Claudius Therme is one of the most interesting thermal baths in western Germany. It is located in the greenery of the Rheinpark right in Cologne, and here you will find natural healing mineral water, thermal pools heated to 37 °C, an extensive sauna world, a Russian banya and an unusual salt pool in which you float on the surface almost effortlessly.
What struck me about Claudius Therme when preparing this guide was how many practical details are left out in regular travel articles. For example, it is not enough to just know the entrance fee. You need a bathrobe or kimono for the restaurant, swimwear is not allowed in the saunas, the popular Aufguss can only be reserved upon arrival at the terminals, and the thermal water can change the color of some swimwear or jewelry.
And then there are things that would make Claudius Therme a spa worth visiting even on a longer trip to Germany: a panoramic sauna with a view of Cologne Cathedral, the historic Rosenterrassen from 1957, or the Schwebebecken with heavily salted water and underwater music.
Claudius Therme in a nutshell
- Address: Sachsenbergstraße 1, 50679 Cologne, Germany
- Location: Rheinpark on the right bank of the Rhine
- Opening hours: daily 9:00–24:00
- Entrance fee to the thermal baths: from €19.50 / 2 hours on weekdays
- Thermal baths + saunas: from €27.50 / 2 hours on weekdays
- Water temperature: approximately 33–37 °C
- Saunas: 8 saunas and 3 steam baths throughout the complex
- Swimwear: mandatory in thermal pools, prohibited in saunas
- Children: admission from 6 years old, children under 16 years old only with a parent or legal guardian
- Parking: €3 for the whole day
- General admission reservation: not required
- Special attraction: Schwebebecken with 15% brine for an additional charge of €6
- Accommodation: See the 10 best hotels in Cologne
Where is Claudius Therme located?
What are the Claudius Therme like?
Claudius Therme is not a water park and it is not good to approach it that way. It is much closer to classic German thermal and sauna spas focused on relaxation.
Their biggest special feature is their location. You don’t have to go to a small spa town somewhere in the mountains. The thermal area is practically in the middle of Cologne, between the Rheinpark and the Zoobrücke bridge. It is relatively easy to get here by public transport from the main station or the Köln Messe/Deutz area.
The entire complex is also more structured than it seems at first glance. It currently includes a total of 12 swimming pools, eight saunas and three steam baths. But don’t expect twelve similar pools next to each other in one hall. The water areas are divided between the main thermal part, the sauna garden, the Rosenterrassen and special wellness zones.
This is why the environment changes quite dramatically over the course of a few hours. One moment you’re sitting in a warm thermal pool, then you move to a Finnish-Siberian sauna village, and finally you can end up in the almost weightless salt pool under the Rosenterrassen.
The thermal water is the main reason to come here
Claudius Therme is not an ordinary wellness center with heated water. They use natural mineral water, which has the status of state-recognized medicinal water in Germany.
The temperature in the main pools ranges between approximately 33 and 37 °C, so the water is pleasant even for outdoor swimming during the colder part of the year.
The mineral water comes from deeper layers beneath Kolín. During its very long journey through the bedrock, it is enriched primarily by passing through limestone and dolomite. It is naturally carbonated and is used not only for bathing, but also for drinking and inhalation procedures.
Kolín thermal water has a long history and its medicinal uses are not just a marketing term for the current wellness area. The local source received state recognition as a medicinal water in 1975.
A rust-colored Sitzbecken is not a dirty pool
One of the little things that can surprise a visitor without prior preparation is the small sitting pool Sitzbecken.
The water here is approximately 35°C and remains in an almost natural state. Due to the higher iron content, it can have a striking reddish to rusty color.
This is not a sign of poor maintenance. The discoloration is related to the mineral composition of the local water.
Other parts of the thermal world include the Heiß-Kalt-Grotte, where you can alternate between warm water at around 35°C and a cold cooling pool. The main thermal zone also features countercurrents, bubble loungers, massage jets, waterfalls and showers aimed at the neck and shoulders.
From Monday to Friday, there is also a short ten-minute water gymnastics session several times a day, which is included in the admission price.
Schwebebecken: 15% brine, underwater music and a feeling of weightlessness
If I had to choose one truly unusual part of the entire area, it would be Schwebebecken.
You will find it underground under the Rosenterrassen. The water contains approximately 15% brine and the entire system works with approximately 12 tons of salt from the Dead Sea. Due to the high salt concentration, the water has significantly higher buoyancy. A person can lie on their back and stay on the surface almost effortlessly. The feeling is complemented by underwater music.
