What to Bring to a Sauna, Bathhouse or Cold Plunge Session

What to bring depends less on the activity than on the format. A private contrast suite usually supplies towels and a shower; a communal bathhouse may have swimwear rules, gender-specific days, and lockers you need a lock for; an outdoor sauna may have nothing but a changing area. Pack for the format you booked, and let the venue's own rules override anything on this list.

Check the confirmation first

Before you pack, read the booking confirmation and the venue's policy page. Look for:

• Whether towels, robes, and sandals are provided or available to rent
• Swimwear rules: required, optional, or set by day
• Gender-specific or all-gender days, which some bathhouses run on a schedule
• A minimum age, which varies between venues
• Lockers, and whether you need to bring a lock
• Arrival time, and whether a late arrival shortens your session

Venues in our directory differ widely on these points, so a list that suited one visit may not suit the next. Our first-visit checklist covers the questions to ask about supervision, water, and booking terms.

Packing list by session format

Clothing and footwear

Swimwear. Rules vary from required, to optional, to clothing-optional on particular days. If the venue requires swimwear, bring a suit that is comfortable to sit in and quick to dry.

Footwear. Floors around pools and plunges are wet and can be slippery. Shower sandals (paid link) with grippy soles are useful wherever sandals are not provided; leave them outside the hot room if the venue asks you to.

Jewellery. Metal can become uncomfortably hot in a sauna. Leave jewellery at home or in a locker.

Hats. Some sauna-goers wear a felt or wool sauna hat (paid link), a tradition in some sauna cultures, simply because they find it more comfortable. It is optional; check that the venue allows it.

Water and after the session

• A water bottle. Many venues ask guests not to bring glass into wet areas. A non-glass bottle (paid link) avoids the issue.
• A bag for wet things. A wet/dry bag (paid link) keeps a damp swimsuit and towel away from everything else.
• A towel, if not provided. A quick-dry towel (paid link) packs small and dries faster than cotton.
• A change of clothes, plus warm layers if you will be outside afterwards.
• Hair care. A brush, a hair tie, and anything else you use after showering.

What to leave at home

• Glass containers of any kind
• Lotions and oils applied before the session; most venues ask you to shower first
• Your phone in the hot room, unless the venue allows it; heat and steam can damage devices
• Valuables you do not need, especially at venues without lockers

Etiquette basics

• Shower before entering shared pools, plunges, and saunas.
• Sit on a towel in a shared sauna if the venue asks guests to.
• Respect quiet rules. Some bathhouses and sanctuaries ask for silence or low voices.
• Ask before adding water to sauna stones; in a shared room, it affects everyone.
• Ask staff if you are unsure how a facility works. You can always skip a facility or end your session early.

Cold water and heat are not suitable for everyone. If you have a health condition or any doubt, speak to a healthcare professional before visiting.

Find a venue

Browse bathhouses, sauna studios, and cold plunge studios, or start from curated lists such as private sessions and bathhouse days. Our city index narrows the options by area. If you are deciding between sauna types, see our traditional versus infrared guide; if you are weighing a membership, see membership or drop-in.

Sources and method

This checklist draws on the published policies of venues in our directory, which differ on swimwear, age limits, gender-specific days, and what is provided. It is general planning information; the venue's own rules apply to your visit. See our editorial policy.