Vibes

ane__5

Cuando te permites lo que mereces, atraes lo que necesitas 🩵

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#nature #landscape #naturalpool #hotspring #clearwater #dog #mountaingirl #love #world_bestnature #instant_es #autumnvibes #perfect_capture #beautifulpic #wildlife #adventure #paradise #strong #travelling #natureshot #vegangirl #nomad #exploremore #awesomeplaces #lifestyle #bnw #earth_focus #photography #dream_image #picoftheday #📷

News and views on hot soak and assorted culture of Europe.

News from the hot springs. 

Timeout Budapest on the Gellert baths news (Oct. 1):

'Spas are a huge part of Budapest’s cultural fabric – and the Gellért, a legendary art nouveau spa richly decorated with Zsolnay tiling, is one of the most iconic venues in the city.

However, as of today (October 1), you won’t be able to visit the Gellért until 2028, as the century-old spa – first opened in 1918 – is closing for three years of renovation. Reconstruction work will now run alongside the overhaul of the equally venerable hotel of the same name, which has been closed since November 2021.

The primary consideration in the project is the preservation of the historical heritage: the restoration of the art nouveau interiors, tiling and aesthetic appearance. In addition, sustainability and energy-efficient solutions will be introduced, by modernising the use of thermal water and heating.

According to plans, the changing rooms will be unified, and a new sunbathing terrace, a modern wellness area and panoramic garden sauna will be created'.

Over to Baden (Switzerland), where they celebrated Badsgemeinde 2025! ❤️ (source). Translated:

'On the 28th. & 29. In August we celebrated the first implementation of the Badsgemeinde on the Kurplatz, Baden. We spent the whole program in a temporary basin filled with fresh thermal water. The GV of the cooperative Bad zum raven was held, debated under the moderation of Monika Schärer, the future Bad zum raben auctioned by Simon Balissat @sigats and a poem by Simon Libsig @simonlibsig given to the best. At the end, there was a concert by Strello under the starry sky in Baden. ✨

yvisflowers

So many exciting things happening right now:

🪶we are in the final part of the build of our home in wheels (soon we will share more)

🪶we are soon moving to a new house… I lived here since I was 18

🪶a person that lives far away but that I love deeply is coming to visit very very soon

🪶we are attending an amazing festival this weekend (the festival cancelled due to weather forecast :(((, but it has been rescheduled for sometime soon 🌝🫶)

Honestly, our head has been in the clouds for the whole year, we cannot believe everything unfolding in front of us. 🤍

Open to everything that’s coming next.

Happy to share here more details soon 😆

Skai.gr has a vdo on the mud baths / hot springs of Krinides. There is the possibility to autotranslate the vdo. 

Briefly: they want to extend the summer mud bathing season, earlier and later in the year (before mid-June and after September). 

Whether or not it's only for the reportage, but clothesfree mudbathing seems to have been discontinued. Question mark. Note: recent photo's are less clothed (Sep. 24).

Staying with mudbaths. And vdo's. Nowness has a feature vdo (Aug. 25) on the mudbaths of Akhtala. Description:

'Travelling to Georgia, director Sasha Kulak observes the mud between the softly exhaling landscape, to the full-body treatments that transfer its restorative powers, for the short film The Great Mud of Akhtala. Against storytelling passed through generations and understanding shaped by engaging with this strange landscape, the short documentary captures the profound respect that connects the spa’s visitors and practitioners, seeking its healing mud to restore balance and wellbeing in accordance with nature'.

Vanlife: Il Bollore

Bagni di San Filippo Siena province Italy

Wandering Carol visits (and reports, Nov. 9) on Bath, UK's only thermal spring, though much of the attraction is due to the Roman remains of their original bath. It does though look like it's an original post, rehashed again. Very glowing all, suppose if it's all you have, then it must be very precious.

Earlier (Aug. 5), Carol also reported back from Baden-Baden.

feelgoodbathing 

At 39°, waters enriched with minerals flow like liquid silk, wrapping the body in warmth while lush greenery surrounds every pool 🌿♨️⁣⁣

⁣⁣

Here, volcanic origins meet garden calm — a sanctuary where bathing is both deeply soothing and beautifully restorative.⁣⁣

♨️ Terra Nosta Park Hotel, Azores⁣

Suggested

Sauna business then.

A missed opportunity. Badstufest 2025 [Sep. 19-21] is a collaboration between the Norwegian Sauna Association and a group of sauna operators in Southern Norway [Arendal]. 

'The festival is a celebration of Norwegian sauna culture, but first and foremost a good excuse to gather people who really enjoy saunas, nature and good vibes for a hot autumn weekend by the sea'.

Not to be missed: International Sauna Congress 2026 (Sep. 24–26), in Oslo, Norway. Billed as world's largest sauna event. Without reference as to what marks it as largest.

A report (KW Magazine, Sep. 3) on a community sauna in the center of the Flemish city of Kortrijk. Translated:

The founders envision the space as more than just a sauna. "Dreaming and building a place where we can meet without class and freedom," they say. Their core values ​​are clear: creating through connection, accessible, and open to everyone. The sauna grows with its community and must be able to stand on its own. The result is an eight-person infusion sauna, equipped with a plunge pool, cold shower, and a cozy atmosphere. Admission is pay-as-you-can, with a suggested price of five euros''.