There is an extra charge of €6 for the floating basin.
An interesting detail is that you don’t have to buy the entire sauna tariff for it. Although the pool is located in the sauna area, visitors with only a ticket to the thermal baths can also use the Schwebebecken. However, they are allowed to stay in the sauna area for a maximum of 30 minutes.
No reservation is required for the Schwebebecken itself.
There is also an exception regarding swimwear. The salt pool itself can be entered with or without swimwear, although the surrounding sauna area operates under the German swimsuit-free regime.
The sauna world is bigger than it seems at first glance
Claudius Therme saunas are not concentrated in one room or corridor. The entire sauna world is divided into three distinct zones :
- Saunainnenbereich – indoor sauna area,
- Saunadorf – outdoor Finnish-Siberian sauna village,
- Rosenterrassen – historical part with a rose garden.
In total, you will find eight saunas and three steam baths. If you want to try a larger part of the sauna program and a few Aufguss, two hours is unnecessarily short in my opinion. A four-hour or full-day tariff is more reasonable.
Panorama sauna with a view of the Cologne Cathedral
The most famous sauna in the entire complex is the Panoramasauna. The temperature is kept around 60 °C and the humidity is around 30%, so it is not one of the extremely hot Finnish saunas. More interesting is the large glass wall towards the Rheinpark and the Cologne skyline.
Under good conditions, you can even see the towers of the famous Kölner Dom from here.
The Panorama Sauna is also used for sound ceremonies with Tibetan and Indian bowls. If you don’t like the classic loud Aufguss, this part may be a more pleasant alternative.
The indoor sauna world also includes a Finnish sauna, herbal steam bath, Serailbad, thermal pool, ice cooling pool and a separate zone for women.
Saunadorf is more reminiscent of northern Europe than the center of Cologne.
The outdoor Saunadorf has a completely different atmosphere. This part is inspired by Finnish and Siberian sauna traditions. You will find, for example, a Kelosauna, an Erdwallsauna and a Russian banya.
The Kelosauna is built from old Nordic wood. Some of the logs used are up to 800 years old. After the sauna, you can go to the relaxation hut with a fireplace, which is one of the most pleasant parts of the entire complex, especially in winter.
Lovers of classic German saunas will probably be most interested in the Erdwallsauna, where hot Aufguss are held.
Russian banya and Wenik
Saunadorf also offers a traditional Russian banya. The program includes Wenik Aufgussy using bundles of birch branches. Birch branches are used in a traditional banya to warm up the body and stimulate the skin more intensely.
If you want to go even further, you can pay extra for the complete Banja-Ritual. It lasts approximately 60 minutes and combines birch branches, sauna, cooling, Siberian tea and ice rubbing. The price of this ritual is currently €22.50.
Rosenterrassen was founded in 1957
One of the most interesting parts of the Claudius Therme is also significantly older than the thermal baths themselves. The Rosenterrassen were created for the Bundesgartenschau in 1957, a major German horticultural exhibition.
The historic architecture was later incorporated into today’s wellness area. In this area you will find the Rosensauna, Rosencafé, outdoor pool, rose garden, Schwebebecken and also a private Day Spa suite.
The Rosencafé is also interesting for lovers of post-war German architecture. It is part of the preserved legacy of the horticultural exhibition and is not just a modern backdrop built for thermal baths.
Private deck chair in the rose garden
A rather inconspicuous service is the possibility to rent your own outdoor lounge bed at Rosenterrassen. It costs €20 for the whole day for two people and reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Just be aware that the loungers are located directly in the textile-free sauna area.
Aufgussy: it’s not enough to just pay for the sauna entrance
If you enjoy sauna ceremonies at German thermal baths, Claudius Therme has a very rich program.
There are around 24 Aufguss during the day. The program alternates between classic, fruit and salt Aufguss, Wenik, treatments for women only, and quieter sound ceremonies.
Sauna programs are also divided according to intensity:
- mild approximately 70–80 °C,
- hot approximately 80–90 °C,
- very hot approximately 90–100 °C.
Most common Aufguss are already included in the price of sauna admission.
How Aufguss booking works
You do not register for a specific Aufguss when you buy a ticket. Reservations are made inside the area at five reservation terminals. You use the electronic key from the locker to check in. You can only have one Aufguss booked at a time. Once it ends, you can register for another one.
