Termali Salini & Spa Locarno — Saunawelt

The Termali Salini & Spa is situated directly on the Lido of Locarno, on the shores of Lake Maggiore — the operator compares the building to a beached luxury liner, accessible via three jetties. The architecture evokes the river valleys of Ticino in an abstract form: The NaturSole bathing area, featuring niches, grottos and cascades, is spread over two levels. The spa is operated by Aqua-Spa-Resorts AG, which also owns the Hürlimannbad in Zurich and the Hammam in Bern.

The sauna area in the basement is a nude zone and is mixed-gender. At its heart is the Finnish infusion sauna with a panoramic window overlooking the lake, where infusion rituals take place daily — accompanied by tea from a samovar. After a session in the sauna, head out onto the sauna terrace with views over Lake Maggiore and the Ticino mountains.

Admission cannot be booked in advance; on busy days, you should expect waiting times, so it’s best to book day spa packages and massages well in advance. In summer, you can combine your visit with a trip to the neighbouring Lido and round it off with a dip in the lake. In the bistro, you pay cashlessly using your chip wristband; sauna towels and bathrobes can be hired on site, and there are regular evening events such as full-moon bathing.