Der Boiler

Der Boiler is the most famous and most visited gay sauna in Berlin, and one of the finest in all of Europe, a sleek, luxurious men's bathhouse on Mehringdamm in Kreuzberg that feels more like an upscale day spa than a sleazy sex dive. Spread over three beautifully designed levels, it pairs genuine wellness, a glass-walled Finnish dry sauna, an invigorating bio-sauna, an enormous and celebrated maze-like steam room, a large jacuzzi with a view, plus a stylish bar-café and a summer roof terrace, with excellent cruising infrastructure of private cabins, play areas and a darkroom, so relaxing and socializing sit comfortably alongside the action, with neither valued above the other. Impeccably clean, superbly maintained and staffed by famously friendly, helpful teams, it draws a big, genuinely varied crowd of all ages, body types and nationalities (Sunday afternoons regularly top 100 men). Open around the clock on weekends, it's a rite of passage for gay travelers to Berlin, come in the afternoon or after the clubs, and always: consent is everything, and no phones past the cloakroom.