Säntispark Abtwil — Saunawelt

The Säntispark in Abtwil, just a few minutes from St. Gallen city centre, has been one of the best-known leisure centres in Eastern Switzerland since 1986. The Migros Ostschweiz co-operative operates a swimming complex, slides, sports facilities and a large sauna area here — open 365 days a year. The striking wooden structure of the swimming hall dates back to the year it opened, whilst the sauna area has been refurbished several times since then.

The centrepiece is the outdoor area: the stilt-built sauna stands right next to the unheated natural swimming pond, where you can cool off in the natural water after a sauna session; next to it are the adventure sauna and the 95 °C relaxation sauna. With around 25 infusions and exfoliation treatments per day, there’s almost always something going on — important: leave the cabin 10 minutes before each infusion so that it can be aired. You can find peace and quiet inside the ‘Room of Silence’ with heated loungers.

Bath towels and swimming trunks can be hired on site. Those who combine the sauna with the spa complex will find plenty to keep them entertained for half a day, from the wave pool to the 34 °C brine bath and the outdoor adventure pool with its current channel — best value with the Early Bird ticket in the morning or the Late Night option during the week. The Roman-Irish Bath is well worth a visit as an additional experience: twelve stations ranging from the hot air room (54 °C) through two steam baths to a soap-brush massage, lasting around 2.5 hours; a nude area; closed on Tuesdays — and on the first Thursday of the month, it’s ‘Ladies’ Time’, reserved exclusively for women.