leave prematurely unless absolutely necessary. Do not reserve reclining chairs by leaving your towel on them when you're not using them. Or at least that's what the signs say, in actual practice you often see 90% of the chairs empty, yet still with towels and other crap marking them as reserved, which can make it difficult to find a seat, especially if you're two or more people who would like to sit together. It's highly advisable to wear slippers as the floor is slippery in many places. Also, your towel is not unlikely to get drenched so bring an extra and leave it in your locker so you can dry off properly once you're done. Bring a bottle of water as sweating in the sauna can make you thirsty, and bring soap and shampoo as well.

Summer well and truly arrived this weekend so we decided to head to one of Berlin's outdoor…read moreswimming pools. Sommerbad Wilmersdorf was far from a disappointment. The facilities include three large pools, and a diving pool. The circular baby pool was shallow and warm enough for the children. The kids pool is very large with two big slides. When the weather is good I'd still recommend getting there early as by the early afternoon it was packed. As well as the vast grounds for people to sun themselves in there is also a small playground, a decent sized sandpit and some trampolines that can be used for additional cost. There's the usual kid friendly food and drink on offer, but again the queues become quite long in the afternoon.

It is currently difficult to get a slot but it's not the bath's fault. Otherwise it's a nice…read moreestablishment for water joy but also for swimming as a sport.

one of the nicest pools I've been to. 7 euros is a bit pricey but worth it given that you can…read moreeasily spend half a day here, enjoying the lap/diving pool, lounging in the chairs, meandering in the warmer indoor/outdoor pool. clean dressing rooms/showers with private changing stalls and lockers that borrow 1 euro to keep your stuff safe.

Visited on a Thursday evening around 2230 and made it in time for a sound bath session in the dry…read moresauna. Totally unexpected, but welcoming. Been to a handful of gay saunas/bath houses around the globe and this is by far the best in terms of lay out, amenities, and cleanliness. I want to emphasize the cleanliness though...like there are people constantly cleaning; enough so that I noticed there wasn't scaling accumulating in the pool or mold anywhere and there was a hint of chlorine in the air (to me that's pretty sanitary). There are guys in all shapes, sizes and ages from all over Europe and everyone speaks English (out of respect, at least try to assimilate). However, I do want to point out that I was one of the five colored guys there out of probably 50 guys; take that however you want. There are showers scattered everywhere so if you need to wash off after 'anything' it's easy to find. The layout is pretty cool as well. Upon entry, you collect your towel and slippers and head up to the clean and open locker room. Once undressed and in a towel, you head down a separate stairway to the bar and patio area. Continue down the stairway to the basement and that's where everything is at. I totally recommend this place and will visit again when I have the chance. Last thing to mention, there's a very popular Giro stand out front if you're hungry.

November 2021 Update: Sadly, American and most foreign tourists cannot visit Boiler right now…read more Boiler is back to only accepting the EU digital pass. So only those vaccinated in the EU (or in countries who've joined the EU COVID pass system) can enter the club. This regulation is silly, because tourists must be fully vaccinated to travel to Germany. German goverment border authorities and all hotels accept foreign proof of vaccination, so it's strange that Boiler and some other places (like Lab.oratory) won't. If you ever do get to visit, this place is clean, sharp, and fun, one of the best gay bathhouses in the world, if not the best. Boiler puts our outdated, dusty, clunky, overpriced American bathhouses and sex clubs to shame. Whole setup is savvy, smart, and full of nice touches, starting with the digital watches that lock and unlock lockers. The hygiene/douching stations are brilliant. And you don't have to pay for rooms (cabins), just use them as needed. Just like any gay space, sometimes the guys are friendly, sometimes standoffish. Going alone can be intimidating if you're shy or very insecure about rejection. And you will face rejection more often than not at Boiler, as in most gay spaces, unless you check all the Sean Cody / Bel Ami model boxes: young-looking, white features, and fitness body. So consider bringing a friend or two as an emotional safe space. The lukewarm whirlpool is the only complaint, besides the current COVID rules barring most foreign guests. Would be 5 of 5 stars if they had a true hottub. ********* Update vom November 2021: Leider können amerikanische und die meisten ausländischen Touristen Boiler derzeit nicht besuchen. Boiler akzeptiert wieder nur den EU-Digitalpass. Daher können nur diejenigen in den Club eintreten, die in der EU (oder in Ländern, die dem EU-COVID-Pass-System beigetreten sind) geimpft sind. Diese Regelung ist albern, denn Touristen müssen vollständig geimpft sein, um nach Deutschland zu reisen. Die deutschen Grenzbehörden und alle Hotels akzeptieren ausländische Impfnachweise, daher ist es seltsam, dass Boiler und einige andere Orte (wie Lab.oratory) dies nicht tun. Wenn Sie jemals zu Besuch kommen, ist dieser Ort sauber, scharf und lustig, eines der besten schwulen Badehäuser der Welt, wenn nicht sogar das beste. Boiler beschämt unsere veralteten, staubigen, klobigen, überteuerten amerikanischen Badehäuser und Sexclubs. Das gesamte Setup ist versiert, intelligent und voller netter Details, angefangen bei den Digitaluhren, die Schließfächer ver- und entriegeln. Die Hygiene-/Spülstationen sind genial. Und Sie müssen keine Zimmer (Kabinen) bezahlen, sondern nutzen sie einfach nach Bedarf. Wie in jedem schwulen Raum sind die Jungs manchmal freundlich, manchmal distanziert. Alleine zu gehen kann einschüchternd sein, wenn du schüchtern oder sehr unsicher wegen Ablehnung bist. Und Sie werden bei Boiler, wie in den meisten schwulen Räumen, häufiger auf Ablehnung stoßen, es sei denn, Sie überprüfen alle Kästchen von Sean Cody / Bel Ami: jung aussehende, weiße Gesichtszüge und einen Fitnesskörper. Ziehen Sie also in Betracht, ein oder zwei Freunde als emotionalen sicheren Raum mitzubringen. Der lauwarme Whirlpool ist die einzige Beschwerde, neben den aktuellen COVID-Regeln, die die meisten ausländischen Gäste ausschließen. Wäre 5 von 5 Sternen, wenn sie einen echten Whirlpool hätten.