30 Of The Most Disgusting Public Baths In The World
By Anna Collins
2 months ago
1. Blue Lagoon - Grindavík, Iceland
Image source: Reddit
The Blue Lagoon in Grindavík, Iceland, is one of the most famous geothermal spas in the world. It is renowned for its striking blue waters. The Lagoon attracts one million visitors each year! Think about all of those people in one bath, despite it's beauty , there's a LOT of bacteria and harmful microorganisms floating beneath it's blue surface.2. Gellért Baths - Budapest, Hungary
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Gellért Baths in Budapest, Hungary, is an iconic thermal bath complex known for its stunning Art Nouveau architecture! And, in reality many visitors don't find that they get what they were hoping for. In fact, some reviews described the disgusting 'mold, bacteria and dirt smell'.3. Roman Baths - Bath, England
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The Roman Baths in Bath, England, stand as a testament to the ancient city's rich history and it's links back to the Roman era! But, with hundreds of thousands of people using the baths, there is a potential that water borne illnesses could spread through the water!4. Thermalbad & Spa Zurich - Zurich, Switzerland
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Thermalbad & Spa Zurich is a modern wellness and spa facility located in Zurich, Switzerland. It's become a super popular tourist attraction. And, with popularity comes an increase in how disgusting the waters may be. Despite efforts to keep water cleanly, pee, skin cells and even traces of fesces may still be found!5. Hammam Al Ándalus - Granada, Spain
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Hammam Al Ándalus in Granada, Spain, is a unique and authentic Arab-style bathhouse! If you want the full bathing experience, it's a good option, but you might get more than you bargained for. According to some claims, the baths' water is murky filled with dirt from people's bodies and fluids.6. Thermae Bath Spa - Bath, England
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Thermae Bath Spa in Bath is located in England and combines tradition and modern public baths together. And maybe it also combines a mixture of all kinds of nasties that lurk beneath the surface. Some people have claimed that they got sick after taking a dip in the baths!7. Chena Hot Springs - Alaska, USA
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Chena Hot Springs is situated on a geothermal hotspot, providing a natural source of hot mineral water where thousands flock to bathe in the fresh (or not so fresh) water! Lots of people in water means that inevitably - that water is disgusting. It's recommended only to stay in a short time, the bacteria levels could be high!8. Terme di Caracalla - Rome, Italy
Image source: Reddit
If you're thinking about heading to Terme di Caracalla in Rome to experience the sights, then go ahead. But, if you were going to take a bath in Ancient Roman times and expect to be clean - then it may not be the right place to go. It was one of the most disgusting in Roman times.9. Takaragawa Onsen - Gunma, Japan
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While Takaragawa Onsen in Gunma, Japan, offers an enjoyable and rejuvenating hot spring experience, you have to be mindful of the potential presence of bacteria and germs in communal baths. Natural hot springs create a warm environment that, if not properly maintained, can harbor bacteria.10. Baden-Baden Friedrichsbad - Baden-Baden, Germany
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Baden-Baden Friedrichsbad, located in Baden-Baden, Germany, is a historic and luxurious spa facility known for its Roman-Irish bathing rituals. It's customary here to enter the baths totally unclothed. Which, does raise a few extra hygiene concerns when thousands of bodies are sharing the same water!11. Therme Vals - Vals, Switzerland
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In 1996, Therme Vals opened up as a world-renowned thermal spa. When it comes to the public baths. While the thermal spa may deemed to be healing, there's also the reality that it could very much have the opposite effect. Disgusting diseases could be passed through the water!12. Hévíz Thermal Lake - Hévíz, Hungary
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Hévíz Thermal Lake in Hévíz is the second-largest thermal lake in the world. It's believed to have therapeutic benefits for various ailments. Yet one visitor voiced their disappointment in finding the lake was a lot more disgusting than they'd imagined, with unknown things floating in the water!13. Blue Lagoon, Malta - Comino, Malta
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The Blue Lagoon on Comino is a picturesque bay nestled between the islands of Comino and Cominotto. Visitors are attracted to its stunning natural beauty, making it an ideal spot for swimming, snorkelling and finding odd objects and miscellaneous pieces of litter resting on the not-so-clean bottom of the lagoon.14. Hakone Kowakien Yunessun - Hakone, Japan
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Hakone Kowakien Yunessun is a unique hot spring spa resort located in Hakone. It's not voted super highly in terms of online reviews because people were disappointed by disgusting water quality and feeling as though the baths were dirty! It's possible to catch infections from the lack of hygiene!15. Bains de Dorres - Dorres, France
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Bains de Dorres is a natural hot springs, surrounded by the stunning Pyrenees mountains. It attracts a multitude of people and the water's beauty hides a disgusting reality. Picture everybody's sweat, germs and who knows what just floating right by you in the water.16. Glenwood Hot Springs Pool - Colorado, USA
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Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, situated in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, USA, is a historic and popular destination known for its large natural hot springs pool. But, visitors to the popular public bath remained oblivious to the microscopic organisms thriving in the water, raising concerns about the overall hygiene of the facility.17. Ma'in Hot Springs - Madaba, Jordan
