In this guide · 15 sections
The honest summary: Dublin has one gay sauna, The Boilerhouse on Crane Lane in Temple Bar, and it tells you so in its own page title. Older guides list others, and they are gone or never existed in any source we could find. It is a working bathhouse rather than a design spa, with reviews to match, but the hours are long and the weekend never stops.
Legal in one line: gay saunas are ordinary legal businesses in Ireland, where sex between men has been legal since 1993. Sex in a truly public place is a separate matter, covered by section 45 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
The Boilerhouse
The Boilerhouse is at 12 Crane Lane, a lane off Dame Street at the edge of Temple Bar. It is men-only and 18+, and trans men are welcome with photo ID showing male. Everything below is from the sauna's own site, read in November 2026, unless we say otherwise.
Hours
- Monday to Wednesday: 13:00–02:00
- Thursday: 13:00–04:00
- Weekend: non-stop from Friday 13:00 to Monday 04:00
- Bank holiday weekends: non-stop from Friday 13:00 to Tuesday 04:00
- Christmas 2026: closed on 24 and 25 December, then open from 15:00 on 26 December to 05:00 on 28 December
- Standard entry: €27 for eight hours. Students: €23.
- Monday and Wednesday from 18:00: €20, or €18 for students.
- Tuesday from 18:00: €15 for everyone. Promotions don't apply on bank or public holidays.
- Overstay: €3 an hour from 8 to 12 hours, then €5 an hour. A lost locker key costs €5.
- Cabins: from €50 Monday to Thursday and €75 on Sunday, with re-entry for the day. On Friday and Saturday, €125 buys an overnight stay with bedding; the deposit is €50 and non-refundable.
- The Dock, 21 Upper Ormond Quay: was still trading in February 2017, and Rainbow Index lists it as closed. Spartacus still showed it when we checked, which looks out of date.
- The Gym, Dame Lane: one of Ireland's first gay saunas, closed in 1998.
- Inn on the Liffey: the gay guesthouse with a basement sauna is listed as permanently closed.
- Sweat (Fownes Street) and Sauna 4 (Brunton Court): we once listed these, and removed them because no independent source shows them at all. The Irish Times and GCN named only two Dublin gay saunas in 2017.
Prices
A locker, towel and optional flip-flops come with entry, and condoms and lube are provided.
What's inside
The site names a hydro pool, saunas, and private cabins, and other listings describe five floors with a steam room and a maze. The smoking area is on the first floor, and vaping isn't allowed in the building. There are no personal tours, so take a walk round at your own pace.
When to go
The sauna publishes its own busy times. Monday to Thursday, it says 15–25 guests between 14:00 and 18:00. On Tuesdays, the cheap night brings 35–75 between 18:00 and 23:00. Friday to Sunday it reports 35–85 between 15:00 and 20:00, and 45–105 from 23:00 to 05:00.
Reviews
Expect mixed opinions. Google has it at 3.5 from about 185 reviews. One May 2026 reviewer praised a new hot pool and the staff, and another that month called it old, small and badly maintained. Go with moderate expectations.
Health
MPower, from HIV Ireland, runs free rapid HIV testing at the sauna on Tuesdays from 18:00 to 20:00, and you don't need to pay entry for it. A monthly PrEP clinic runs in partnership with St James's Hospital; dates are on the sauna's site. For anything else, the Gay Men's Health Service on Heytesbury Street is about 15 minutes' walk away.
Closed, or never there
Not gay saunas: the barrel saunas and floating sauna around Dublin Bay, including Dún Laoghaire Harbour, are general wellness businesses. So is It's Always Sunny Spa, a gay-friendly massage spa rather than a bathhouse.
Before and after
You're a few minutes from Street 66 on Parliament Street and The George on South Great George's Street, and about five minutes from Pantibar over Grattan Bridge. Basic Instincts and The Grá are both on nearby Eustace Street. See our cruising guide for fetish parties.
At a glance
| Place | Address | Hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Boilerhouse | 12 Crane Lane, Dublin 2 | Mon–Wed 13:00–02:00; Thu to 04:00; Fri 13:00 to Mon 04:00 non-stop | €27; Tuesday from 18:00 €15 |
Frequently asked questions
How many gay saunas are in Dublin?
One. The Boilerhouse calls itself Dublin's only gay sauna, and every current source we read agrees. We didn't check every other Irish city for this guide, so we say Dublin's only, not Ireland's.
Do I need to participate?
No. The sauna's own FAQ says there's no expectation of anything, and plenty of people just use the facilities. "No" is always enough.
Can you stay overnight?
Yes, in a rented cabin on Friday and Saturday nights for €125, including bedding and re-entry. Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out at 12:00. Book through the site.
What do I need to bring?
Photo ID and money. The sauna supplies the locker, towel and condoms.
Last verified: November 2026.