Some sauna culture?

Vegoutmagazine has an article (Sep. 22) on experiencing a German sauna:

'The biggest shock isn’t the nudity; it’s what the nudity dismantles: your self-consciousness.

Ten minutes in, your inner critic is too sweaty to speak. Bodies blur into bodies.

Scars, bellies, boobs, flat, round, old, young—none of it matters. This isn’t a nightclub; it’s a human defrosting drawer. That modesty panic you anticipate? It drains away in the steam.

You will become very aware of your towel (good), your breathing (better), your heartbeat (hello, you), and—surprise—your appetite.

There’s always a café. And yes, there will be cakes, pretzels, soup, a beer or an apple spritzer, maybe a potato salad that tastes like your grandparents would approve.

Shock five: you will eat after being naked with strangers and feel absolutely fine. More than fine—normal, companionable, like you’ve been through a tiny, polite rite together.

My first time, I sat in a robe, hair wet and wild, dunking a pretzel into mustard, and felt… wealthy.

Not money wealthy. Nervous-system wealthy'.

huumsauna

In Estonia, we have a saying: “Naised saunas rääkisid,” which translates to “Women in sauna talked.” And it’s more than just a phrase.. It captures exactly how sauna encourages genuine connection.

Outside the sauna, conversations might stay polite, short, or even superficial. But step into the gentle heat, surrounded by calming steam, and suddenly barriers fall away. You’re relaxed, honest, and ready to share openly.

Beyond its many physical health perks - like better circulation, detoxification, and muscle recovery - sauna time significantly boosts our mental wellbeing. It encourages authentic conversations, strengthens bonds, and helps ease social anxieties and feelings of loneliness.

Sauna truly brings people closer 🤎

Have you noticed that sauna makes conversations flow more freely? 💬

.

#huumsauna #sauna #saunalife #saunatime #saunawisdom #saunatraditions #nordiclife #nordicliving #nordicstyle #saunaselfie #saunabenefits

An Irish experience (Irish Independent, Nov. 7) of an Austrian sauna experience. Which was naked. And this was repeated oft enough in the article. As in:

'And now, sloppy globs of shea butter are being ladled into my hands. As the only non-German speaker in the steam room, I’m not entirely sure why… until I see my naked brethren rubbing it all over their bodies. I follow suit, and we let it sink in before all leaping into the icy cold lake, modesty be damned'.

The Times concerns itself (Nov. 8) about the rules concerning taking a sauna. Because on the British Isles it's becoming a thing:

'Brits are finally catching up: the British Sauna Society counted more than 400 public saunas across the UK this year, up from 45 in 2023. If you’re a newbie, here’s what you need to know'.

• Is it healthy? A(nswer): yes, 
• What makes a sauna good? ?
• Naked? A.: it's common somewhere else ...,
• How long? A.: fifteen- twenty minutes,
• Cold plunge? A. a short dip is fine,
• How hot is too hot? A.: depends.

A longer reference. 

Starting with the French Naturisme magazine (Oct. 21) which highlights an article (in German) published by Swiss 20min.ch (Oct. 20) on the sauna divide through the country. Swiss but talking German: naked. Others: not.

Translated from French:

'20minutes specifies that "in German-speaking Switzerland, nudity is part of an authentic spa experience and people are less prudish. In addition, saunas and hammams are very popular, especially urban couples under 40. In French-speaking Switzerland, on the other hand, aesthetics, architecture and light take precedence. Well-being is less about sweating and steam jets, but more about massages, perfumes and design, the study concludes ."

...

For its part, LeMatin notes that "Nationally, more than half the population feels uncomfortable in the presence of naked strangers. In German-speaking Switzerland, however, this barrier is much less pronounced: for many, nudity is an integral part of the authentic spa experience. In French-speaking Switzerland, on the other hand, the need for privacy and discretion prevails."

In France, if the survey were done…nudity would not win, the fear of “exhibitionists” in saunas means that the vast majority of establishments offering saunas require the wearing of swimsuits.

The original article (by 20min) has 180+ comments, mostly echoing the article which itself is based on a questionaire by Baden's Fortyseven.

_lydia.selenofilia

𝑆𝑖 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑠 𝑙𝑎 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑧𝑎,

𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑟𝑎́𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑧𝑎 𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑑𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑠..

𝙎𝙤𝙮 𝙁𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙚 𝙡𝙤 𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙙𝙖 𝙋𝙖𝙯 🌿⛰️💚

#AlmaLibre #NocheEstrellasBañosTermales

#disfrutona #librecomoelviento #MeEncanta

Honours

The small German border town of Epe has the honour of having a higher than average rated public sauna complexes. Though the size would curtail the thinking in terms of complex. It's not really big, more compact.

Higher rated?

Google notes 4.5 stars (1142 reviews), most reviews in German with just a few exceptions, those from the Netherlands. There are some negative comments concerning temperature of both inside and outside pools.

Tripadvisor reviewers (50) are less enthusiastic: 4.3 stars, though not that many recent reviews.

Facebook doles out 4.6 stars, with the page having 6000 followers; cant actually read what this means.

Yelp's 2 reviewers meet midway between 4 and 5.

