At what age are children allowed in the sauna?

Whether and from what age your child is allowed in the sauna is up to the hotel or public pool. Before booking, ask about the minimum age, adult accompaniment and family hours.

A minimum age may apply to one area only

A family hotel can welcome children throughout the property and still set a minimum age for the sauna or a relaxation area. The rule then applies only to that area. This is not a contradiction but a division: other areas of the property can be open to children, while the sauna is reserved for older guests.

An adults-only hotel is different. There the minimum age applies to the whole property, and guests below that age do not stay there. In between are properties with their own adults-only area in the spa, for example with a sauna and relaxation room. Exactly where the line is drawn is set out in the property's rules.

Family hours and family saunas

Some public pools and hotels open the sauna to children at set times or have a separate family sauna. There children use the sauna together with an adult who is responsible for them. When these times are and up to what age they apply varies from place to place. Outside these times, the same area may be reserved for adults.

With or without swimwear

Whether swimwear is worn in the sauna is also up to the property. If an area is textile-free, meaning without swimwear, a higher minimum age sometimes applies there than in the rest of the spa. If you would rather use the sauna in swimwear with your children, ask whether there is an area or set times for this.

What to clarify before booking

The easiest way is to clarify the rules directly with the property before booking. Ask specifically: from what age is your child allowed in the sauna, does an adult have to come along, are there family hours and is the area textile-free? With these answers you will know whether a sauna visit with your children is possible the way you picture it.

And from a health perspective?

The age rules of hotels and public pools are house rules. They say nothing about whether a sauna session suits your child's health. That depends on the individual child. If you are unsure, for example in the case of an illness, talk it over with your pediatrician before the trip.

Read more

• View hotels for family wellness
• More questions about rules, age and access