Relaxation room etiquette: the unwritten rules of the sauna break
The relaxation room is the quietest place in any sauna complex. Guests lie here between rounds, read, doze or simply look out of the window. To make this work for everyone, there is a little relaxation room etiquette – some rules hang on the wall, others are unwritten. Here you will find out what is customary in the relaxation room, why a towel belongs on every lounger, how reserving loungers works and what you can take with you into your break.
Contents11
- Relaxation room etiquette: the most important rules
- Why silence applies in the relaxation room
- What counts as loud in the relaxation room
- The towel on the lounger
- Reserving loungers: what is customary
- What you can take into the relaxation room
- Sleeping, reading, snoring
- Typical situations – and how to react calmly
- What to wear in the relaxation room
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Relaxation room etiquette: the most important rules
| Do | Better not |
|---|---|
| Stay silent or whisper, phone on silent or in your bag | Phone calls or conversations at normal volume |
| A towel on the lounger that fits your whole body | Lying directly on the cushion |
| Free up the lounger after your break | Reserving loungers with towels for hours |
| Close doors quietly, walk calmly | Clattering around in bathing sandals |
| Book, magazine, quiet bottle | Rustling bags, snacks, glass bottles |
| Finish sweating and dry off first | Lying down dripping wet |
Why silence applies in the relaxation room
After the sauna round and cooling down, the body needs time to settle again. That is what the relaxation room is for. Many guests come to the sauna precisely for this hour without noise, screens and conversations. A single phone call can interrupt that calm for everyone in the room.
Depending on the facility, there are different rest areas: a room with loungers, a corner with water beds, a fireplace room or an outdoor area. Sometimes it is clearly signposted where quiet conversations are allowed and where complete silence applies. If in doubt, the stricter rule always applies in the relaxation room.
What counts as loud in the relaxation room
Noise often happens without you noticing. These things are particularly noticeable in a quiet room:
- Phone: even a vibration or a short beep can be heard in the relaxation room. It's best to leave the phone in your locker.
- Whispering as a pair: a short sentence is fine; a longer conversation is better continued outside.
- Bathing sandals: walk slowly and they hardly clatter.
- Bags and wrappers: unpack anything that rustles outside the door.
- Doors: close them slowly; don't let them slam.
- Alarms and watches: switch off beeps on sports watches beforehand.
If you come as a pair, the article Going to the sauna as a pair has tips on combining conversation and quiet.
The towel on the lounger
A towel belongs on every lounger – for hygiene reasons and out of consideration for the next guests. It should be large enough for your whole body to lie on it, including your feet and hair. A towel that doesn't slip is practical. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel (200 × 70 cm) has a sewn-in pocket that you pull over the backrest. That way it stays in place, even when you get up or turn over.
Only lie down once you are no longer sweating heavily and are well dried off. That keeps the cushion dry, and your lounger towel doesn't need changing after the very first break. Which towels you need for cabin and relaxation room is explained in the article Seat towel, lounger towel, sauna towel.
Reserving loungers: what is customary
Almost everyone knows crowded relaxation rooms at the weekend. Nevertheless: occupying a lounger permanently with a towel or bathrobe while you are elsewhere for hours is frowned upon in many saunas. Some facilities explicitly regulate this in their house rules; others clear occupied loungers after a certain time.
The fair approach: the lounger is yours as long as you are taking your break. If you go into the next round, it may be fine to leave your towel there, depending on the facility. If you are away for longer, for example in the bistro, free it up.
What you can take into the relaxation room
- A book or a magazine: turn the pages quietly; no audiobooks without headphones.
- A light bathrobe: in case you get cold during the break. Light models such as the Trimita Barok bathrobe made of 100 % Turkish cotton dry quickly. You will find more models among our bathrobes.
- A second towel to cover yourself: for example an Ocean hammam towel at approx. 180 × 100 cm, which is light and doesn't feel heavy.
- Water or tea: in a bottle that doesn't hiss or rattle when opened, for example an IZY insulated bottle with 500 ml.
In most saunas, food does not belong in the relaxation room, and glass bottles are often banned altogether for safety reasons.
Sleeping, reading, snoring
Falling asleep in the relaxation room is perfectly fine in most saunas – that's what it's there for. Snoring can't always be avoided. If you tend to snore, you might prefer to lie at the edge or in an area with fewer guests. And if you are lying next to someone snoring, calmly find another lounger rather than waking them.
Typical situations – and how to react calmly
Even when everyone knows the rules, small disturbances happen. Here's how to deal with them calmly:
Someone next to you is talking loudly
Often guests don't realise how far their voices carry. A friendly look or a quiet "Excuse me, this is a quiet area" is usually enough. If that doesn't help, speak to the staff rather than arguing yourself.
All loungers are taken
Move to another rest area or the outdoor area and check back later. Report loungers with towels on which nobody has been for a long time to the staff instead of clearing the things away yourself.
You need to cough or sneeze
It happens to everyone. Turn to the side, hold a towel in front of your mouth – and if a cough lasts longer, step outside briefly.
You get cold on the lounger
Put on your bathrobe or cover yourself with a second towel. Light, flat-woven towels are ideal for this because they keep you warm without feeling heavy.
Your hair is still wet
Squeeze it out well beforehand and wrap it in a small towel so that nothing drips onto the cushion. You will find more tips in the article Sauna with long hair.
Your phone rings after all
Don't answer it; switch it to silent immediately and leave the room if you need to call back. A short apologetic nod is enough.
What to wear in the relaxation room
In many saunas the rule in the relaxation room is: bathrobe on or covered with a towel. It's a matter of consideration, even if bathing in the cabins is textile-free. Which rules apply in your sauna is stated in the house rules. You will find more general rules about towels in the article Sauna etiquette: towel rules.
Related reading: Cooling down after a sauna session: fresh air, shower, plunge pool · A whole sauna day: how to plan your schedule, meals and breaks · Drinking in the sauna: before, during the breaks and afterwards
Conclusion
In the relaxation room, one thing matters above all: consideration. Keep quiet, put your phone away, a towel on the lounger, free the lounger after your break – then everyone gets something out of their time out. If you follow this little etiquette, you'll find yourself lying more calmly too.
Frequently asked questions
May I sleep in the relaxation room?
In most saunas, yes. If you tend to snore, it's better to lie at the edge.
May I reserve a lounger?
Each sauna decides this itself. In many, permanent reserving is frowned upon. Check the house rules.
May I whisper in the relaxation room?
A short, quiet sentence is usually fine. For conversations, go to the outdoor area or the bistro.
How large should the lounger towel be?
Large enough for you to lie on it completely. The Ocean StayOn hammam towel measures 200 × 70 cm and is pulled over the backrest of the lounger with its pocket.
May I eat in the relaxation room?
Usually not. Snacks belong in the bistro or lounge area.
How long may I stay on a lounger?
As long as your break lasts. There is no fixed time, but if you are elsewhere for a long time in between, free the lounger for other guests.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.