Elsewhere the Dutch language website Blootgewoon rates it 9.8 out of 10, but only based on 3 reviews. Likewise Dutch naturismegids, dishes out a perfect but singular reviewed 10. 

Odd though that there's otherwise precious little info available. Is the internet shifting from content to just dishing out a couple of handles to make life less complicated?

Offically called Saunapark Epe, it's located 5 km from the Dutch border in a retail / services area.

Entrance is €34,90 or €29,50 for 4 hours. Note on weekends there's a €3 surcharge. The owners themselves note there's no need to make a reservation for entrance only. In practice, it wasn't that busy (weekday, first week of September). 

The sauna park has 2 pools (unheated outdoor, heated indoor), a steam room a variety of sauna's, even up to 120 degrees (too hot to handle). 

Every hour there was an Aufguss, the ritual not so special, though the technique was excellent, only just bearable combination of heat and humidity.

The restaurant starts from 13:00, good choice (for vegetarians), service excellent, huge portions of cake.

My marks would be 8.75, a nice place.

Mushrooms

blende_eins_zwei_photography

#model#picture#photographer#photoshoot#fotoshooting#fotografie#fujifilm#fujifilm50r#Iceland#availablelight#icelandtravel#nude#bwphotography

Over to Iceland. What's hot? Or what not / too hot even.

Anyway the Reykjavik Grapevine (Aug. 7) gets us on the way. Supposedly bathing culture on Iceland is changing:

'The new generation of sleek, luxurious spas that have mushroomed around Iceland are something else again. A product of opportunism — both in taking advantage of the tourist boom, and putting Iceland’s plentiful geothermal water to use — they offer a different, fancier kind of bathing. They have warm rainfall showers with the herbaceous scent of Sóley toiletries hanging in the air, coal-fired saunas with widescreen windows, and powerful shoulder-massaging torrents to work out muscle knots. They’re quieter, and pricier — more like going for a tasting menu than popping into your local diner.

“For a town of 2,000 people to suddenly have a luxury spa on their doorstep is surely a good thing.”

These spas are a lurch away from the down-to-earth nature of Iceland’s pool culture — but they aren’t enjoyed by tourists exclusively. At the lush, wooded Forest Lagoon in Akureyri, I heard more Icelandic voices than English, or Chinese, or German. By the same measure, GeoSea in Húsavík — with its saline water and undulating infinity edge looking out over the ever-changing weather of the Skjálfandi bay — seems as much of a hit with locals as visitors. For a town of 2,000 people to suddenly have a luxury spa on their doorstep is surely a good thing — and it’s not like the town pool is going anywhere.

...

The wave of new spas — and particularly those with a more rustic edge, like Flúðir’s Gamla Lauginn — also come after a period of increased interest in wild bathing. That is, the classic experience of following questionable directions to an obscure, barely-there parking spot, and hiking towards a promising plume of steam a kilometre or two away; testing the water with a toe, hanging your clothes on a tree branch, and just hopping in.

Natural hot pots have a very special kind of charm, but the vast increase in tourist traffic over the last decade has kinda killed the vibe. The last thing you wanna see when you get to a prospective hot pot is a row of five gleaming rental cars'.

A Facebook follower of Reykjavik, Iceland Travel & Vacation asks (Jun. 17) if there are any hot springs where you can go au naturel, which I'll regard as question to local bathing culture. 

Seventy six responses, anything worthwhile between them? 

• Topless is allowed everywhere
• Maybe
• Used to
• Why?
• You need to shower naked? (31 answers ...)
• Not in public facilities?
• Japan

This fits in neatly here. 

MBL.is (Aug. 20) draws attention to the fact that sauna visitors in the town Gufunes walk around the villages pier naked. Some translation:

'According to her [Hafdís Hrundur Gísladóttir owner of Rjúkandi gufu] people try to be careful when it comes to the situation and do not intentionally show their nudity, even though they do wander naked outside the steam room.
"These are just adults trying to be polite if others are there and covering up when necessary. This is not sexual and there is no dogmatism involved," says Hafdís'.

Ohm

magda.moerli

natural spa day - Iceland edition

#hotsprings #iceland #coldweather #steamyviews #toohottohandle #toogoodtobetrue #natureiceland #naturaljacuzzi #icelandtravel #icelandroadtrip #visiticeland #hotandcold #souljourney #bodymindsoul #wellness #ohhmvibes #holisticheaven #recharging #beautifuldestinations #spaday #hiddengemsiceland #hiddengems

We over to the section, list your favourites or not.

Rachandlaurexplore posts (Aug. 8) a reel on instagram with the following info:

'✨ Rapid ranking all the hot springs I went to in Iceland ✨

There are SO many hot springs to choose from in Iceland. We definitely recommend visiting a few on your visit there! Here’s how they stacked up. We mostly drove around the south so these are all from the south!

disclaimer* this is just our opinion, if you felt differently about one of these that’s okay!

Hrunalaug: SO peaceful!! Situated in a cool secluded spot. You do have to pay an entry fee.

Reykjadalur: a hot spring in a stream??! Iconic. It’s an hour hike to get here but that doesn’t stop crowds from coming. Still, it’s worth a visit! There’s a few for parking in the lot below.

Seljavallalaug: favorite hot spring in Iceland! A short hike from the parking lot, it’s secluded and surrounded by beautiful mountains…. And it’s donation based!

