Jjimjilbang Guide — How to Use a Korean Bathhouse

A jjimjilbang (찜질방) is a Korean bathhouse and sauna complex, and it is one of the most relaxing — and most misunderstood — things a visitor can try. You pay an entry fee, bathe in gender-separated pools, and then change into the provided clothes to rest in a shared sauna area. The single thing that surprises first-timers most is the bathing custom, so it is worth understanding before you go.

The bathing custom: no swimsuits

In the bathing area, you bathe without clothes, and the pools are strictly separated by gender. This is normal and unremarkable to Koreans — nobody is looking — but it catches many visitors off guard, so here is how it actually works:

• Shower thoroughly first. Before getting into any communal pool, you wash at the seated shower stations. This is non-negotiable etiquette, not optional.
• No swimwear in the pools. Swimsuits are not worn in the bathing area.
• The sauna clothes stay in the sauna. The loose shirt and shorts the venue gives you are for the shared, mixed-gender sauna and rest areas — you do not wear them into the bathing pools.

Once you have bathed, you change into the provided clothes and the rest of the complex — hot rooms, cold rooms, snack bars, lounging areas — is shared and fully clothed.

What's inside

Beyond the pools, a typical jjimjilbang has a range of themed sauna rooms at different temperatures, cold rooms to cool down, and a common area to relax, eat, or read. Larger complexes add more: massage chairs, snack counters, sometimes a screen room. Smaller neighborhood bathhouses keep it simple.

Good to know before you go

• Tattoos. Some bathhouses restrict entry for large or visible tattoos. If you have one, it is worth checking the venue's policy first.
• Sleeping over is not guaranteed. Some larger venues are open through the night and people do rest there, but not every jjimjilbang is set up for overnight stays — do not assume you can sleep in unless the venue clearly allows it. Confirm before relying on it for a night.
• Valuables. Use the locker for your belongings and bring as little as possible. Carry your phone and key wristband; leave anything you would hate to lose at your accommodation.
• Cash. Smaller bathhouses may prefer cash for the entry fee and snacks; bring some just in case.

First-timer tips

• Go on a cold or rainy day — see the first-time visitor guide for more rainy-day ideas.
• Hydrate. The hot rooms are genuinely hot, so drink water and step out to cool down when you need to.
• Getting there is simple by subway; the transportation guide covers fares and cards.
• Go with the flow. Watch what regulars do — shower, soak, rest — and you will fit right in.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the pre-bath shower. Always wash before entering a communal pool.
• Wearing the sauna clothes into the pools, or a swimsuit into the bath. Neither is correct.
• Assuming it is a hotel. A jjimjilbang is a bathhouse first; overnight resting is a feature of some venues, not a guarantee at all of them.

Say it in Korean

A couple of phrases help at the front desk and inside.

Last verified on June 13, 2026

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