Most Popular Saunas in Madrid
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Steam in the Shadows: Madrid's Gay Saunas and the Fever of Pride
You land in Madrid, the air thick with that late-spring warmth, and already the streets feel like they're whispering invitations. Barajas airport spits you out into a city that's equal parts grand boulevards and hidden alleys, where the sun hangs low over Plaza Mayor like it's daring you to stay out all night. For queer folks hitting town, it's not just the tapas or the Prado that pull you in—it's the saunas, those steamy corners tucked away in Chueca or Malasaña, where the day's sightseeing blurs into something far more tactile. I've ducked into these spots during the crush of Orgullo, sweat mixing with glitter, and on quieter evenings when the crowd's a mix of locals shaking off the week. They're not static; they swell with the calendar, turning into after-hours oases when the festivals crank up.
Take Sauna Paraíso, the old guard down near Plaza de España. It's been around forever—since the early days when Franco's shadow was still fading—and it shows in the best way, like a well-worn leather jacket that fits just right. Underground vaults stretch out with a heated pool that's more playground than lap lane, steam rooms that fog your thoughts, and a dry sauna where the heat hits like a slow kiss. Dark rooms snake off into mazes, cabins line the walls, and there's even a cinema flickering with whatever's got the crowd buzzing that night. Entry's around 15 euros, often with a drink tossed in, and weekends stretch to 24 hours because who wants to call it quits at dawn? Last summer, during the 2024 Pride buildup, it was packed with guys fresh from the high-heel race—stiletto blisters traded for towel chats, laughter echoing off the tiles as someone recounted the drag queens who'd owned Plaza Pedro Zerolo. I slipped in after a late set at Black & White, the bar's drag show still ringing in my ears, and the place felt like an extension of the street party: bodies loose from dancing, conversations starting with a shared glance in the jacuzzi.
A short wander over to Malasaña brings you to Sauna Beach, the newer player that's shaking things up. Rebranded from CenterBeach not long ago, it's got three floors that climb from cruising zones to chill-out lounges, with a "Laboratory" setup that's equal parts sci-fi and sultry—think dim lights, padded walls, and enough space to lose track of time. Finnish and Turkish saunas pump out heat, the jacuzzi bubbles away tensions, and the bar slings drinks amid it all. They run daily, but Sundays hit different, with a crowd that's young and restless, spilling over from the neighborhood's indie vibe. In May 2025, it tied into Sleazy Madrid's fetish weekend—harnesses and leathers traded for towels, the dark rooms alive with the festival's edge. Folks wandered in from the "Into the Tank" party at a nearby club, energy high from leather-clad DJ sets, turning the steam into something electric. I remember nursing a beer up top, watching the mix: twinks from the parade floats mingling with kinksters still buzzing from the whips-and-chains afterparty. It's got that fresh buzz, less history but more of tomorrow's stories.
If you're after something with a bit more growl, Sauna Octopus up north of Chueca delivers. Over a thousand square meters dedicated to bears and their admirers, it's got a heated pool that feels like a warm hug, two dark rooms that swallow the light whole, and a movie theater where the screen's just an excuse. Twenty cabins dot the edges, plus a dungeon area that's seen its share of MadBear weekends. The crowd skews mature and hairy—guys who own their space without apology—and it's got that body-positive hum that makes you forget the mirror. During the 2024 MadBear fest in December, it was ground zero: pool parties bleeding into sauna sessions, competitions from the main events carrying over with roars of approval. I crashed a Tuesday night there last year, post-festival glow still on, and ended up swapping tales with a group from Barcelona about the bear brunches at Bears Bar—how the mimosas led straight to here, towels optional. It's not for the faint-hearted, but if that's your lane, it's pure comfort.
Down in Lavapiés, Sauna Lavapiés keeps it straightforward and welcoming. Smaller than the giants, but spotless—dry sauna, steam room that clings just right, jacuzzi for those lazy soaks, and a bar that's more neighborhood pub than anything flashy. Private cabins and a dark room round it out, with a crowd that's diverse, pulling in locals who live nearby. It's got that unpretentious feel, open daily and cheap enough to pop in without planning your week around it. Tied into Pride Month 2025's smaller gigs—like the queer film nights at LesGaiCineMad—it became a decompression spot, guys filtering in after panels on rights, steam washing away the day's intensity. One evening in July 2024, after the Madrid Summit wrapped with talks on global queer issues, it was hushed at first, then lively: debates turning to flirtations in the haze, a reminder that connection's the real heat.