Sky lagoon: the “alternative” to blue lagoon. In our opinion, it’s almost the same price and lacks the iconic blue color so we’d opt to just do blue lagoon. It’s a more luxury experience so it’s $$$

Secret lagoon: the oldest hot spring in Iceland! It is a stop on a lot of tours so it can be very crowded. It was around $34 usd for our visit

Blue lagoon: it’s famous for a reason and you should go, but just know it’s going to be touristy and that’s okay! Definitely the most expensive spot on this list'.

UK' s Express (Jun. 22) notes how enjoying a soak or two, need not to cost you much / anything?

'If you're willing to go off the beaten path a bit or to places that are maybe not as glamorous as some of the more luxurious options available, you can have a great experience while still saving your hard-earned. Not only is there the prospect of saving money but you will also go through something that many other tourists miss as they travel with the herd and sacrifice their cash for convenience'.

Icelandia (Aug. 19) on other secret hot springs; other than the Blue Lagoon that is. Of the 12 mentioned, only one or two are non-commercial; so much for secretive. Important:

'Lastly, either within a complex or out in the countryside, it’s important to conserve the surrounding nature. Be careful to stick to marked paths or trails where applicable, and always take any rubbish with you when it’s time to go'.

E(n)dge 

lorncache

At the edge of the world, there's a pretty epic geothermal swimming pool. Few people make the crazy drive out here which means we got it all to ourselves. .

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#iceland #wanderlust #westfjords #strandir #strandircoast #krossneslaug #nordurfjördur #edgeoftheworld

Some visit reports. 

The Reykjavik Grapevine (Aug. 4) reports on a visit to the Westfjords and enjoying the Krossnes soak.

'Driving through this beautiful, untouched landscape, it’s hard to imagine what could make the day better. But there’s one thing that can: a visit to a pool. And not just any pool — this one has been on my list since 2022, when I interviewed Jón Karl Helgason, director of Sundlaugasögur (Swimming Pool Stories), a documentary about Iceland’s bathing culture.

For the film, Jón travelled around the country multiple times, visiting every single pool. When I asked him which one stood out, he didn’t hesitate: “Krossnes is beautiful. When you’re in there, you can see the horizon, the ocean — and feel like you’re alone in the world.”

Krossneslaug lies at the very end of the road. If you want to continue north from here, you’ll need to either walk, drive a jeep, which will only take you a couple of fjords more north, or go back and take a boat from Norðurfjörður — the last place nearby where you can stock up on food or grab a bite at the small restaurant, now run by Hotel Djúpavík. Last year, I almost reached the goal of visiting this pool — only to find that the pool was drained when I arrived. (A quick note: there’s a mud football championship in the area every Verslunarmannahelgi (always the first weekend of August), and after the matches, muddy footballers head straight to the pool to relax. This usually means a day or two of closure for cleaning and maintenance.)

This time, luck is on my side. The pool is open, and a friendly Kristín greets me at the cash register. She spent the last few winters in Austria, but Strandir somehow pulled her back. “I heard there are young farmers who recently moved to the area. Do you happen to know them?” I ask. Kristín laughs, “Oh yeah, those are my parents.”

Krossneslaug turned 70 years old last year. For decades, it has been a vital part of the region — a place where local children learned to swim. These days, two hot tubs warmer than the pool have been added. But it’s really the view that steals the show: a dramatic cliff on one side, and an endless stretch of ocean on the other.

There are a few people in the pool, and we exchange some small talk. One of them teases another, saying that only crazy people live here. I’m not sure about that. But if “crazy” means soaking in the pool with this view every day, they’re not mad at all'.

Tophotsprings on Hrunalaug (Jul. 7):

'A hidden gem in the Icelandic countryside – Hrunalaug

A private little hot spring tucked away in a charming rural setting. Quiet, peaceful, and full of character.

The water? A couple of degrees too cool for our taste, but still a magical experience.

Perfect for a short soak surrounded by nature'.

Finally in related affairs, the Reykjavik's Grapevine (Apr. 28) reports:

'Icelanders’ love for hot tubs shows no signs of cooling, with sales seeing a significant jump this year. According to RÚV, sales have risen by 10% year over year, while some manufacturers report even sharper increases.

At Heitirpottar.is, managing director Ari Steinn Kristjánsson says the company experienced a record-breaking Easter Sunday. “We sold nearly 200 hot tubs in one day. There was incredible traffic, the most high-energy day I’ve ever experienced — total rush,” he said.

Trefjar, another major hot tub producer, reports a 35% year-on-year increase. A company sales manager notes that, “We Icelanders are big hot tub lovers, and we feel great in our hot water. But I think the recent increase might also be due to the good weather and our optimism for a great summer.”

hovor.jirka

West Iceland

Upcoming

quellachesifasoloselfie

••Un weekend alla ricerca di neve fresca e acqua calda••

#quellachesifasoloselfie

#myfavoriteseasoniscoming

#bagnidipetriolo

#toscana

#pontedellimmacolata#termenaturali

You would expect that in the summer with everybody out and about, that there would an enormous amount of soaking related news to share. 

But not so the case, so it seems.

