Most Popular Saunas in Copenhagen
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Copenhagen's gay sauna scene looks pretty different from what you might find in Vienna or Brussels. While those cities maintain multiple thriving bathhouses, Copenhagen has basically consolidated into Amigo Sauna as the main option, along with a couple smaller venues that cater to specific crowds. It's not the massive scene you'd expect from a capital this progressive, but what exists connects nicely to the city's broader lgbtq+Q+ nightlife and yearly Pride celebrations.
Amigo Sauna has been operating since 1974 and remains Copenhagen's only traditional gay sauna. Spread across three floors at Studiestræde 31A, the nearly 750 square meters includes pretty much everything you'd want – dry sauna, steam room, private cabins, dark rooms, a maze, video rooms, plus two St. Andrew crosses and slings on the top floor. The first floor holds a small bar area with TV screens, internet access, exercise equipment, showers, and lockers. It's open daily from noon to 7 AM, extending to 8 AM on Friday and Saturday nights.
The location puts you right near City Hall and the cluster of gay bars along Studiestræde, which makes sense for planning an evening. Thursday through Saturday nights see the biggest crowds, along with Sunday afternoons after 3 PM when guys drop by before or after hitting the bars. The facilities might feel a bit dated compared to newer saunas in other cities, but Amigo stays busy enough that it clearly serves its purpose, especially during summer months when tourists boost the regular local traffic.
Body Bio operates as more of a cruise club than a traditional sauna, though it does have a small sauna among its facilities. Located about ten minutes walking from Copenhagen Central Station, this basement venue includes cabins, a maze, dark room, play area, lockers, jacuzzi, and movie rooms. They run Naked Night every Wednesday. The space attracts mostly gay and bisexual men looking for something more intimate than Amigo's larger setup.
For guys into leather, rubber, and uniforms, SLM Copenhagen (Scandinavian Leather Men) claims the title of Scandinavia's largest gay fetish club. You need membership to visit, but they offer various options including guest passes. The venue hosts themed events throughout the week – Friday Cruise Night, Hot Sunday, plus special Bears "Beard" Party and Jock and Full Fetish Nights during Copenhagen Pride. The club features two bars, play areas, a wet room, and labyrinth. It's located just off Town Hall Square at Lavendelstræde.
Copenhagen Pride transforms the entire city each August, with the 2025 edition running from August 9-17 under the theme "Same For Everyone." This nine-day festival includes over 150 free events across Copenhagen, making it Scandinavia's largest Pride celebration. City Hall Square becomes Pride Square for the week, hosting live music, drag shows (including the major Drag Night on Friday), workshops, debates, the Big Queer Flea Market, children's activities, food trucks, and constant entertainment.
The Pride Parade happens Saturday, August 16 at 1 PM, starting from Frederiksberg City Hall and winding through the streets to Pride Square. Last year brought 250,000 people out to watch and participate. Copenhagen Pride made history as the first Pride globally to use only 100% electric vehicles during the parade, continuing that commitment for 2025. The festival balances activism with celebration – human rights conferences, queer walking tours, canal tours with drag queen guides, museum exhibitions, and endless parties across the city's gay venues.
The bar scene centers around Studiestræde and the Latin Quarter near Town Hall Square, keeping everything walkable. Centralhjørnet holds special significance as one of Europe's oldest gay bars, operating since 1917 (officially gay from the 1950s). The venue goes over the top with decor and hosts drag shows every Thursday and Sunday from October through April. Summer brings outdoor seating that packs with locals and tourists soaking up sunshine.
Never Mind functions as Copenhagen's main gay nightclub, staying open daily from 10 PM to 6 AM with disco balls, chandeliers, and pink-and-red lighting creating warm atmosphere. Happy hour runs from 10 PM to 1 AM. GAY Copenhagen, established in 2014, quickly became a nightlife staple with vibrant drag shows and DJ sets. The smoke-free venue hosts events aligned with the lgbtq+QIA+ calendar.
Centre Stage opened in August 2024, taking over the space formerly occupied by beloved Cosy Bar. The new venue focuses on musical theatre charm, pop hits, and nightly drag performances with themed nights like Ladies of the 80s, karaoke cabaret, and regular shows. Jailhouse CPH brings prison-themed fun with bartenders dressed as guards serving creatively named drinks like "Blue Lights" and "Handcuffs" in a basement space featuring jail cell seating. Regular events include Bear Night and big Halloween parties.
Oscar Bar & Café sits right next to City Hall, offering modern interiors, cute staff, non-smoking environment, and happy hour daily from 4 PM to 9 PM. Live DJs perform Fridays, and there's an outdoor terrace when weather cooperates. Masken Bar, one of Copenhagen's oldest gay clubs, attracts a mixed-age crowd and earned the title of Denmark's Best Gay Bar. Men's Bar operates as a small bodega-style venue popular with leather and bear crowds, offering free brunch the first Sunday of each month plus daily happy hour from 6 PM to 8 PM.
The city also hosts Copenhagen Winter Pride each February, focusing on indoor gatherings with debates, lectures, and activities that let the lgbtq+QIA+ community connect during colder months. MIX Copenhagen, one of the world's oldest lgbtq+Q+ film festivals running since 1986, happens each fall with screenings and events across the city.
Denmark's position as the first country to legalize same-sex relationships (1989) and ongoing progressive attitudes make Copenhagen feel genuinely welcoming year-round, not just during Pride. The relatively compact gay scene means you'll likely run into familiar faces over a weekend visit, creating that neighborhood vibe where bars and saunas feed into each other naturally. The scene might be smaller than other European capitals, but what Copenhagen lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality and that distinctly Scandinavian blend of design sensibility, laid-back friendliness, and genuine inclusivity that makes the city feel like home pretty quickly.One place where Grinder and other gay hook-up apps really made a difference worldwide is the closing of saunas and bathhouses.
While other European destinations such as Vienna, Brussels, Milan, and Lisbon have managed to buck the trend and continue to have a thriving gay sauna scene. In Copenhagen, this is not the case, and today only Amigo Sauna remains – if you chose to go, make sure your expectations are low. Ørstedsparken, a beautiful park in the center of Copenhagen, is also a well-known gay cruising spot at night – but haven’t we moved beyond this now…
Amigo Sauna
