The Best Gay Saunas in Cologne

The best gay sauna in Cologne is Babylon, near Friesenplatz: more than 1,400 square metres over three floors, with the only outdoor pool of any sauna in the city. Phoenix is the one for cruising, a big maze of cabins, slings and a cinema, open non-stop from Friday noon to Monday morning.

Both have been running for more than thirty years. Here they are in the order we would send someone visiting the city.

We ranked on facilities, atmosphere and how reliably each sauna gives you a good visit.

Babylon wins on space and on wellness. The courtyard has a pool over ten metres long, the Finnish sauna holds up to 50 people and runs infusions every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and the steam room, which Babylon calls the biggest in Cologne, opens into passages and a maze. There is a Roman-style whirlpool, a long cruising area and a bar with an open fire that serves tarte flambée and salads. It opens every day of the year; on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 6 the next morning. The calendar has a Bear Tuesday, a puppy night, a students' day and a Sunday wellness afternoon.

Phoenix calls itself the men's sauna in the heart of Cologne, and its strength is the cruising area: a labyrinth of rooms and cabins with slings, a play area and a cinema, alongside a whirlpool, a steam room, massage and infusions that change every hour. It opens noon to 6 a.m. Monday to Thursday and runs straight through from Friday noon to Monday at 6 a.m. Tuesdays rotate through a puppy night, a young men's night for guests up to 29 and other themes. Mondays are a unisex day, open to everyone, and its multi-visit cards also work at its sister sauna, Boiler in Berlin.

Wondering how a gay sauna differs from a German sauna club? Our guide to erotic saunas and FKK clubs explains it. Going on to Berlin? See the best gay cruising clubs in Berlin.