Most impressive newsbit, is this from viterbonews24.it which reports (Aug. 2) on the reopening of the Bagnaccio therme, after 3 years of the apparent (?) renovation. Translated:

'After more than three years of closure, the Terme del Bagnaccio , one of the iconic outdoor wellness destinations in Tuscia, is officially back open . This morning, Saturday, August 2nd, the renovated thermal park on the outskirts of Viterbo was inaugurated with the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony and the return of bathers to the four steaming natural pools, surrounded by lush greenery'.

Not much renovation it seems, more a time-out to get the legal side of the business accordingly.

Whatsupmedia also reported (Aug. 4):

'The spa closed its doors in May 2022 due to issues related to the revocation of the mining concession. The reopening was possible after a long and fraught process, after a new company, Rise Srl, was awarded the sub-concession and the necessary inspections were carried out by the Local Health Authority to verify the sanitary conditions and the functionality of the facilities'.

A week later (Aug. 9), the same source reflects on the commencement of operations:

'To assess the situation, Viterbonews24 visited the site. Since morning, the parking lot was full, and there were about ten people waiting in line at the ticket counter: clear signs of appreciation for the spa, which continues to offer a one-of-a-kind experience, combining the rustic charm of natural hot springs with a welcoming atmosphere'.

_antonio_angri

#sorgeto #ischia #baiadisorgeto #sorgentetermale #termenaturali #campania #regnodelleduesicilie #suditalia #southitaly

Pearl

Usually French website, Nature et sourcechaude, has compiled his soaking experiences on Pantelleria, in English (Aug. 21):

'In fact, the island of Pantelleria, which has no shortage of elegance, is a spa with a wide range of natural thermal treatments. During my stay of a few days, I invite you to discover the thermal wealth of this island of volcanic origin, nicknamed ‘the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean’.

The Guardian (Aug. 20) on some of the hot springs on Ikaria (Greece), simultaneously letting out the secret:

'There are no signs to the hot spring, but I locate it on the map and we drive to the end of the paved road. Overlooking the sea is a stone bench someone has dedicated to her parents, “with gratitude and love as deep as the Aegean”. My dad died recently and the words strike home. I’m glad my mum has joined me on this little adventure.

We walk down to the deserted cove at Agia Kyriaki thermal springs. There are old fishing shacks with stone-slab roofs, and shuttered cottages. Down an unmarked path, we find a rock pool where hot waters bubble gently from the sand, blending with the sea to a perfect temperature. Immersed in the healing mineral bath, I look up at juniper trees and blue sky, lulled by lapping waves and cicadas'.

borras_family on Ikaria

sources d'eaux chaudes naturelles dans la mer.

In Hungary plans are underway to renovate Hèviz. Hungary Today (Jul. 10):

'Lake Hévíz and the high-quality health facility built on its shores welcome around one million guests from all over the world every year. This is an institution and piece of infrastructure that is extremely important not only for the region but also for the country as a whole, and one of its lake structures had to be closed in the spring for structural reasons'.

Μαρια Κολτσακιδου (Jun. 5):

Εδώ στον καταπράσινο κάμπο των Φιλίππων ανάμεσα σε λεύκες, πλατάνια, καλαμποκιές και ηλιοτρόπια με θέα το Παγγαίο όρος και το αρχαίο θέατρο Φιλίππων, εδώ ακριβώς που έγινε η μάχη των Φιλίππων το 42 πχ μπορείς να βουτήξεις μέσα σε ιαματικό πηλό να γειάνουν οι πόνοι σου και να ομορφαίνεις.

Think Geoenergy (Jul. 3) on new geothermal plans in Croatia, including enjoying a hot spring:

'With a geothermal resource in the city of Bjelovar, Croatia now confirmed, the city is investing on a thermal spa facility that is expected to boost spa and wellness tourism in the region. Through the use of geothermal water and heat, as well as a photovoltaic power plant, the future Terme Bjelovar facility will be the first energy-independent thermal facility in Croatia.

...

The thermal spa complex will have a gross area of 13,000 square meters. It will have seven pools, including an Olympic-sized pool. The spa will draw water from a shallow geothermal spring, and will use heating and cooling from the deeper geothermal source. Terme Bjelovar is expected to be completed by March 2026 and will open by June of the same year'.

World Thermal Springs (22 Aug.), translated:

Bosnia and Herzegovina and thermal baths. To the south of Banja Luka there is Banja Vručica or Srpski toplice, where warm waters flow out along the river's edge. You can swim in natural caves among the rocks or in small artificial pools on the shore. Free.

There is also a modern building with a thermal pool, but the photos are only from the outside.

Locals even arrange thermal pools in their homes. I photographed one such pool. Mineralization 550-580 mg/l, pH 6.4-7.2. Temperature about 30 degrees. #bosniaandherzegovina #thermalspringsoftheworld #wordthermalsprings

Sceptics

Once more, the Guardian (Jun. 19), this on urban swimming:

'When the sun is shining in Norway’s capital (and even when it’s not), swimmers plunge into the salty fjord from packed floating saunas and the city beaches are full of paddling toddlers. It is difficult to believe that the waters around Oslo were not always like this.

Until an enormous cleanup process that began in 2006, decades of industry mistreatment, runoff from the city and waste dumping had left the inner Oslofjord heavily polluted.

But after multiple remediations of the seabed, the removal of contaminated material from the harbour basin and the introduction of a huge water and wastewater project, completed in 2015, today it is an urban swimming paradise.

