The 10 Best Gay Bathhouses & Saunas in the World
My first bathhouse experience was in Thailand, over 10 years ago, and it was called “Babylon.” It was LIFE CHANGING for my lil gay self. I had no idea these were a thing, and I immediately thought holy sh*t, these are going to be amazing. I am going to make it a thing… all over the world! And, I have done just that. Unfortunately, I don’t really take pics while I’m in these establishments.. but I have memories to share… I often do that on my OnlyFans, here. If you’re interested in that kinda thing, make sure you check it out!
Now let’s talk about a part of gay travel nobody puts in the polished Pinterest guide but everybody's curious about — the bathhouse scene. Every gay capital on earth has one, and they range from "clean, modern wellness spot" to "full-on playground," and honestly? Half the fun is not knowing which one you walked into til you're already in there.
Whether you call it a gay sauna, a bathhouse or a spa, the move is the same: steam, towels and a whole lot of eye contact.
Here's the 10 worth planning a trip around
1. Spartacus Spa & Sauna — Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
I'm not being biased putting this at #1, it's genuinely one of the best in the world AND I've got history in this city, so it had to lead the list. Spartacus sits in Zona Romántica and is a straight-up complex — 4,000 sq ft across 4 floors with a dry sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, full swimming pool, rooftop nude sun deck, private rooms, a video lounge, and a bar with a palapa. It's strict about the no drugs/no prostitution policy, which keeps it feeling safe rather than sketchy. If you've read my Puerto Vallarta guide, you know this city is one of my top LGBTQ+ recommendations in Mexico, and Spartacus is a big reason why. Want more PV? Check out my Puerto Vallarta guide to get he full scope on the city that LOVES us downnnnnn.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Puerto Vallarta
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Casa Velas – Click here for rates & availability
2. Alexander Sauna Men's Club — Athens, Greece
Multi-floor, genuinely maze-like — dark rooms, a steam room, massage rooms, private cabins, a jacuzzi, and themed playrooms, plus a bar and garden to decompress in between. Welcomes all body types, runs regular theme nights, and starts around €17, which is cheap for what you get.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Athens
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Electra Metropolis, Athens – Click here for rates & availability
3. Der Boiler — Berlin, Germany
Berlin doesn't play when it comes to sauna culture, and Der Boiler is the proof — 1,500 m² across 3 floors with a Finnish sauna, steam room, whirlpool, dark room, and private cabins. Clean, modern, well-maintained, and pulls a genuinely diverse mixed-age crowd. On-site bar and café if you want to actually socialize first.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Berlin
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Orania.Berlin – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Axel Hotel Berlin – Adults Only – Click here for rates & availability
4. Trombeta Bath — Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon's Bairro Alto gets a contemporary, well-run sauna with a hot pool/jacuzzi, steam room, dark room, cruise areas, a leather bar, and massage services. It's got a social, music-forward vibe and lockers built for a longer stay — this isn't a quick-in-quick-out spot.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Lisbon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Memmo Príncipe Real – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bairro Alto Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Lumiares Hotel & Spa – Click here for rates & availability
Post continues after this shameless plug about my OnlyFans…
If you like my content and want to support me — and/or just wanna hang out with me in a more exclusive way, check it out! Now back to the list…
5. Secteurx — Paris, France
Great place to get a pint, some d*ck, or some as* if that’s your cup of tea. I stopped in here recently on a Paris daddy bar crawl and enjoyed my time. Its very dark in here, too. Lots of lil nooks and crannys downstairs and upstairs to have fun.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Paris
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hôtel Duo – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hôtel National Des Arts et Métiers – Click here for rates & availability
Get Travel Insurance (Seriously, Don’t Skip This)
Look, I know insurance isn’t the sexy part of planning a trip. But I promise you do NOT want to be the person paying out of pocket for a hospital visit after a scooter accident, some bad street food, or a surprise trip to the ER in a country where you don’t speak the language. I use SafetyWing because it’s built for people like us who bounce from country to country, and you can sign up even after you’ve already left home.
6. SODOME Bathhouse — Mexico City, Mexico
Mexico shows up twice on this list for a reason. SODOME is a 3-floor spot in Polanco with a steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, bar, and play areas, plus private rooms if you want them. What sets it apart is the strict consent-focused, no-cellphone-out policy — CDMX's gay scene is massive, and this place takes privacy seriously.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Mexico City
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Las Alcobas, a Luxury Collection Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
7. NaDam Spa — Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Putting this one on the list for my Southeast Asia people, because it deserves it — gay-owned, combines a real gym with sauna, steam room, massage, and traditional Vietnamese treatment options. Less "cruise club," more "actual wellness retreat" if you're out this way (shoutout to my adopted region). Make sure you take a look at my Vietnam guide if you’re coming… You don’t wanna visit without reading it :)
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Ho Chi Minh City
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hôtel des Arts Saigon – MGallery Collection – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pullman Saigon Centre – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
8. Chakran Sauna — Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is arguably THE bathhouse capital of Asia, and Chakran is the one that keeps landing on best-of lists. Multi-story, with a full swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym, steam room, dry sauna, dark room, private cabins, and a rooftop onsen — plus foam parties and themed nights when they're feeling extra.
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Bangkok
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Millennium Hilton Bangkok – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amara Bangkok Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 – Click here for rates & availability
9. Sauna X by 357 — Sydney, Australia
Gay-owned, body-positive, and intentional about it — spa, sauna, steam room, private rooms, a café, bar, and rooftop terrace. Sydney's scene is one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere and this is the current top pick down there. From my friend, Brandon, that lives in Sydney: This place has a mostly older, mixed-age crowd along with young Asian guys as regulars, but that shifts on Saturdays — it's next to Arq, and when the club's open there's a connecting tunnel that funnels in a younger, club-going crowd looking to break off from the dance floor for something more intimate. The space itself has a modern look. I’ll be checking this out when I head there soon!
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in Sydney
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ QT Sydney – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ovolo Woolloomooloo – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Kirketon Hotel Sydney – Click here for rates & availability
10. Wild Thermas Club — São Paulo, Brazil
Housed in a historic townhouse, which already makes it different from the rest of this list — video room, bar, saunas, plus actual spa services like massage and cupping. Open daily 2pm-11pm, with Friday running all the way to 5am if you're trying to make a night of it.
Ten cities, ten completely different scenes — from the maze-like classics in Europe to my personal favorite back in PV. If you've been to any of these, you already know the vibe is impossible to fully capture in words. Which one's on your list?
In a Rush? Here Are Our Favorite Hotels in São Paulo
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tivoli Mofarrej São Paulo – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Renaissance São Paulo Hotel – Click here for rates & availability
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pergamon SP Frei Caneca by Accor – Click here for rates & availability
Gay Saunas & Bathhouses: FAQ
What’s the difference between a gay sauna and a bathhouse?
Basically nothing. Americans tend to say bathhouse, and the rest of the world says sauna. Either way you get a locker, a towel, steam rooms and dry saunas, and usually some private rooms.
Do I have to hook up if I go?
No. Plenty of guys just steam, relax and people-watch. A simple “no thank you” is respected at every spot on this list.
What should I bring?
Flip-flops, your ID and cash. Most places give you a towel and a locker key at the door.
Is it OK to go alone?
Honestly, most people do. It’s one of the easiest ways to meet guys in a new city.
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