What to Wear to the Spa: A Guide to Spa Etiquette and Dressing

Why even worry about what to wear?

Honestly? You don't need to worry much. At Lázně Pramen on Prague's Dejvická street, everything is set up so you can just show up and relax – no fuss. Towels, sheets, and slippers are already waiting in your room. But if it's your first time at a beer or wine bath, a few things are worth knowing beforehand.

We have four rooms, each with its own character. Golden Spring – the biggest, with two oak tubs for a group of up to 4. Ruby Spring – cosy, with a larch tub for two. Emerald Spring – V.I.P.: tub, cedar phyto-sauna, and massage. And Sapphire Spring – not a tub at all, but a salt cave with 10 tonnes of salt and a massage table.

Dress code: simpler than you think

Come in whatever you're comfortable in – jeans, joggers, whatever. On arrival, you'll get clean towels, sheets, and slippers. A robe is only part of the Delux Wine SPA package at Emerald Spring – other treatments don't include one, and you won't need it.

You can bring a swimsuit – but you don't have to. Every room is completely private: it's just you (and whoever you came with), door closed, nobody walking in. Plenty of guests enjoy the treatments without any clothing – it's perfectly normal and actually better for your skin's contact with the healing mixture.

Footwear? Anything goes – we'll give you slippers. For a massage in the salt cave, the towel and sheet we provide are all you need. Really, the only thing to bring is a good mood.

First time? Here's what to know

Arrive about 10–15 minutes early – enough time to change and settle in. Our specialist will walk you to your room and add the ingredients to the tub right before your eyes: Žatec hops, malt, and brewer's yeast for the beer bath, or grape extracts, honey, and lavender for the wine bath. Nothing pre-mixed – everything fresh, done in front of you.

Then you sink in for 20–30 minutes at 35–38 °C. The tub has a built-in jacuzzi that gently massages your body. Next to the tub – a tap with Czech Bernard beer (light and dark, unlimited) for the beer bath, or a bottle of wine with a fruit-and-cheese platter for the wine bath. According to ISPA, the combination of warm water, natural ingredients, and a calm setting delivers the greatest wellness benefits.

After the bath – rest on a bed of fresh wheat straw by the fireplace. No one's rushing you: lie there as long as you like within the roughly 90-minute session. More details on our blog.

Simple rules: hygiene and comfort

No formal etiquette – the room is yours, you're in charge. But a few things are worth noting.

Shower before the tub – there's one right in the room. It's not a formality: the shower rinses off cosmetics and creams so the healing mixture works better on your skin. Take off jewellery and watches – the tub's environment can damage them.

The tub is sanitised and refilled with clean water before every guest. Ingredients are always fresh. Got allergies or health concerns? Tell us beforehand and we'll adapt the treatment.

Which treatment to choose?

The beer bath (from €129) – our signature. Žatec hops rich in essential oils, malt packed with minerals, and brewer's yeast loaded with B vitamins. Research from the Global Wellness Institute confirms that these natural ingredients have anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties. Plus – unlimited Bernard beer from the tap right by your tub.

The wine bath (from €183) – for those who prefer wine. Grape seed and skin extracts, honey, herbs, and lavender. Grape polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that, according to the European Spas Association, slow skin ageing. A bottle of wine and fruit-and-cheese platter included.

Coming as a group? The two-in-one combo (from €165) in Golden Spring – two tubs, each person picks theirs: beer, wine, or mix. Want the absolute best? The V.I.P. package at Emerald Spring (from €293): cedar phyto-sauna + massage + bath. Or just a massage in the salt cave (from €33) – if today's not a tub day.

Safety: what to keep in mind

The tubs are handcrafted from oak and larch – no glue, no varnish, just natural wood. Each holds 1,000 litres and goes through a full sanitisation cycle after every guest. Water temperature – a comfortable 35–38 °C, checked by the staff before you get in.

Important: don't shower for at least 2 hours after the bath. Let the active compounds (hop essential oils, B vitamins from yeast, polyphenols from wine) soak into your skin. As Condé Nast Traveller notes in their spa etiquette guide, this advice applies to most natural treatments.

If you have serious heart conditions, skin issues, or are pregnant – check with your doctor first. Our staff are first-aid trained.

How to get the most from your visit

Don't schedule anything right after – give yourself time. The most magical part comes after the bath: you lie down on fresh wheat straw by the fireplace, close your eyes, and just… lie there. Minutes tick by, beer or wine within reach, nowhere to rush.

With the combo in Golden Spring – everyone with their own drink: one person with beer, another with wine. Warmth, soft lighting, the crackle of the fireplace – many guests say it's the best thing they've done for themselves in months.

Want to go deeper? The V.I.P. programme at Emerald Spring: massage, cedar phyto-sauna, and a bath. Two and a half hours of pure bliss.

After the spa: what next

Skip the shower for at least 2 hours – let the hops, yeast, and wine do their thing. Many guests notice softer skin for days afterwards. Drink water – your body will thank you. And if you can – don't run straight back to work. Take the rest of the day easy.

One more thing: spa isn't a one-off treat. Regular visits (once a month is already great) genuinely improve how you feel. Czech statistics show growing interest in spa treatments precisely because of the cumulative effect. More self-care ideas on our blog.

A spa as a gift

Not sure what to give someone? A gift voucher for Lázně Pramen isn't something that gathers dust on a shelf – it's a real experience. Pick a specific treatment or leave the choice to the recipient. Works for everything: beer and wine baths, massages, V.I.P. packages.

Details on our website or by phone. Drop us a line, we'll help you choose.

Bottom line: just come

There's no special dress code. Comfortable clothes you arrived in – and that's it. Towels, sheets, slippers – ours. Swimsuit – optional, because the rooms are private and many guests go without. Robe – Delux programme only.

We handle the rest: fresh ingredients, a clean tub, cold beer or good wine, warm straw, and silence. Get in touch if you have questions. Or just book a treatment and come.