Bernaqua Erlebnisbad & Spa

Bernaqua is situated in the Westside shopping and leisure centre in Bern-Brünnen, which was designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind, and is part of the Migros Aare co-operative. Under one roof, it combines a water park with nine pools and slides, a fitness centre, a spa and the sauna area.

The sauna area is a nude zone with a mixed section and a separate ladies’ area, which is open during normal opening hours. Most of the infusions take place in the ‘Fire and Ice’ sauna, alongside singing bowl infusions and exfoliation treatments in the steam room. Between sessions, visitors can warm up by the fireplace in the Alpine Lounge; women have their own roof terrace with sun loungers and hammocks.

The Roman-Irish bathing ritual takes longer: a roughly two-hour circuit through warm-air and steam rooms with a soap-brush massage, either alone or in pairs, and by reservation only. For the sauna, you’ll need two towels or a towel and a bathrobe — both can be hired on site. From Bern main station, it’s an eight-minute journey by S-Bahn to Westside.