And don't overlook Sauna Príncipe, another veteran in the Lavapiés mix, bear-friendly with a pool that steals the show and jacuzzis that jet away the ache. Finnish sauna upstairs, Turkish baths below, dark labyrinths that twist just enough to surprise. It's got a mature lean, admirers and the admired trading nods over drinks. During the 2025 Republik Pride Week—six nights of Maniac and Angels parties at the club—it served as the midnight pivot, folks stumbling from electronic beats to here, the water a cool shock after hours on the floor.
These places don't exist in a bubble; they're the backbeat to Madrid's queer rhythm, especially when the events explode. Madrid Pride, or Orgullo, owns July—2025's edition from June 28 to July 6 pulled in millions, turning Chueca into a rainbow riot. It starts quiet in the barrio: local bashes with sangria and stories, building to the High Heel Race on Calle Pelayo, where heels click like gunfire and cheers drown the spills. The parade snakes from Atocha to Plaza de Colón on July 5, floats blasting Bad Bunny remixes, bodies painted in every flag color. But the night's young then—the official closing concert at Plaza de España with Rozalén and Christine & the Queens, stages shaking till 2 a.m. Saunas fill after, Paraíso's pool a magnet for parade stragglers, towels slung low as the adrenaline crashes. I watched a guy from London, still in partial glitter, sink into the steam and mutter about the floats' scale—how Madrid makes you feel small and seen all at once.
Beyond Pride, the calendar's packed. Sleazy Madrid in late April 2025 brought fetish fire: "Into the Tank" at clubs like Changó, DJs spinning sleaze till sunrise, then a stagger to Octopus for the unwind. Harnesses stayed on under towels, the dark rooms echoing the night's rougher edges. MadBear in December 2024 was all fur and fun—a week of brunches at El Bulldog, club takeovers, and sauna crawls that left everyone loose. The Mr. Bear contest at a Chueca venue spilled over, winners posing poolside at Príncipe, the crowd a wall of cheers and backslaps. Then there's the WE Party circuit around New Year's—2025's edition hit with ten nights of house and techno, saunas like Beach becoming recovery wards, or escalation points, depending on your stamina.
Nightlife feeds right into it, Oxford Street-style but with more sangria. Chueca's the pulse: Black & White for drag that bites, Boyberry's basement for casual cruising over cocktails. After a Viva!Pop set at La Riviera—Pride-tied pop anthems till dawn—guys hit Lavapiés, the sauna's bar a bridge to the next spot. Or Strong Center for leather nights, slinging you toward Shower & Bar's minimal-clothing rule, showers steaming like a prelude. During QueerCineMad in November 2024, film fests at independent spots led to late hangs at Gran Vía Sauna, discussions on screen turning personal in the cabins.
For visitors, sync your trip—Pride's chaos means book saunas early, lines snaking like the parade itself. MadBear's cozier, layers of events from dinners to dungeon dips. Regional echoes too: a quick train to Sitges for their Pride in June, but Madrid's the anchor, saunas the steady thrum. One Pride night in 2024, post-parade at Paraíso, I shared the jacuzzi with a crew from Berlin, dissecting the summit's speeches over splashes. The water was warm, the talk raw—rights, hookups, the city's endless pull. Madrid doesn't wrap things neat; it leaves you damp, grinning, ready for more.
Sauna Octopus
Sauna Center
Sauna Principe
Sauna Paraiso
Premium Sauna
Sauna Lavapies
Sauna Puerta de Toledo
Sauna Cristal (closed)
Sauna Paraiso
Gay Saunas in Madrid: Comparison Table
| Parameter | Sauna Gran Vía | Sauna Center | Sauna Príncipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | City Center | Near Gran Vía | Chueca District |
| Facilities | Steam Room, Jacuzzi, Dark Room | Sauna, Hot Tub, Lounge Area | Steam Room, Private Cabins |
| Size | Large | Medium | Medium |
| Cleanliness | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.2/5 |
| Ambience | Modern | Relaxing | Intimate |
| Clientele | Diverse | Mixed Age Group | Mostly Younger Crowd |
| Events | Weekly Theme Nights | None | Monthly Drag Shows |
| Price Range | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
| Accessibility | Elevator Available | Stairs Only | Wheelchair Accessible |
| Ratings (out of 5) | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 |