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Ma'in Hot Springs, located near Madaba in Jordan, is a well-known thermal spa with natural hot springs that have been sought after for their therapeutic properties for centuries! Despite the soothing ambiance, water tests exposed the uncomfortable reality that the seemingly pristine public bath housed unexpected contaminants.18. Terme di Saturnia - Tuscany, Italy
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One of the iconic features of Terme di Saturnia is the presence of cascading waterfalls formed by the thermal springs. But, in any public bath, it's almost guaranteed that there are all kinds of things floating around, and yes, the likelihood of swimming in someone else's pee is extremely high! It's no different in Terme di Saturnia19. Glenwood Springs Hot Springs Pool - Colorado, USA
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The Glenwood Hot Springs boasts the title of the world's largest hot springs pool, attracting millions of visitors each year. Fungi that cause athlete's foot thrive in populated, warm and moist environments, making public baths a potential breeding ground! It's a likely place to catch it.20. Shambhala Mountain Center - Colorado, USA
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Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado is a Buddhist retreat center focusing on meditation and mindfulness. Some people who go to visit the baths do not shower before entering the communal baths, meaning the excess dirt is then being shared amongst multiple bodies!21. Szechenyi Baths - Budapest, Hungary
Image source: Reddit
The Szechenyi Baths is one of the largest and most famous thermal bath complexes in Europe. It's super popular, and overcrowded public baths may make it difficult to maintain a safe distance between individuals, increasing the possibility that diseases can be transmitted!22. Istanbul Archaeological Museum Baths - Istanbul, Turkey
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These baths attract tourists from all over because of their historical and cultural appeal! Beneath the inviting warmth of the public bath's water, a closer inspection could reveal something very different. In fact, it may not be a good idea to look too closely at all.23. Deer Lake Lodge Resort & Health Spa - Texas, USA
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The resort specializes in detox programs , attracting visitors on a journey to mentally detox! Often, people take a dip in the lake in the summer, when it's super hot. But of course, this means that hundreds of thousands of people are sweating and then rinsing off into the lake!24. Shirahone Onsen - Gifu, Japan
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There have been accounts of people finding feminine hygiene products floating in the public bath!25. Blue Lagoon, Jamaica - Port Antonio, Jamaica
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The onsen's name, Shirahone, translates to "white bone," referring to the milky-white appearance of the hot spring waters. But, we wouldn't rely on the Lagoon to clean you (even if it looks clean), it's definitely better to have a shower afterwards to be properly safe and hygienic.26. Bodhisattva Kottaram - Kerala, India
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This public baths gets super crowded, all many different times of the year. Water transports disease more effectively, which isn't what you want to hear before you submerge yourself in a public baths. Statistically speaking, there will be a lot of people in the baths at that current moment with a transmittable disease.27. Toskana Therme - Bad Sulza, Germany
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These baths include indoor and outdoor pools with various temperature zones. Visitors, inspired by the wellness culture of Bad Sulza, soak in the communal baths and are often very unaware of the microscopic organisms thriving beneath the surface, blurring the lines between relaxation and nasty microbes!.28. Terme Sensoriali - Chianciano Terme, Italy
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Despite the fact that Terme Sensoriali prides itself on being a renowned spa, it may not be as clean as we'd hope. The shedding of dead skin cells is a natural process, but in communal baths, it can accumulate and create an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth. Gross.29. Polynesian Spa - Rotorua, New Zealand
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Polynesian Spa is situated on the shores of Lake Rotorua, and it utilizes natural geothermal springs from the earth to heat the pools. Yet even natural spring water isn't immune to the kinds of bacteria floating around every single pool that is inhabited by people!30. Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths - Laugarvatn, Iceland
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The spa features a series of interconnected saunas, each built into the natural contours of the landscape. When visitors are in close contact with other people in the communal baths may facilitate the transmission of skin infections, such as herpes or bacterial infections!31. The Banff Upper Hot Springs - Alberta, Canada
Image source: Reddit
The Banff Upper Hot Springs are surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Rockies. As you soak, feel the rejuvenating effects of the warm, mineral-rich waters...or the bubbling waters of other people's grime surrounding you! These pools can get disgusting.32. Kinosaki Onsen - Hyogo, Japan
Image source: Reddit
At the heart of Kinosaki Onsen's allure are its seven public baths, known as "soto-yu." It sounds idyllic, but surfaces in public baths, if not cleaned regularly, can develop biofilms—a complex ecosystem of microorganisms that may include bacteria, fungi, and algae (essentially disgusting grim on the surface!)33. Buckstaff Bathhouse - Arkansas, USA