...

The radical turnaround is perhaps best exemplified by Oslo Sauna Association’s 26 floating saunas across seven sites in the city.

Formed in 2016 by diplomats from the ministry of foreign affairs’ ice swimming club, it now has a membership of 18,000 and is pretty much fully booked from 7am until 11pm from October to April. Last year 260,000 people visited their saunas, which are accessible for both locals and tourists who swim-sauna-swim-sauna on repeat for as long as they can.

The turnaround has transformed the city, said Ragna Marie Fjeld, the association’s secretary general.

In the beginning, she said, entrepreneurs and politicians were sceptical, fearing properties near the saunas might lose value as a result.

“But now they all beg us to come to their new building projects because this is something they want,” she said. “You could say the tables have turned.”

Currently the water temperature is about 14C but in the winter it dips to zero and in the summer it gets up to 20C. “A lot of people I talk to say the saunas have made Oslo much cooler and made it the city they want to live in. Part of what makes Oslo great.”

nik_by_the_sea

Valentines Day Beach Sauna & Sea Dip 💖🥰💘❤️💗

More Anglo Saxon views on European sauna and bathing culture. The Daily Telegraph (Jul. 19):

'As a Briton, I feel I have much in common with my Scandinavian cousins: an endurance of long, cold, grey winters; a love of thrillers; a passion for wild swimming and saunas. In the course of researching two books on sauna culture, I’ve spent years sweating it out around Estonian lakes, and in hotboxes on windswept Norwegian archipelagos. Generally, when enjoying these activities I’ve been wearing a swimsuit – and this is where any similarities to our Nordic neighbours end.

...

Through my work, on research trips around Northern European cultures where nude bathing is the norm, I have had to confront my body issues; I have been in situations where being the only swim-suited one feels out of place. I have had to dig deep not to be the stereotypical British prude. I’ve been told to remove my sarong in a 200-person naked sauna event in the Netherlands, and come a cropper in a smoke sauna in southern Estonia where no-one ever wears clothes.

...

Sauna culture is playing into it too, as quirky horseboxes, pop-up tents and cosy barrel saunas provide places to sweat on beaches, lakes and rivers everywhere from Crieff to Cardiff. In the nine months I spent travelling around the country, researching these new hotspots and sharing the bench with athletes and recovering addicts, builders, barristers, mums and teens and pensioners, I came up close to the complex relationship the British have with our own – and other peoples’ – bodies. I met bathers who wear wetsuits, leggings and sweatshirts in the sauna – anything rather than nothing – and I’ve been to “clothing optional” sessions where everyone is naked. Often these are started by the community and evolve organically'.

juliawyshenka

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#pyrenees #pyreneesorientales #sourcechaude #sourcechaudenaturelle #naturelovers #mountains

#rivieremontagne #photography #photosouvenir

Activated

jespionne_avec_mon_petit_oeil

Dotted around the Pyrénées-Orientales you'll find these natural hot springs. Top of my list was to find one. This one was beautiful, only a handful of people there and I spent a couple of hours bathing in the natural hot springs. Pure bliss!

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#pyreneesorientales #naturalsource #hotsprings #pleinnature #france #travelblog #travelblogger #traveladdicts #weekendbreaks #naturalhotsprings #innature #nature #bbctravel #woofermagazine #your_travelshotz #visit_europe #visiteurope #banalmag #europevacations #frenchtourisime #raw_europe #france_vacations #igersfrance #visitlafrance #thermes #thermeschaud #canigou #languedocRoussillon #mountainlovers #naturehub

Europe's one and only blog site on hot springs, soaking and sauna culture. Similarities and dissimilarities.

Hot springs-wise, there's little to mention. Eye-candy: yes; content not so much.

An entry (May 8) on the hot springs of Sao Miguel (Azores, Portugal):

'Though the water temperature in the outdoor thermal pools is always warm, it depends on what type of experience you want. In the winter, it rains often and in my opinion only enhances the experience and natural beauty of the place. There is nothing like sitting in a thermal spring of warm waters when it is raining out.

There are 3 main locations on the island to experience natural thermal pools, each very different from the other'.

Restoring Swiss thermal springs of Baden, as well as enhancing a soaking culture. The Bagni Populari association has been awarded two accolades (Ihre Region Online, May 15) for persuing this:

'Der erste Werkbundpreis für den öffentlichen Raum geht an den Verein Bagni Popolari, der für seine Thermalwasser­projekte gewürdigt wird.

...

Der Verein Bagni Popolari wurde bei der ersten Verleihung für seine heissen Brunnen in Baden und Ennetbaden sowie für seine Bemühungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Bad zum Raben gleich doppelt bedacht: Sowohl der Werkpreis als auch der Publikumspreis gehen an den Badener Verein, dem es mit seinen Projekten laut der Jury gelungen sei, Menschen aus unterschiedlichsten sozialen und kulturellen Hintergründen zusammenzubringen. Die niederschwellige Zugänglichkeit und Offenheit machten die heissen Brunnen zu inklusiven Begegnungsorten. Besonders gewürdigt wurde der Umstand, dass die Badegäste nicht nur eingeladen wurden, im heissen Wasser zu entspannen, sondern das Projekt aktiv mitzugestalten – als Vereinsmitglieder, als Gäste der künstlerischen Interventionen, die der Verein veranstaltet, oder als Genossenschafterin oder Genossenschafter des künftigen Bades zum Raben'.

