Here are my questions:
- How common are saunas in your country?
- How much does it cost to go to a public sauna?
- What do you usually wear inside?
- Do men and women go inside together?
- What is the usual temperature in the sauna?
My answers for [flag]de-de[/flag] Germany (apparently it's similar in [flag]de-at[/flag] Austria):
- How common are saunas in your country?
The bigger public indoor swimming pools usually have several saunas. Sauna is a part of what is called Wellness in German (pronounced [ˈwɛlnɛs] or [ˈʋɛlnəs]) - a marketing buzzword for anything that can make you relax and feel good.
- How much does it cost to go to a public sauna?
Between €10 and €25 for 3 or 4 hours (for an adult), usually including access to whatever steam baths, pools or water slides they may have on the premises.
- What do you usually wear inside?
Nothing. You sit or lie on a towel, but you don't cover yourself with it.
- Do men and women go inside together?
Yes. But most public saunas have one women-only day per week or per month.
- What is the usual temperature in the sauna?
Usually between 70 and 95 °C. That's 160-200 °F for our friends from the United States.
Wikipedia gives a little more information about German/Austrian sauna culture, in case you're interested:
Wikipedia wrote:Loud conversation is not usual as the sauna is seen as a place of healing rather than socialising. Contrary to Russia and Scandinavian countries, pouring water on hot stones to increase humidity (Aufguss, lit: "Onpouring") is not normally done by the sauna visitors themselves, but rather by a person in charge (the Saunameister), either an employee of the sauna complex or a volunteer. Aufguss sessions can take up to 10 minutes, and take place according to a schedule. During an Aufguss session the Saunameister uses a large towel to circulate the hot air through the sauna, intensifying sweating and the perception of heat. Once the Aufguss session has started it is not considered good manners to enter the sauna, as opening the door would cause loss of heat (Sauna guests are expected to enter the sauna just in time before the Aufguss. Leaving the session is allowed, but grudgingly tolerated). Aufguss sessions are usually announced by a schedule on the sauna door. An Aufguss session in progress might be indicated by a light or sign hung above the sauna entrance. Cold showers or baths shortly after a sauna, as well as exposure to fresh air in a special balcony, garden or open-air room (Frischluftraum) are considered a must.
Yesterday I was in a sauna with some Russians who wore funny-looking felt hats. I read up on those hats, that's how I had the idea of starting a "sauna in your country" thread.