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Dating back to 1912, the Buckstaff Bathhouse opened in the USA over a decade ago. And, while they prove to be a very popular attraction, the pools may harbor bacteria such as a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause skin rashes and infections.34. Glen Ivy Hot Springs - California, USA
Image source: Reddit
In Southern California, there are the Glen Ivy Hot Spring pools where people come to enjoy a bathe or a swim. Aside from the obvious glorious hot springs, you have the usual, dead skin cells, used plasters and all of the other things invisible to the naked eye.35. Harper Pools Resort - Colorado, USA
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The Harper Pools Resort has more than meets the eye. Visitors here have complained about the unhygienic conditions. Insufficient filtration and water circulation systems sometimes aren't sufficient to get rid of the disgusting gunk before they can contaminate the pool's water.36. The Peninsula Hot Springs - Victoria, Australia
Image source: Reddit
This award-winning spa sanctuary offers a holistic wellness experience. But is it immune to germs? The waterborne parasite Cryptosporidium has been found in many similar communal baths, and it can cause gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramps.37. Strawberry Park Hot Springs - Colorado, USA
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These pools have several different areas where visitors come to spend the day. Despite being in nature, the pools can still get dirty. But, improper maintenance and cleanliness may attract insects or vermin, which can introduce additional health hazards to the springs!38. Thermae 2000 - Valkenburg, Netherlands
Image source: Reddit
Thermae 2000 is a unique spa and pool experience. However, there are considerations to keep in mind. For example, if the water systems in public baths are not properly maintained, they may become a source of Legionella bacteria, which can lead to respiratory infections!39. Chumbe Island Coral Park - Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Chumbe Island Coral Park is a unique and eco-friendly marine park destination. Skin rashes may be super common after swimming in these communal areas because they can survive in water! They can spread and easily infect other people swimming in the pools.40. Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa - La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Image source: Reddit
Tabacon's natural hot springs are heated by the Arenal Volcano, making it a very unique experience! But there are always health concerns to keep in mind. Certain strains of HPV can cause warts, which may be spread in shared areas, especially if there are breaks in the skin. so it's wise to be careful!41. Bad Blumau - Styria, Austria
Image source: Reddit
This shared pool has been created to be a natural and architectural masterpiece. Unbeknownst to bath-goers, the water's transparency fails to reflect the surprising diversity of bacteria thriving within the confines of the public bath! In these kind of places, it's inevitable. But, chemical are put in the pool to kill them.42. Hot Springs State Park - Wyoming, USA
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As the name suggests, the public bath, Hot Springs State Park is home to thermal springs with water bubbling up from the depths of the Earth. On a more disgusting note, yeast infections are a common infection to be spread around communal swimming areas!43. Karlovy Vary - Czech Republic
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This place is deemed a world-class spas. So, hygiene practices are paramount. But that doesn't mean that the water is never dirty. While it's not necessarily disgusting - you should definitely be aware of the hygiene and health risks in the public bath.44. The Sulphur Baths - Tbilisi, Georgia
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Despite efforts to maintain cleanliness, factors such as the number of visitors, shared water, and environmental conditions can contribute to hygiene concerns! Viral infections like HPV (human papillomavirus) can lead to the development of warts, which can be transmitted in shared bathing areas!46. Shiraike Jigoku - Beppu, Japan
Image source: Reddit
Shiraike Jigoku, in Japan translates as "White Pond Hell", referring to the color of the pool water. Like in any public bath, young children, and even adult may not always follow the guidelines. It's not unknown for people to have peed right into the public baths!46. The Well - Oslo, Norway
Image source: Reddit
The Well boasts a wide array of spa facilities, from saunas and steam baths to hot tubs and pools, all open to the public! Because of the lack of screening for contagious illnesses, it may unknowingly lead to the unintentional spread of infections among bathers.47. Ten Thousand Waves - New Mexico, USA
Image source: Reddit
Ten Thousand Waves offers private outdoor soaking tubs as well as multiple public pools, surrounded by nature. Looks can certainly be deceiving and apart form finding occasional litter, it's the things we can't see that are truly disgusting and potentially harmful!48. Hakone Yunohana Prince Hotel Yunessun - Hakone, Japan
Image source: Reddit
This popular hotel has, like many hotels, a public pool. This gets extremely busy due to having a well known reputation. Busy pools don't necessarily equate to cleanliness. Certain parasites can actually survive in chlorinated water and may cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested, posing a risk in poorly maintained public baths.49. La Réserve Paris – Hotel and Spa - Paris, France
Image source: Reddit
Similarly, another super popular hotel and well used pools is the La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa. However, on second thoughts, many people may leave behind hair and skin particles and kinds of unpleasant things, which other people are then bathing in!50. Marina Bay Sands Infinity Pool - Singapore
Image source: Reddit
This has to be one of the most popular and 'Instagrammable' public bath destinations ever. And as well mentioned before, the more bodies in the water, the less you're mingling with all kinds of things you'd rather never even imagine floating around you.What To Read Next
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