An example of the connecting("Bemühungen"). 

750mineralsprings.gr

Bath Curtain installed @bagno_popolare featuring maps reproduced from the 1938 book “The 750 Mineral Springs of Greece” by Nikolas Lekkas.

Curtain by @orestismavroudis and @lydiaxynogala

Lighting @mehrsehen_

Photo @nicolaspetit

Thinkgeoenergy hails (Apr. 22) Italy's geothermal tourism:

'Italian renewable energy company Enel Green Power reports that there have been over 60,000 visits to the geothermal territories in Tuscany, indicating that geothermal tourism is a growing industry in the country'.

Perspective. Vesuvius racks up 1 million annually (source), Pompei has recently capped daily visitors to 20,000 (source)!

hotspringshotties

Activate mermaid mode 🧜🏻‍♀️

Italy’s hot springs were just as dreamy as the rest of the country, che bella 🇮🇹

I went to 6 different hot springs —aka termes— in Italy, but this one, Petriolo, in Tuscany was my favorite. 🫶

Since this page is allll about healing, I’d like to share a bit about how moving it was to experience this hot spring with my grandmother (she took this picture 🔥👵🏼).

Nonna moved to Tuscany to be with her new hubby (goals) and I finally got to visit her this spring — my first time leaving the US. 🤩

We both were pretty worn down from traveling, and while I was there my nonna learned she had an ovarian cyst.

Many of the hot springs there encourage soaking in AND drinking hot spring water to help with so many ailments, including cysts.

I’m so grateful this spring exists so close to her home, it’s free, and you can enjoy it with or without a 🩱.

If you go… Don’t leave any trash or food behind, and give the healing waters a big ✨ thank you ✨ from me. 💜 Taylor

#healingishot #italy #italytravel #healthylifestyle

On r/nudism (a month ago), a review of what it claims are three thermal baths in the Netherlands / Germany. However it's actually only two and a wellness complex:

'Overall I enjoyed the visits to all three baths. All the facilities were clean, had a number of different experiences, and were easy to use'.

Drowsy

Finland, the nation of happiness? New York Times (May 2) needs to find out why. and report back.

'For eight years running, Finland has been rated the happiest country in the world by a peculiar United Nations-backed project called the World Happiness Report'.

The author fails to pinpoint what exactly makes Finland happy, but considerable effort is put into reporting on it's (albeit Helsinki's) sauna culture:

'All government buildings in Finland have a sauna on-site. Nationwide, there is more than one sauna for every two Finns. For obvious reasons, the sauna is somewhat overindexed in “happiness tourism” literature. There is a specific phrase for the blissful drowsiness associated with time spent in a heated box (saunanjälkeinen raukeus) and a specific elf (Saunatonttu) thought to live between a sauna’s wall and heating apparatus. The elf becomes angry if a sauna door is slammed.

...

What we [US] lack is a sauna culture or perhaps any culture that unites us so fully.

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In Finland, sauna is not a means to an end. It will not make a person richer or more attractive or more focused. The point is not to sweat out “toxins,” though that may occur — I’m not a scientist. The point seems to be the act itself: sitting in nude serenity among family, friends and strangers, safe in the bone-deep sense of trust that such an idyll both requires and reinforces'.

SOS Sense of Self has a blog (May 15) on enjoying sauna's in Helsinki:

'As home to the most saunas per capita anywhere in the world, here, the use of saunas is embedded into the fabric of the city itself.

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In recent years, Helsinki has enjoyed a sauna renaissance with new seaside venues adding a touch of architectural flair and sweeping views to the experience. Though the design may have evolved over the centuries, the essence of the sauna – quiet contemplation, communal connection, and physical rejuvenation – remains unchanged.

Today, as Helsinki grows and modernises, the sauna continues to serve as a bridge between the city’s history and its future, providing a space where tradition and modernity meet, and where the culture of bathing is celebrated in its purest form.

After which a description of some of the experiences to be had unfolds'.

Sauna-Helsinki-naked? The answer (May 16) from Travel Magazine:

'Sanna Forsström, Head of Brand & Events, City of Helsinki. say “It’s time to forget the rules and rituals you might have heard. In Helsinki, the sauna is a reflection of freedom, self-expression, and social connection. Once inside, most visitors are surprised to learn how relaxed, diverse, and personal the experience really is. And for many visitors, the sauna ultimately becomes one of the most memorable parts of their stay.”

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Check if there is a dress code in the sauna you’re entering – in public mixed saunas you often wear a swimsuit, meanwhile in a swimming pool you usually don’t. Wearing a towel is always ok.

And to show just how many ways there are to sauna, locals from the city shared their own styles for the world in a sauna-themed shoot, and now those same Helsinkians can be spotted in multiple surfaces around Helsinki and on the streets of Basel, showing up on digital posters reminding Eurovision fans that when it comes to sauna, there really are so many ways'.​

Sauna-Sweden-naked? The local.se (May 13):

'If you're a sauna newbie, you're probably wondering: Is it OK to cover up in a Swedish sauna (bastu) or do you have to let it all hang out?

