SchwabenQuellen — Attraction in Stuttgart

Always an amazing experience as an American who’s been going here regularly for almost 3 years now. But, you need to go in knowing a few things up front. The negative reviews you see here are mostly from people who didn’t have the right expectations. All that’s needed is some expectation management, so here goes: Naked only, except for textile day first Saturday of every month. You’ll see everybody here from old to young, thin to fat. All are at home here! Most folks do wrap a towel or bathrobe around them when walking around outside the sauna / steam rooms and pools. Bring EVERYTHING you’ll need. You can rent or buy all this in a pinch, but best bring your own. Bring sandals/flip flops. Bring bottled water or sports drink. Bring two towels, bigger is better. Bring bathrobe if you want, but that is very optional and gets cumbersome. Bring a book if you want. Leave jewelry at home. Get tickets online before you arrive. I’ve never had issues getting them same-day, it’s just easier if you arrive with the QR code. You might start with a short ticket (2hrs) but a regular like me will typically spend 4-5 hrs per visit. When you arrive, look at the map and take a walk around the whole winding facility. It is massive. Familiarize yourself. Then work your way up to doing an Aufguss….don’t be shy to sit low/near the door, and to leave early, if you get uncomfortable. Take break for a beer and German food at the restaurant inside the facility (just wearing your towel). It’s most crowded on wet/cold weekends. A rainy winter Sunday will see the biggest crowds. But, especially if you’re not used to nude German saunas, crowded = good! You get lost in the mass of people and the age/gender diversity is at its highest. I’m most comfortable in a crowded sauna or pool, rather than with just another person or two. The staff is exceedingly helpful and all I’ve encountered have spoken English. Ask them anything! In short, if you sort of know what to expect, SchwabenQuellen is among the most relaxing experiences you can have on Earth. Don’t miss out!! If it’s your first time, watch a video or 2 on YouTube about German saunas and etiquette, and...

Overall, an excellent textile-free spa. Leans more toward sauna than bath, but still adequate with the pool offerings and excellent with the saunas. Aufguss offered every twenty minutes all day long in several saunas with scheduling clearly noted on monitor screens. The “in & out” pool is very nice, and is the warmest of the two main pools. I personally would like to have the big indoor pool warmer, and I may not be the only one, as on the Monday we were there, it was sparsely used compared to the warmer in/out pool and the two whirlpools which were well attended. Maybe the cooler pool is better for summer, but to me (and others) it was a bit too cool this winter day. A couple additional small warm (36-38C) pools would be my ultimate wish.

Anyway, the steam rooms, foot baths and relaxation rooms were plentiful and top-notch.

Very high marks for the food offerings and restaurant staff, as well as all of the facility staff.

Entrance was easy, and while it can be booked at reception, entry is best assured with online reservations.

I see no hesitation with the nudity aspect—all seeming irrelevant but for advanced hygene and ease of using pools, steams and saunas! Textile days are offered, however, the first Saturday of each month, for those so-inclined. I appreciate that it is not a “textile-optional” facility, which creates two factions among the guests: nude versus swimsuited. The relaxed attitude toward co-ed nudity is refreshing and liberating

Chip wristbands make locker operation easy and record any post-entry purchases for settlement upon departure.

Highly recommended—stay...

A very luxurious adults-only spa and public bath. Be prepared: except for one weekend a month, it's all-nude and mixed-gender (however, you can bring a bathrobe and everyone has robes/towels on when not in steam rooms/saunas/pools). A little difficult for Americans and people from other more prudish countries to get used to, but once you get over it you'll have a great experience.

It can be a little confusing at first if you don't speak German, as virtually all the signage is in German once you're inside. Bring a towel, or rent it before you go into the dressing room! The themed rooms are a little cheesy but the variety of steam rooms and saunas feel fantastic, and as someone who can't take super-hot steam rooms I appreciate they have them in a variety of temperatures. Check out the webpage via Google translate or ask for a brochure in English if you want to familiarize yourself with the layout and different types of rooms and pools before you go because the place feels pretty maze-like, especially at night.

My only complaint is that there's no pool with water temperature even close to what we consider "hot tub hot" in the States (i.e. above 100 degrees F). I like my whirpools to be around 102-3, and their large one was under 96, so it's more like warm bathwater than super-hot. But everything still felt fantastic!

There are special deals, such as a morning rate if you enter before 12:00 for four hours, or if you enter after 21:00. Taking advantage of these is a lot better than paying the...