No doubt there are many mixed CO saunas in Vienna, even in the hotels. I highly recommend the Amalienbad or the Thermalbad Oberlaa (or Kurbad Oberlaa). We were in Vienna one time for a few days and I went to the Thermalbad Oberlaa once. I have not been to the Amalienbad. My impression is that there are several such municipal swimming and bath facilities in Vienna.
The one night I was able to go to the sauna I intended to go to the Amalienbad because the Vienna Eyewitness Travel guide describes it as an outstanding example of Jugendstil architecture "enlivened by imaginative mosaics and tile decorations", particularly in the sauna. After a day of sightseeing and after dinner I finally got there about 8:00 P.M. on our last night in Vienna but it turned out to be women's night. So I went to the Thermalbad Oberlaa because it is open later although I "knew" no one would be there at 8:30 on a Wednesday night.
To get to the Amalienbad take the U1 Metro to the end of the line at the Rheumannplatz station and the Amalienbad is right outside the station. I believe it is generally open until 9:00. I have not deciphered the schedule for men, women and mixed use.
The Thermalbad Oberlaa is an enormous complex. My German is limited and I don't have a clear idea of the entire layout but at a minimum there is a women's sauna, a men's sauna, a mixed sauna, an indoor pool and three outdoor pools. I didn't take a swimsuit and swimsuits are required in the pool except at FKK times (Sunday evening, I believe) so I didn't swim. However, I understand the indoor pool is warm (hence "Thermalbad") and popular with children. Also I did not go to the men's sauna.
The locker room is for sauna users and others alike. It is huge with many rows of lockers and some small connected rooms also with lockers but is not segregated by gender. There are some private cabinets that apparently can be rented for dressing and as a locker.
The "mixed" sauna complex also is huge. Indoors there are three saunas, a cold plunge pool, two groups of showers and a 60 degree C. eucalyptus room. Outdoors there is a steam room in a separate small building, a warm pool and a large garden. One bank of showers is on the end of the first sauna and faces the cold plunge pool. The other bank of showers faces the outdoors and the warm pool, I believe through a glass or glass block wall.
Despite my concern about going there late on a Wednesday evening there probably were 40 or 50 people in the mixed sauna, including at least one family with a boy of about eight, and many swimmers.
One word of warning: Evidently use of the saunas, at least sometimes, is regulated by lights over the door. If the light is one color you are allowed to go in and out. When it changes to the next you are supposed to keep the door closed until the third light comes on. In the words of the woman who explained this to me, "there are rules and those are the rules". It is supposed to be typically German to have rules and to follow them but I never before found rules for the use of a sauna.
To get there also take the U1 Metro to the Rheumannplatz station and then the #67 Tram to the end of the line, the Kurzentrum Oberlaa. I believe the sauna is generally open until 10:00. I assume it is available to both men and women at all times.
BTW, my wife and are going back to Vienna this Winter. I would greatly appreciate a report on anyone else's experiences and information about indoor sauna and/or FKK swimming venues.
Charles
Steve added that there is a sauna at the Kursalon in the Stadtpark. "it's in a sort of annex to one side of the main building, as I recall. I must be getting old, as I can't remember anything about what it was like inside. The Kursalon is shown on this map."
And Richard wrote, "Vienna is a great place for nudists as just about every Sauna is mixed and nude, and the FKK (nudist) culture is well accepted, in the Summer thousands can be found sunbathing naked on the banks of the Danube."
"I met my wife in Vienna and we have naturally been back many times since. When we lived there the best place was the City Club, also known as the Pyramid, (owned by Club Med) its a little outside of town heading south. Last time we were there it was having a major refit, so I don't know what it is now like, but they did have a huge swimming pool (textile) with wave machine and a separate nude sauna, and pool area, which was fantastic."
"Otherwise there is the 'sport hotel' which you will find in the yellow pages, it looks rough from the outside, as its in an industrial zone, but the hotel, pool, bar, sauna and other facilities are really nice and the people are most friendly. We initially intended staying there only two days, but liked it so much we stayed a week."
"With so many other saunas and sports clubs, in Vienna you really cant go wrong."
"Hope you enjoy it, and let me know if you need any more info."
Richard
P.S. I've just taken a look at their site and it seems that they have replaced the main swimming pool in the pyramid with a conference centre, but the old FKK sauna area has been refitted as their 'wellness' centre, suggest you give them a call first to check if it is still FKK in the sauna and mixed. Also if visitors are allowed in, as it makes reference to gaining access with your hotel room key, so maybe now only for hotel guests.
R.
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