Traditionally you would be naked in the sauna, but don't worry, it's not obligatory.

"Sauna is individual. If you have a towel or your swimsuit or if you are naked, it's up to you," Svante Spolander, co-founder of Sweden's Bastuakademien sauna club, told The Local.

"Younger people in Sweden are really shy – I think it's this thing with mobile phones and filming. They are, like, scared of it, but we say that it's up to you."

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For Spolander, the way this forces you to drop your physical boundaries is part of the appeal.

"Sometimes it's quite funny when there are a lot of people. It's like in a football game, it's little crowded, but you have fun together. In the sauna museum that I look after, we have what we call a village sauna, and you can be 60 people when we pack it."

emmaugusta.healingarts

I’m laying down on my back, on the living room floor, sending energy to my own healing, to my creativity and motivation. And to my happiness. Seabird starts singing in my ears and I feel like I get picked up by something, maybe it’s joy? I remember a morning a couple of weeks ago with my colleagues. We had some extra time so we decided to sit down for a breakfast together. Coffee, grilled bread with cheese and jam. A favorite. The music that was playing was perfect for the moment and we all agreed that it felt like we were in a movie. Seabird was one of the tunes playing that morning.

There's a road I know I must go

Even though I tell myself

That road is closed

Listen, lonely seabird

You've been away from land too long

Seabird, seabird

Fly home

And I have been away for some time, from teaching, working and from my own practice. There just haven’t been any energy. But this morning there was some. Some energy to fly back home. Or at least start to fly back home. I don’t really know what I am writing right now or why, I just had a moment this morning. A moment of happiness, ease, creativity, a moment of energy, energy in motion. Just like that moment with my colleagues in our own little movie. And it felt good. I got up and danced. Or moved my body. I allowed the joy to flourish and flow through me. And sometimes the road to this, is rest. A road I’ve told myself was closed, but it is The Road. The road of rest, restoring, rejuvenate, slowing down, being, sensing, feeling, loving, caring. And for the self, for me! A road that’s been even more closed, all this for me?? Yes!!! It’s a road I knew I must go and it’s open for all. Try it. Do not forget to wonder the slow and beautiful road of stillness and rest.

See you soon, seabirds. Until then give yourself some loving rejuvenating and restoring slow moments.

🤍

some photos from moments of stillness and joy.

England's Daily Mail (May 2) on the kingdom's sauna trend:

'Saunas have become a huge trend in the UK in recent years – with more and more opening all the time.

In 2023, there were 45 public saunas around the country - in the Finnish style, with wooden walls, hot stones and cold plunge pools.

But, by the time journalist and sauna enthusiast Emma O’Kelly had finished writing her new book, Wild Sauna [Britain], in February 2025, there were 189 dotted around the country'.

The author also has a dedicated article (May 2) with Womens Health in which she shares her first naked sauna:

'Verdict

I understand why naked saunas are such a big deal in Scandinavia as they really do seem to have a positive impact on your mental and physical health. The women I met love their weekly session and have become friends, sharing intimacies they wouldn’t even chat about with old friends; divorce, pain, grief, spouses, kids, money worries, work stress are chewed over and spat out and evaporate in the steam. I’m reminded of the award-winning documentary Smoke Sauna Sisterhood, in which women in Estonia cry, laugh and sweat together, and I feel privileged to have been invited into their treasured safe space. “There's always something, isn’t there? We share all sorts here. The fact that you are literally sweating it out, going in the water and washing away all those things that cause worry and pain; it’s a catharsis, isn't it?”

An influencer publishes (Apr. 24, 2024) and republishes (Mar. 15) her experience on sauna-ing in Germany. Huge amounts of likes, many (I mean really many) comments. But actually, in Germany, not an unusual experience.

Defaulted

Finally, NakedWanderings have a blog entry (May 7) on wellness and their love nakedness. Excerpts:

'Wellness, as we know it in many parts of Europe, has exactly the same basis. It’s about stepping away from everyday life with the goal of returning healthier, fitter, more energetic, and more relaxed. Even the nudity part is often there, think of the Northern European sauna culture or the spa centers in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium where naked is the default dress code.

...

Because of its popularity, wellness is increasingly falling victim to commercialisation. Ultimate relaxation is no longer the primary goal, but instead, you’re being gently nudged toward buying Himalayan salt that promises to make your skin glow, mud sourced from a puddle near Machu Picchu supposedly used by the Incas to live longer, and mushroom lattes because… well, they just sound fancy.

We can’t predict the future, maybe naturism will head down a similar path someday. But what we can say is that this day hasn’t come yet. If you’re looking for a more honest and grounded wellness experience, you’re probably better off at a naturist resort today than at a wellness centre.

The best case though would be that the two begin to grow closer again. Because at their core, they’re not so different. Naturism and wellness are just two faces of the same coin: practices that help us feel better, inside and out. No filters. No judgments. No clothes. Just be'.

My favourite way to unwind: soaking and reading in nature. 

activedayjob

Our spot the last 2 days 🛀🏼🩱Hot Springs are the best, especially when we can park our camper next to it and its winter 👌🏼

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#greece #greecemainland #hotspring #thermalbath #travelphotographer #travelphotography #travelgreece #visitgreece #travelcouple #vanlife