Sauna in Basel: from the Rhine to a sauna world

Basel between hot and cold

Basel has something few cities have: a big river right in the middle of town, where you swim in summer and take a sauna on its banks in winter. Add a historic indoor pool, a hammam, a Naturbad designed by Herzog & de Meuron and, in Pratteln, one of the biggest sauna worlds in the region. This guide introduces the places listed in our directory. All details come from the venues themselves, as of November 2026; you will find current opening hours and prices on the detail pages.

By the water: sauna with the Rhine and the Naturbad

Sauna am Rhy

In winter, the historic Rheinbad Breite becomes the Sauna am Rhy: two textile-free saunas, three wood-heated yurts, a fire bowl — and, to cool off, a jump into the Rhine. The bath itself dates from 1898 and was saved from demolition in the 1990s after a petition. Once you have felt the Rhine in winter from the platform, you understand why the sauna is so popular.

Naturbad Riehen

At the Naturbad Riehen, built to designs by Herzog & de Meuron, a small sauna village appears in winter: a Finnish sauna, a rest yurt with a wood stove and cooling off in the cold natural water. The sauna is textile-free and for over-18s; outside the cabin you wear the sauna kilt, which is included in the ticket.

In the city

Hallenbad Rialto

The Hallenbad Rialto from 1934 is about 700 metres from Basel SBB station. The sauna area is a nude sauna with a Finnish sauna, bio sauna and infrared sauna. Ideal for a sauna session after work, without much planning.

DAMPF°BAD Basel

In the old signal box at St. Johann station you will find the DAMPF°BAD, a Turkish hamam with no time limit. Monday is women’s day, and on the first Wednesday of each month there is a men’s evening. A pestemal is compulsory throughout — your own swimwear is not allowed.

Fitnesspark Heuwaage

Near Basel SBB station, the Fitnesspark Heuwaage is building a new sauna landscape with Aufguss sessions, which according to the operator is expected to open from December 2026. It includes a relaxation pool with bubble loungers and a women’s area.

Around Basel

Aquabasilea in Pratteln

If you want to spend a whole day in the sauna, head to Pratteln. The sauna world at Aquabasilea has eight indoor and outdoor saunas, including a mine sauna, an event sauna for 120 people and a Russian banya. To cool down there is a snow cave at 3 degrees. Around 16 Aufguss sessions take place every day, plus a regular XXL sauna night. The sauna world is textile-free and for over-16s.

Indoor pools in Gelterkinden and Binningen

Two municipal saunas show how well neighbourhood saunas work. At the Gelterkinden indoor and outdoor pool there is a Finnish sauna at 85 degrees with scented Aufguss sessions and an aroma sauna; Monday is women’s day, Wednesday men’s day. In Binningen, the gym and indoor pool are included in the ticket, and Thursday is women’s day.

Brine in Rheinfelden

Up the Rhine lies the brine bath sole uno in Rheinfelden, with pools of natural brine — from a normal brine pool to an intensive brine pool with around 12 percent salt.

In summer: into the Rhine

Rhine swimming is a popular pastime in Basel. You get in below the Museum Tinguely and drift along the Kleinbasel bank through the old town, your clothes in the Wickelfisch. You will find the key rules, entry and exit points on the page Rhine swimming in Kleinbasel. In summer the Rheinbad Breite is a classic river bath — only for strong swimmers, with no lifeguard.

Which sauna suits you?

Conclusion

Basel is one of Switzerland’s most exciting sauna cities because the Rhine links summer and winter. In winter you take a sauna by the river, in summer you swim in it. You will find all the saunas in the region in the Sauna overview, sorted by place or on the map.