So if you have a popular ceremony in mind, I recommend that you first review the program upon arrival and not delay your reservation. The capacity of the individual saunas is not unlimited. And come on time. After the Aufguss has begun, you are no longer allowed to enter the sauna.
Swimwear in Claudius Therme: where yes and where no?
For a Czech visitor, German sauna culture may be a bit unfamiliar on their first visit, but the rules here are relatively simple.
Swimwear is mandatory in the thermal area.
On the other hand, swimwear is prohibited in saunas.
The sauna world is textile-free. When moving outside the saunas themselves, you can cover yourself with a towel or bathrobe. Claudius Therme is not a classic naturist FKK complex. Nudity belongs primarily to areas where it is related to sauna use or swimming.
One of the rules that is easily overlooked by foreign visitors concerns gastronomy. If you want to go to a restaurant or other gastronomic space during your visit, you need a bathrobe or kimono.
Thermal water can change the color of swimwear
One more practical detail that I would definitely not overlook. The local mineral water is classified as Natrium-Chlorid-Säuerling. Due to the mineral composition, some materials may change color or be damaged.
This may apply to:
- swimsuit,
- jewelry,
- watch.
I would therefore not take expensive watches or jewelry into the thermal water, and I would rather save brand new, bright swimsuits for another pool.
Where to stay near Claudius Therme in Cologne?
There is no accommodation available directly at the Claudius Therme, but there are several very well-rated hotels around the Rheinpark, Kölnmesse exhibition grounds, and Köln Messe/Deutz train station. I have selected five options with a rating of at least 8.5 points.
- Hotel Merlin – rating 9.4/10 – a smaller and more personal hotel in Deutz, just a few minutes walk from Köln Messe/Deutz station. It stands out especially for its exceptionally good reviews, cleanliness and location. The Claudius Therme are approximately 1.4 km away. The hotel does not accommodate children.
- Hyatt Regency Köln – rating 8.8/10 – a more luxurious option right on the banks of the Rhine with views towards the Kölner Dom. The hotel has its own indoor pool, sauna and fitness centre. It is approximately 1.4 km from the Claudius Therme.
- Radisson Blu Hotel Köln – rating 8.6/10 – one of the best options if you want to stay as close as possible to the thermal baths. The hotel is located at Kölnmesse, approximately 800 meters from Claudius Therme, and has its own sauna and fitness center.
- Motel One Köln-Messe – rating 8.6/10 – modern hotel in close proximity to Köln Messe/Deutz station. A good choice if you are looking for quality accommodation without the expensive hotel wellness. The Claudius Therme are approximately 1-1.2 km away.
- Adina Apartment Hotel Cologne – rating 8.5/10 – modern apartment hotel suitable for a stay of several days. It offers spacious studios and apartments with kitchenettes and also has its own indoor pool, sauna and fitness center. It is approximately 1 km from Claudius Therme.
Claudius Therme – admission prices
| Input type | Mon–Fri | Weekends and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal baths – 2 hours | €19.50 | €22.50 |
| Thermal baths – 4 hours | €26.50 | €29.50 |
| Thermal baths – all day | €36.50 | €39.50 |
| Thermal baths + sauna – 2 hours | €27.50 | €30.50 |
| Thermal baths + sauna – 4 hours | €34.50 | €37.50 |
| Thermal baths + sauna – all day | €44.50 | €47.50 |
| Floating basin | +€6 | +€6 |
| Parking | €3 / day | €3 / day |
I recommend checking the current price list directly on the Claudius Therme website before your trip.
If you are only interested in saunas, one less pleasant piece of information: you cannot buy a separate, cheaper ticket for just the sauna world. You have to choose the Thermalbad & Sauna tariff. So you also pay for the thermal part, even though you may not use it at all during your visit.
Is it worth two, four hours, or a whole day?
Two hours is manageable for the thermal pools themselves. But if you plan on saunas, a few Aufguss, a Schwebebecken, a meal break and some real relaxation, I would take at least a four-hour tariff. With a full-day visit, you no longer have to keep track of the time and can put together a sauna program according to the individual ceremonies.
Opening hours Claudius Therme
- The thermal baths and sauna world are open every day from 9:00 to 24:00.
- The Beauty & Wellness Center is open daily from approximately 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM.
- The restaurant is open from morning until 11:00 PM, the kitchen usually closes at 10:00 PM.
- No reservation or advance ticket purchase is required for regular admission.
When to go to Claudius Therme so there are fewer people?
