In an Irish spa sauna you wear swimwear, sit on a towel, and leave everything else in the locker. That is the whole rule, and it covers our rooftop sauna, the Finnish sauna in the Salt Water Cave and the infrared beach. Below is the detail people ask us about: whether you can go in naked (no), what fabric to pick, what to do with glasses and jewellery, and a packing list for a full spa day so you arrive with everything you need.
What to wear in a sauna: the short version
- Swimwear. A swimsuit, bikini, swim shorts or trunks. Anything you would wear in a public pool. Rash vests and burkinis are fine too.
- A towel to sit on. Sauna benches are shared, and a towel between you and the wood is both hygiene and manners. Towels can be hired at reception for €4; we always advise bringing an extra one of your own, especially if you are doing more than one area.
- Nothing else. No jewellery, no watch, no phone, no glasses if you can manage without them. Metal heats up fast and screens hate steam.
Can you go naked in a sauna in Ireland?
Not in a public spa. Nude sauna is normal in Finland, Germany and Austria, and it is the reason “naked sauna Dublin” gets searched, but Irish spas, including ours, are swimwear-only in every area. That applies on the rooftop as well, even though it is booked for your own group. If you want the Nordic experience, the closest you will get here is the contrast of our rooftop sauna and the ice baths beside it, in your togs.
Which swimwear works best in the heat
Sauna heat is dry (our rooftop and Finnish saunas) or radiant (the infrared beach), and both are kinder to some fabrics than others.
- Plain nylon or polyester swimwear is ideal: it dries fast and does not hold heat.
- Avoid metal. Clasps, buckles, underwires and rings on swimwear get uncomfortably hot. Choose a suit without them for the sauna hour.
- Avoid PVC, rubber or heavily printed panels. They trap heat against your skin and can degrade.
- Loose over tight. Board shorts and a looser one-piece let air move. Compression gear defeats the purpose.
- Cotton t-shirts are a no. They soak, cling and cool you unevenly. If you want cover, a rash vest is the answer.
Before, during and after: the small things that make the hour better
Shower first. A quick rinse before the sauna takes off lotion, deodorant and chlorine so you sweat clean. Go in dry. Towel off after the shower or the pools; dry skin heats evenly. Sit low if it is your first time. Heat rises, so the top bench is the hottest. Ten to fifteen minutes, then out. Cool down, drink water, go again if you want. On the rooftop the ice bath is the cool-down; in the Salt Water Cave it is the pools. Rinse and moisturise afterwards. Salt water and dry heat together leave skin tight; the blue clay mask at the pools is there for a reason.
What to bring to a spa day at Salt Cave Paradise
Pack this and you will not need anything else on the day.
| Bring | Salt Water Cave | Rooftop Jacuzzi | Halotherapy rooms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimwear | Yes | Yes | No, you stay dressed |
| Towel | Hire for €4 or bring your own; bring an extra if you are doing both areas | Hire for €4 or bring your own; bring an extra if you are doing both areas | Not needed |
| Water bottle | Yes | Yes | Optional |
| Hair tie, hairbrush | Yes | Yes | No |
| Moisturiser | For after | For after | No |
| Change of clothes, warm layer | Yes | Yes, it is a rooftop | No |
| Robe | Optional, bring your own | Worth bringing for the walk between the tub and the sauna | No |
| Phone | Locker | Locker | Silent |
Towel hire is €4 at reception. We always advise bringing an extra towel of your own, especially if you are doing the Salt Water Cave and the Rooftop on the same visit, so you have a dry one for the second area and for going home. Robes are not available to hire, so pack one if you want it. Showers, changing rooms and lockers are available at Convent Lane.
What to wear to the salt room is a different question
If you are booking halotherapy rather than the pools or rooftop, you stay in your clothes. Loose, comfortable, natural fibres are best, and we cover it in What to Wear During Salt Therapy. If you are doing the All Access package, that means arriving in comfortable clothes for hour one and changing into swimwear for hours two and three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready for your first sauna?
That is everything you need to know before your first sauna visit: swimwear, a towel to sit on (€4 to hire, or bring your own), fifteen minutes at a time. If you have not booked yet, the Rooftop Jacuzzi gives you a sauna, hot tub and ice baths for your own group, and the Salt Water Cave pairs the Finnish sauna with five salt-water pools. Both are an hour, both are swimwear-only, and both are a short walk from Balbriggan station.
