Spa Etiquette Guide: Everything You Need to Know for Your First Visit
Your first spa stay raises questions that would never cross your mind in everyday life. Can you wear a bathrobe to breakfast? How do you drink from a porcelain sipping cup without embarrassing yourself? And what exactly happens during the drinking cure?
There is no need to worry. Marienbad has welcomed guests from across the world for over two hundred years — and the vast majority arrive for the very first time. This guide walks you through the unwritten rules of spa life so that you feel at ease from day one.
The Drinking Cure — Heart of the Spa Experience
How the Drinking Cure Works
The drinking cure is the cornerstone of every traditional spa stay in Marienbad. You drink mineral water directly from the healing springs at set times throughout the day — slowly, sip by sip, ideally while strolling along the colonnade.
The essential rules:
- Drink slowly and in small sips — never gulp
- The recommended amount is usually 200 to 600 millilitres per day, divided across two or three sessions
- Your spa doctor prescribes the appropriate spring and quantity — follow their guidance
- The drinking cure typically takes place in the morning on an empty stomach, sometimes also before lunch and dinner
- Walk while you drink — the gentle movement is part of the therapy
The Sipping Cup
In Marienbad, mineral water is traditionally drunk from a sipping cup — a flat porcelain vessel with a narrow tubular spout. The design is not merely decorative: the narrow opening forces you to drink slowly and protects your tooth enamel from the minerals.
Tip: Buy your own sipping cup on the first day. You will find them in countless shops around the colonnade. The cup also makes a wonderful souvenir.
What the Water Tastes Like
Each spring in Marienbad has its own mineral composition and temperature. Some taste pleasantly fresh, others require a period of adjustment. The Cross Spring water, for instance, is heavily mineralised and has a distinctive flavour. Do not be discouraged — most guests acclimatise within a few days.
Dress Code and Appearance
The Bathrobe — When and Where
Bathrobe culture in Marienbad follows clear if unwritten conventions:
- In the wellness area and on the way there: The bathrobe is perfectly natural
- In the dining room: Tolerated at breakfast, not appropriate at dinner
- In the hotel lobby: Acceptable in the morning on the way to treatments
- In town and at the colonnade: Not customary — wear everyday clothing here
- In the park: Walking in a bathrobe is unusual and gently frowned upon
Dress Code for Treatments
For most treatments, you arrive in a bathrobe over swimwear. Wear a swimming costume or trunks underneath. Some treatments such as peat packs require removing swimwear — the staff will inform you discreetly.
Important: Bring your own slippers or flip-flops. You will need them every day.
Evening Attire
Dinner at the spa hotels does not demand formal evening wear, but smart casual is the standard. For men, this means long trousers and a collared shirt or polo. For women, a dress or a neat combination. Sportswear and shorts are out of place at the dinner table.
Tipping and Payment
How Much to Tip
Tipping in the Czech Republic is appreciated but less formalised than in some other countries:
- In restaurants: Round up to a convenient amount or leave ten per cent. For excellent service, fifteen per cent is appropriate
- For therapists and treatment staff: A small tip at the end of your stay is a kind gesture — fifty to one hundred crowns per therapist is customary
- For housekeeping: Twenty to fifty crowns per day, left on the bedside table each morning
- In taxis: Round up to the nearest ten crowns
Tip: Keep Czech crowns to hand. Many smaller shops and service providers do not accept euros or pounds.
Quiet Hours and Consideration
The Sacred Afternoon Rest
Between one and three in the afternoon, an informal quiet period descends on the spa hotels. Most guests rest after lunch — a tradition as integral to the cure as the mineral water itself. Avoid loud telephone calls in corridors and slamming doors during these hours.
Evening Quiet
From ten in the evening, the spa hotels grow still. This is not a lack of joie de vivre but a conscious health culture. A regulated sleep rhythm is part of the cure. If you wish to enjoy nightlife, the town offers bars and venues beyond the hotel.
In the Wellness Area
- Speak softly or observe silence — the relaxation room is not a place for lively conversation
- Shower before entering the pool or sauna
- Do not reserve loungers with towels if you are not using them
- Respect the privacy of fellow guests
Treatments — How to Prepare
Before Your Treatment
- Arrive punctually — ideally five minutes early
- Do not eat heavily within an hour of your treatment
- Inform the staff of any allergies, skin sensitivities or current complaints
- Remove jewellery and watches before peat packs and baths
After Your Treatment
- Rest for twenty to thirty minutes — your body continues to respond
- Drink plenty of water
- Avoid strenuous physical activity immediately afterwards
- If you feel unwell, inform reception or your spa doctor at once
The Spa Doctor — Your Most Important Contact
Every stay begins with a medical consultation. The spa doctor creates your individual treatment plan. Take this appointment seriously:
- Bring a list of your current medications
- Describe your complaints openly and honestly
- Ask questions if anything is unclear
- Follow the prescribed plan — it is tailored to your health
Interacting with Staff
Greetings and Courtesy
Staff at Marienbad's spa hotels are internationally experienced and typically speak German, English and Czech. A friendly greeting in Czech is always appreciated:
- Dobry den (Good day) — the universal greeting
- Dekuji (Thank you) — always welcomed
- Prosim (Please) — opens doors
You do not need to speak Czech, but a few words demonstrate respect and invariably earn a smile.
Raising Concerns
Should something not meet your expectations, approach the reception desk courteously. In Czech service culture, a calm and polite tone achieves far more than indignation. Most matters are resolved swiftly and without fuss.
Social Life at the Spa
The Spa Community
A spa stay is also a social experience. Conversations arise naturally in dining rooms, relaxation areas and along the colonnade. The shared experience of the cure creates bonds — friendships form that often outlast the stay itself.
Conversation Topics
At the dining table, guests discuss the springs, treatments, walks and weather. Health complaints are shared openly — this is part of spa culture. Politics and religion, however, are sensitive subjects best avoided.
Practical Tips for Daily Life
- Cash: Keep Czech crowns to hand, even though many shops accept cards
- Hydration: Drink ordinary water alongside the mineral water — the cure can be dehydrating
- Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes for the parks and forests, smarter shoes for dinner
- Weather: Marienbad sits at 630 metres altitude — even in summer, evenings can be cool. Pack a jacket
- Schedule: The cure sets your daily rhythm. Do not plan strenuous excursions on treatment days
Conclusion
Spa culture in Marienbad may appear formal at first glance, but at its heart it rests on something very simple: consideration, calm and a shared pursuit of health. Once you embrace it, you will discover that the customs are not restrictions — they create a framework in which genuine recovery becomes possible.
And the most important thing of all: nobody expects perfection. Marienbad has been welcoming newcomers for over two hundred years. Ask questions, smile and enjoy the cure. Everything else will follow naturally.
