Spas in Baden -Baden

Go to the Friedrichsbad if you want to wear nothing.

Go to the Caracalla Baths if you prefer to wear swimsuits.

After all, they are all foreigners. You are not going to see them in church Sunday morning. (Although, you never know)

Most real German Baden are coed and textilefrei (clothing not even optional).

The Friedrichsbad was totally wonderful in every way. Being naked among other naked people is so liberating - you really see and understand that NO ONE is perfect!! It does seem odd at first - the attendants and the whole sequence of treatments sort of ease you into it, but the lighting is very soothing, the architecture of the place is beautiful, and it really is the spa experience to top all spa experiences - after Baden-Baden, everything else is just a bath-tub.

Although the Friedrichsbad is not clothing optional but fully naked I am sure all of you will enjoy the experience. Living in Baden-Baden I go nearly every week to the Friedrichsbad especially in Winter. It is totally assexual and you will get used to the nakedness after a few minutes.

Do it, do it, do it. Seriously, here in the US you'll pay up to $100 for an hour massage, in Friedrichsbad you'll get a 3-hour experience with a "massage" for about $30. You'll get scrubbed to death with the massage, but, trust me, you haven't lived until you've done it. And you'll have stories to tell to your shocked friends for years.

I was in my 20's when I did it, I was a bit nervous about the whole thing. I put my clothes in the locker, thinking this was like one of those dreams where you're naked and everyone else isn't, that I'd walk out of the locker room to a room of laughing, clothed people. Not at all. The great thing was that I was the youngest one there, so I looked GREAT in comparison!

Thanks for all the information. I have no issues about being naked but my 26 year old daughter and my 22 year old son definitely will. I will try to talk them into it though, and if they still object I will go to the spa where clothing is permitted.

I can understand that, Judy. My wife and I went into the Baden in Bad Herrenalb and Freudenstadt. But I have two daughters, 27 and 30. I don't think I would take them in one. A lot of Germans have grown up with family nudity and don't mind, but unless you've been nudists in this country, it might be a bit uncomfortable.

Tell 'em that everyone else is going to be over 50, so it'll be a great ego boost.

It's not just naked vs non-naked (actually you can be naked in part of the Caracalla baths too). They're different experiences. The Friedricksburg spa was wonderful with the succession of stages - hot, tepid, massage, shower, sauna, cold dunk. I thought I would prefer that, but I actually liked the Caracalla baths better. The Caracalla pools are more modern, and sybaritic, with strong jets of water that you can aim at every part of your body - it's like getting a 3-hour massage. There's an outdoor pool and, with clothes on, people are a little more friendly. They also have the sauna and steam rooms, it's just not so regimented. That was my experience, anyway.

judy,

One point to mention is that I was in Baden-Baden a week or so ago, and the Friedrichsbad (Roman-Irish) Baths appeared to be closed for renovations. There were numerous scaffolds on the outside, Welders working outside the back doors and the main entry door was secured with plywood. I didn't confirm that they were closed, but it sure looked like it as my Hotel was right across from there and I didn't see anyone entering or leaving the building. The Caracalla Baths were in full operation though.

If you're thinking of visiting there, you might want to check their web site for confirmation.

Happy travels!

Excellent information from everyone ! Thanks so much.