Most Popular Saunas in Berlin
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Steam Dreams: Berlin's Gay Saunas and the Summer Surge
You hit Berlin on a sticky July afternoon, the kind where the U-Bahn spits you out onto Oranienstraße already half-sweaty, and the air hums with that low rumble of bass from somewhere down the block. Kreuzberg's graffiti-streaked walls lean in like old friends, and for queer folks rolling in from afar, it's the saunas that hit like a promise—places where the heat strips away the jet lag and the day's awkward small talk. Berlin's scene is raw, unapologetic, with just a handful of dedicated spots left after closures like Treibhaus and Apollo Splash Club. But what they lack in numbers, they make up for in pull, especially when Pride season turns the city into one big, throbbing afterparty. I've ducked into these steamy corners mid-festival, towel slung low, catching breaths between parade chants and club spills, and it's that mix of chill and charge that keeps you coming back.
Der Boiler anchors it all, down on Mehringdamm in Kreuzberg, a sprawling three-floor beast that's basically Europe's sauna kingpin. You step in past the lockers—21 euros gets you in, less for students or late-nighters—and it's immediate: Finnish sauna cranking dry heat that bites your skin, a massive steam room where visibility drops to inches, jacuzzi jets pounding like a heartbeat. Up top, private cabins and a darkroom maze that twists just enough to surprise, plus a lounge slinging beers and sandwiches if you need fuel. They throw foam parties now and then, bubbles turning the whole place into a slippery fever dream. Last Pride, during the 2024 CSD buildup, it was wall-to-wall after the Lesbian-Gay City Festival—guys fresh from Nollendorfplatz stages, glitter still flaking off shoulders into the whirlpool. I remember squeezing into the steam, a Spaniard next to me muttering about the drag lipsyncs on the Connection stage, how the techno bled right into the haze here. Weekends draw that international crowd, young and restless, but midweek it's locals unwinding, swapping stories about the latest at KitKatClub.
Right next door, Club Sauna popped up in March 2025 from the ashes of the old Untertage space, Boiler's queerer, edgier sibling—open to all genders, with a dance floor that thumps low and sultry. It's got the basics: steam room that clings wet and warm, dry sauna for that punishing glow, jacuzzi big enough for group hangs. But the draw's the crossover—during big events, they link up with Boiler, turning the block into one endless unwind zone. Tied into the 2025 youngSTARS night, it pulled in under-28s for a relaxed cruise, doors open till 11, the air thick with post-parade chatter from the CSD march. Folks wandered over from the Kurfürstendamm route, still buzzing from floats blasting Bad Bunny, towels optional as the night stretched. I hit it once after a Queer Fever panel at Pride House—talks on self-love families turning personal in the dim light, boundaries blurring easy.
For something broader, queer-friendly spots like Vabali Spa in Spandau pull couples and solos alike, Bali vibes with a massive indoor pool that reflects the skylights, saunas overlooking gardens that make you forget the concrete jungle outside. It's not explicitly gay, but the crowd skews welcoming—massages that knead out festival aches, a restaurant dishing Asian fusion if you're starving post-dance. During Folsom Europe last September, kinksters filtered in for recovery soaks, harnesses swapped for robes, the steam room a quiet pivot from street fair whips to whispered debriefs.
These saunas don't sit idle; they're the quiet thrum under Berlin's queer explosion, especially July's Pride Weeks. The Lesbian and Gay City Festival kicked off 2025 on July 19-20 around Nollendorfplatz, 450,000 strong with six stages pumping rock, house, and queer media mixes—booths hawking zines next to food trucks slinging currywurst. The parade followed on the 27th, snaking from Axel-Springer-Straße to Brandenburg Gate under "Democracy needs diversity," 500,000 marching past historic cruising haunts, ending in speeches that hit raw. Saunas swelled after: Boiler's darkroom a magnet for stragglers, steam chats dissecting the dykes-on-bikes roar. Canal Pride on the Spree the week before added boat bashes, waves lapping as DJs spun till dusk, folks drifting to Club Sauna for the comedown.
Summer keeps the fire lit. Folsom Europe in late August 2024 turned Schöneberg into a leather wonderland—street fest with slings and stalls, parties spilling from Triebwerk to SlingKing. Boiler hosted tie-ins, the jacuzzi a splashy haven for harnessed crowds, energy carrying over from the main fair's edge. House of Pride capped July 2025 at a Kreuzberg warehouse, main party from 10 p.m. with techno till dawn, sauna crawls the next day turning recovery into round two. Nightlife feeds it seamless: Revolver's monthly gay bashes at KitKat, all-out crazy with guest DJs, funneling sweat-soaked bodies to Der Boiler's foam nights. Or PiepShow's 30th anniversary techno romps, anti-fashion door policy weeding out the casuals, afterglow hits at Vabali's pools.
Easter Leather Week in April 2025 brought BLF's wild streak—40 years of fetish flair, seminars bleeding into sling sessions at Club Sauna, the crowd a mix of veterans and newbies trading nods over beers. Even quieter pulls like Interfilm's queer shorts in November 2024 led to late hangs, film fever cooling in steam rooms. For tourists, sync up—Pride means lines at Boiler like the parade itself, book ahead or pivot to Vabali's sprawl. One sticky night last July, post-march at Club Sauna, I shared the bench with a crew from Madrid, unpacking the motto's weight over splashes—the water warm, the talk loose, Berlin's pull sinking in deep. It's messy, electric, the kind of heat that lingers.
Gate Sauna
Der Boiler
Berlin is a city known for its vibrant lgbtq+Q+ scene, and gay saunas are an integral part of the community.
Here is a list of some popular gay saunas in Berlin
- Der Boiler: Address: Mehringdamm 34, 10961 Berlin Website: www.derboiler.de Der Boiler is another popular gay sauna in Berlin, offering a spacious, clean, and well-maintained environment. The facilities include a steam room, Finnish sauna, whirlpool, private cabins, dark room, and a cruising area. Der Boiler also features a bar and lounge for refreshments and relaxation, as well as massage services. Weekly themed events, like "YoungStars" night and "Single Labyrinth" night, cater to different tastes and preferences.
- Apollo Splash Club: Address: Kurfürstenstraße 101, 10787 Berlin Website: www.apollosplashclub.de Apollo Splash Club is a large gay sauna located in the heart of Berlin, known for its unique water-themed facilities. The venue boasts an indoor pool, a steam room, a Finnish sauna, a whirlpool, private cabins, and a dark room. They also offer a bar and lounge area for refreshments and relaxation. Apollo Splash Club hosts regular events, such as "Foam Party" nights and "Naked Splash" nights.
- Clubsauna Amsterdam: Address: Kurfürstenstraße 92, 10787 Berlin Website: www.clubsauna-amsterdam.de Clubsauna Amsterdam is a smaller, more intimate gay sauna with a friendly atmosphere. The facilities include a steam room, dry sauna, private cabins, dark room, and a cruising area. They also have a bar and lounge for refreshments and relaxation. Clubsauna Amsterdam hosts themed events like "Naked Party" and "Bear Night."
- Stahlrohr 2.0: Address: Paul-Robeson-Straße 50, 10439 Berlin Website: www.stahlrohr.info Stahlrohr 2.0 is a popular gay cruising bar and sauna in Berlin, with a strong focus on the fetish scene. The venue offers a steam room, dry sauna, private cabins, dark room, and a well-equipped cruising area. Stahlrohr 2.0 has a calendar of themed events, such as "Slip & Sneakers" night and "Underwear Party."