If possible, I would choose a weekday. According to long-term experience, weekends tend to be noticeably busier, which is especially noticeable in saunas, during infusions and when looking for a free place to relax. But it is even better not to rely only on general advice.
The Claudius Therme website features a guest sign – a simple indicator of the current occupancy of the area.
I would check it out before leaving. For thermal spas in the middle of a city with a population of millions, the current occupancy rate is more useful than the universal advice that “it’s usually empty on Sunday mornings.”
Food and restaurants
Due to the ban on bringing your own food, gastronomy is quite important during a longer visit.
There are three gastronomic areas in the area, including Rosencafé and restaurants accessible from the thermal and sauna zone.
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are also available, and some dishes can be prepared in gluten-free versions.
Massages, wellness packages and private Day Spa
Those who don’t want to stop at just the pools and saunas can use the separate Beauty & Wellness center.
The offer includes, for example:
- classic massages,
- wellness massages,
- cosmetic procedures,
- couple procedures,
- private Day Spa.
Full-day wellness packages start at around €119 and range from €149 to €169 depending on the massage chosen. The price may include combined entry to the thermal baths and saunas, a breakfast buffet, massage, Schwebebecken and textile rental. Four-hour packages start at around €99.
For couples, there is an interesting option to book a private Day Spa Suite. Prices start at around €249 for 60 minutes for two people and the package also includes two full-day passes.
Can children enter the Claudius Therme?
Yes, but if you are looking for a family thermal spa with slides and a children’s world, I would choose a different area.
Children from 6 years old can enter the Claudius Therme. Visitors under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
There is no special discount for children’s admission and the area does not have:
- children’s slides,
- children’s water world,
- paddling pool aimed at small children,
- water park attractions.
However, if you have older children who can handle a few hours of calm swimming, there is nothing stopping them in terms of age.
How to get to Claudius Therme
Address:
Claudius Therme
Sachsenbergstraße 1
50679 Cologne
Germany
By car
When arriving by car, follow the signs for Kölnmesse and then Thermalbad / Claudius Therme. There is a parking lot right in front of the complex.
All-day parking costs €3, which is a pleasantly low price for Cologne.
By public transport
The KVB 150 bus line is very practical, and stops directly at the Thermalbad stop. The line also runs through the Bahnhof Deutz/Messe area, so it is also easy to use if you arrive by train. There are also other bus connections from the city center to the Thermalbad stop.
How do you reach Claudius Therme from outside Cologne?
Claudius Therme is best treated as part of a stay in Cologne, a journey along the Rhine or a wider visit to North Rhine-Westphalia. International visitors can arrive via Cologne Bonn Airport, Düsseldorf Airport or the city’s main railway station and continue by local public transport.
The Kölner Seilbahn runs almost above the spa.
One of the most interesting things to do in the area is the Kölner Seilbahn. The cable car crosses the Rhine between the Rheinpark and the Cologne Zoo area, and its route runs very close to the Claudius Therme.
The spa and the cable car have a mutual discount cooperation, so keep your ticket and check the current conditions before visiting.
The proximity to the cable car has another slightly unexpected consequence. In reviews, visitors point out that the cabins can partially see into the outdoor textile-free sauna area. Most people probably won’t mind this, but if you’re more sensitive to privacy, it’s good to know about it in advance.
What do the reviews say about Claudius Therme?
The overall rating of Claudius Therme is very good, yet when reading a large number of reviews, both the same praise and the same reservations are repeated.
At the time of the search, the Google rating was around 4.3 out of 5 with over 7,600 reviews. Tripadvisor had around 4.1 out of 5 with over 700 reviews.
What do visitors praise most often?
- extensive sauna world,
- large selection of infusions,
- outdoor sauna village,
- Panorama sauna,
- Rose Terrace,
- salt floating basin,
- greenery around Rheinpark,
- the possibility of combining thermal bathing with quality saunas.
The sauna area in particular has received good reviews in the long term. In German sauna discussions, positive comments repeatedly appear about the Erdwallsauna, Rosensauna, Aufguss, the fireplace relaxation room and the outdoor area.
What do people criticize, on the other hand?
The most common objections are:
- more traffic on weekends,
- little English signage in some parts,
- German instructions at the booking terminals,
- relatively strict adherence to rules,
- higher price for longer visits,
- inability to buy entry to the sauna only.
The history of Claudius Therme began much earlier than 1996
Today’s Claudius Therme opened in 1996, but the history of thermal springs in Cologne dates back more than a hundred years.
