Friedrichsbad Baden-Baden — Attraction in Baden-Baden

What I have noticed is that the overwhelming majority of the bathers is the tourists who try the baths for the first time. I enjoyed Friedrichsbad a few times during my stay in B-B in July 2022. Surprisingly, there were a few bathers each time on the co-ed days, and at some point it felt like a private experience. Friedrichsbad is an old institution slightly different from the modern saunas. It's 17 stations seem daunting on paper, but are super simple if you understand the premise - first heat and then cool the body. Also, the colossal building and known sketches of the Roman baths give you an impression of the large halls, showers and pools. In reality, the rooms are quite small except for the iconic domed ceiling where the "swimming pool" is (but the pool is also not that large). So, the rooms are relatively small and during transitions you pass the rooms where you have already been during the circuit, and it confuses pretty much everyone who's new. Well, here is the journey to a person's relaxation - heating and then cooling the body. Shower first. Then there are two dry heat saunas 54C and 68C to raise the body's temperature and heart beat. Rinse next. Then there used to be a soap and brush massage but they don't do it because of Covid. Now a person enters the steam saunas 45C then 48C. Next is rinse and the beginning of cooling. The person goes into a thermal pool with 36C. Then a bubble pool with 34C. And then into that exercise pool with 28C where the beautiful dome is. Then rinse and plunge into the cold pool with 18C water. And technically the wet part is over. From here the person dries themselves and walks to a corner with a mirrored wall (gotta love Germans) to apply a body lotion. Now they can head into a sleeping room and/or into a reading room for tea. And that's it. It should take around 3 hours. Don't lotion yourself if you are healthy enough for the second round. Nobody cares if you go for more. So, remember that you would have to pass through one steam room on the way to and from the 3 thermal baths. Another tip - you need the sheet and slippers only for the dry saunas. Leave them outside the first steam room. In conclusion, I think that the best way to enjoy the experience is to follow the sequence, but your health should guide your choices and the duration of each station. I hope it puts you at ease before the experience! I highly recommend this therapy....

Update: --So the below was posted from having visited a year ago, but apparently, not much has changed. Still the lack of the soap-brush treatment (an intricate part of the bathing process), guests still complaining about issues that should already have been resolved, management is still making the same old excuses blah, blah, blah and the showers have seemingly not only not improved, they have gotten worse. Service is just sad and what's sadder is people giving the place 5* and recommending it when it's just not 5* quality...--

Having been to the baths, spoken with management and being as disappointed as many visitors concerning the lack of services, allegedly from "lack of personnel", I'm also disappointed at management being as disingenuous and insincere (read - lying) as they have been to the general public and I'd really wish they'd stop. Management doesn't want to open the soap-brushing until maybe Winter because they want to focus their efforts on the Caracalla money-maker saunas until then. No, the F-bad & Cara aren't in competition, they are run by the same management company and they aren't really interested in offering better services at the F-bad than they have right now due to the low attendance at the F-Bad during Summer months (although with all the lying going on, one does have to wonder if they really will reopen it at all, even though the bathing process was designed to have this important step included). It's no secret in the industry, so just be honest, stop lying and being such poor managers of the facilities. Not carrying out the soap brushing is like the Louvre not showing the Mona Lisa - quit cheating the public. It's also no secret in the industry that the management here leaves MUCH to be desired and could step up their game so they don't further damage the reputation of the historic bath itself. It's also quite clear management has been disregarding its responsibility to maintain the facility, its use and the reputation of the F-bad as not only a German heritage site, but a World heritage site, but now to keep perpetuating the deceit is just plain fraudulent and damages the institute itself. Do the job you're tasked to do - maintain the services and the facility as historically intended - and do it well - and if this management staff can't do it - then it's time to find another...

It is still one of the best Spa in Europe with hystory, great effect on your well being, yet it is now away from the 5 stars experience I used to have there. The reasons: Traditions means a lot for such place - if you like something facelss, you go to normal sauna - cheaper, more lean, streamlined as they say in business. Textile days are making the tradition dead and overall you have to bring somestaff with you to Friedrichsbad, while before - you just need some payment way. Payment means costs - it is of course clear that inflation making its way - yet, energy for this place is coming from the Earth with warm water (well there is sure some Electricity bills to cover and team to pay). Yet there is half the service vs. what is used to be for almost double the price of 35 euro now!!! If you want to have the soap massage, with some luck you have to cover 19 euro extra -.- it used to cost below 30 euro with all included, and of course - missing staff - never mind male of female - before you had three, now it was just one... Question where the money are going - may be to maintenance? Maintenance - well due to Corona it was more than 5 years since last visit of mine - yet it is feeling like the place is 30 years older now, with some parts is closed - presumably for maintenance... So I was there early Sunday morning (means around 09.00) and it was quite full by 10.00, high summer - so the place is still has its magnetic vibe, and you get the feeling after, which is hard to explain - almost like you are "new born", yet again - may be I am getting old or just something is not in the right place.

Well may be see you again in 5 years now - I should switch to some alternatives, even I still consider it the best SPA in Germany and...