Hotel Concorde Berlin Blog

Beat the Berlin Winter Blues with a Visit to the Spa

As any Berliner will tell you, this city only has two seasons: winter and summer, each lasting about six months. Regular spa visits are a must for surviving the winter here, and there are several which make the cut. The various Holmes Place fitness clubs, for example, particularly the one at Potsdamer Platz, are very smart. Unfortunately you have to become a member to use the facilities – not ideal for one-off visitors or tourists. Then there is the iconic Badeschiff, which floats on the Spree river – in summer an outdoor pool, in winter it transforms into an ethereal floating sauna.

Sadly, the Badeschiff was closed this winter for renovation works but it will be open from Easter for the summer season. Don’t expect much swimming here though – this is a place where beautiful young things go to see and be seen. Then there’s the Liquidrom…

A bubbling outdoor jacuzzi, wooden decking, and in the distance, what appear to be snow-capped mountains… no, this isn’t Sweden, this is the courtyard of one of Berlin’s trendiest spas, the Liquidrom –  an oasis of calm in the concrete jungle of Potsdamer Platz. And the snow-capped mountains? Those are the turrets of the neighbouring Tempodrom arena. In the buildings surrounding the courtyard you will find all manner of saunas, ranging in temperature from 65°C to 90°C, a steam room, ice cold plunge pools, showers and plenty of loungers for relaxing with a book. You will find the times for the various special Aufgüsse (“infusions”) here, ranging from fruity to salty and on Fridays and Saturdays the staff bring round honey for guests to hydrate and soften their skin.

The Liquidrom’s biggest attraction, particularly amongst loved-up couples, is the large salt water pool with its domed ceiling and chic modern design. The light installations which illuminate the concrete curves of the roof are impressive, and the skylight is a nice touch. The relaxation music pumped through the underwater speakers may not be to everybody’s taste, but don’t dismiss it out of hand: floating just below the surface of the salty water, gazing up at the moon and listening to a German rendition of “Que Sera, Sera” was a surreal and surprisingly relaxing experience.

The Liquidrom’s biggest drawback is that it gets extremely busy, especially at the weekend, so visit on weekdays before 6pm. Robes, flip flops, towels and bathing costumes can be rented here and there is also a bar inside the spa area where you can buy food and drink. Enjoy your visit!

Liquidrom Berlin

Möckernstr. 10, Mitte
open daily: 10:00-24:00 (Fri & Sat until 01:00)