As early as 1912, while drilling to supply the city with drinking water, mineralized water containing carbon dioxide was encountered approximately 70 meters underground in the Stammheim area.
Another borehole was drilled in 1931 at the Deutz exhibition grounds and reached a depth of 251.4 meters.
In 1961–1962, Messebrunnen III, 364 meters deep, followed. The water from it was around 23 °C, so it had to be further heated for thermal bathing.
During the horticultural exhibition Bundesgartenschau in 1957, mineral water was also available for drinking by visitors.
Further deep drilling continued in the 1970s, and the local medicinal water received state recognition in 1975.
The original thermal baths were destroyed by fire
A thermal swimming pool had been in the area since 1971. However, in 1986, a large fire destroyed the entire area. The case was also investigated as a possible arson, but the exact cause was not definitively clarified.
The foundation stone of the new complex was laid in 1994. Two years later, in 1996, today’s Claudius Therme opened.
It’s quite an interesting historical arc: from experimental city wells to a post-war horticultural exhibition and a defunct thermal swimming pool to the current wellness complex in the middle of Rheinpark.
What to visit near Claudius Therme?
One of the biggest advantages of the Claudius Therme is its location. The spa can be easily combined with a tour of Cologne.
- Rheinpark – a large park starts practically at the entrance to the thermal baths and is suitable for a walk before or after the visit.
- The Kölner Seilbahn – a cable car across the Rhine – has a boarding station near the spa and offers a completely different view of the city.
- Kölner Zoo – Cologne Zoo is located on the opposite side of the Rhine near the final cable car, offering more than 10,000 animals from 850 species and one of the largest elephant parks in Europe ( tickets can be purchased online ).
- Hohenzollernbrücke – the famous railway bridge will take you towards the historic center.
- Kölner Dom – the famous Gothic cathedral is one of the most important monuments in Germany and is easily accessible from the Claudius Therme area.
- I also recommend checking out the KölnCard with discounts – take advantage of unlimited public transport transfers for 24 or 48 hours and up to 50% discount on various attractions
Practical tips before your visit
If I had to boil down all the information from the guide to a few really important points, I would mainly remember the following before the trip:
- Bring a bathrobe. A towel alone is not enough for the gastronomic areas.
- Don’t forget your slippers. Swimming shoes are mandatory.
- Leave your phone in the locker. Taking photos and using camera devices is prohibited.
- Please book your Aufgussy reservation upon arrival. Check-in takes place at the terminals inside the premises.
- You can only have one Aufguss reserved at a time.
- Do not wear swimwear to the sauna. The German sauna world is textile-free.
- On the other hand, you need swimwear for thermal pools.
- The Schwebebecken can be used without a full sauna tariff, but you must leave the sauna area within 30 minutes.
- Do not wear new, bright swimwear or expensive jewelry. Mineral water can discolor some materials.
- Leave your own snacks outside. Do not bring your own food into the swimming or sauna area.
- Do not use towels to cover sun loungers. Unused sun loungers may not be reserved in this way.
- Check the Gästeampel before you travel. You will see the approximate current occupancy.
FAQ – most frequently asked questions about Claudius Therme
How much does it cost to enter Claudius Therme?
On weekdays, two hours in the thermal baths cost €19.50, four hours €26.50 and a full-day pass costs €36.50. A combination of thermal baths and saunas costs €27.50, €34.50 or €44.50. On weekends and public holidays, the basic prices are €3 higher.
Is it necessary to reserve entry to Claudius Therme?
For individual visitors, regular entry reservations are not required. Larger groups should register in advance.
Can children enter the Claudius Therme?
Yes, the minimum age is 6 years. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The area does not have classic children’s attractions or slides.
How much does parking cost at Claudius Therme?
All-day parking right next to the spa costs €3.
How long should I reserve at Claudius Therme?
Two hours may be enough for the thermal baths alone. If you also want to use the saunas and Aufguss, I recommend at least four hours. For a complete day of relaxation, the best option is a full-day pass.
Are Claudius Therme real thermal baths?
Yes. They use natural mineral water with the state-recognized status of medicinal water. The history of using local mineral springs goes back more than a hundred years.
How much does a floating basin cost?
Entrance to the salt Schwebebecken costs an additional €6. It can also be used with the basic entrance to the thermal baths, as long as the visitor does not stay in the sauna area for more than 30 minutes.
Photos of the Claudius Therme spa in Germany
Photo sources: claudius-therme.de
