I went to AIRE Ancient baths (AGAIN) in Copenhagen - spa experience

The bathroom at Aire Ancient Baths, Copenhagen

I am big on saunas. The only gym membership I consistently used was because of their sauna. Every single morning, I’d make it out of my apartment at 6:15 am with the full knowledge that after the workout came the sauna. I have been on a mission to try massages and saunas everywhere we live or visit. I always re-rank my experiences but if there is one that has managed to retain its position at the top, it is Aire Ancient Baths.

Our first time at Aire was on a road trip in Spain. We were visiting the Banys Àrabs in Girona but were too late to book a spot in the much coveted Aqva Gerunda. As we made our way back to Barcelona, we discovered Aire Ancient Baths and decided to try our luck. Years later it still remained my favourite spa experience.

When I decided to visit Copenhagen for the weekend, I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of trying another AIRE location. My husband surprised me with an arrangement for my birthday so I had just enough time to enjoy it before my flight back.

AIRE ANCIENT BATHS in COPENHAGEN

pre-spa snack

Grød, meaning porridge was right next to CityHub and the perfect morning snack for me before the spa. I still happily recreate my porridge with apple slices at home. If you are staying at the CityHub, your key card will also act as a discount voucher at Grød.

Getting to aire

I was staying at CityHub - the capsule hotel in Copenhagen - and the AIRE Ancient Baths was a short and a very pleasant walk from the hotel. After you checkout, you can still leave your bags in a locker, so I was able to head to AIRE with just my spa bag. The walk to Aire is beautiful and all my photos were shot on iPhone (no presets) early on an October day.

Checking in for your spa experience at AIRE ANCIENT BATHS

Lobby at Aire Ancient Baths, Copenhagen

Before your spa day, you will have received an online form. I recommend filling it before your arrival to avoid waiting at check-in.

Your choice of arrangements will be represented in wrist bands when you check in. Each colour of the wrist band represents a different part of the arrangement - the baths, massage, etc.

After you receive the wrist band, someone will guide you into the gender-separated bathrooms to change and get ready for the baths. You will leave everything except the robes and slippers in the bathroom lockers.

The baths at aire copenhagen

When I told the staff that I’d been to Aire Barcelona, she whispered to me that I’ll enjoy Copenhagen more and how right was she! The baths in Copenhagen are so much bigger than the ones in Barcelona, and better arranged too! Apart from the 4 main baths - Frigidarium (cold room), Tepidarium (warm room), Caldarium (hot room), and Vaporium (steam bath), they also had a pebble pool to massage the soles of your feet and a salt bath. The hammam (Vaporium) was my absolute favourite. In Barcelona, the hammam has a built in cold plunge. The hammam in Copenhagen had a little well and a bowl to dip into it.

Remember to hydrate at the baths. There is plenty of water and tea next to the seating areas. This is also where you’ll be served your drink/chocolates if it’s part of your arrangement. I was happy with my tea but they comped with some bubbles when they found out it was my birthday.

massage at aire ancient baths

When you book a massage arrangement with the baths, you don’t get to decide when during your bath experience it will be scheduled. When you enter the baths, they will tell you how long you will have at the baths before being called in for the massage. You can of course continue using the baths after your massage as long as you take a quick shower on the bath floor. My massage was scheduled an hour into the baths. Don’t worry about the time - they will come find you! There are multiple staff members with ear pieces tracking all the patrons and bringing them to the right experience.

The massage rooms are scattered over and above the bath floor. My massage was upstairs but still within the bath enclosure. This is very different from the experience in Barcelona where - if I remember correctly - you exit the baths and go inside the building to a different floor for the massage. The massage beds are all on the same floor, separated by partitions, so it’s neither private nor intimate. The massage room in Copenhagen was quiet, peaceful, and private.

Getting ready after your bath experience at Aire

The bathrooms at Aire Ancient Baths are equipped with everything you might need - hairdryers, single-use hair brushes, cotton swabs, body lotion… If you’re heading out somewhere right after, bring your make up but feel free to otherwise just show up with your post-spa outfit.

Dining options near Aire Ancient baths Copenhagen

Beyla

The bath and massage will leave you with an appetite! I chose the vegan restaurant Beyla (3 minute walk from Aire), currently rated 4.8 on Google with 599 reviews! Eating out in Copenhagen can rarely go wrong, but eating vegetarian or vegan food is a whole different mind-blowing experience. I went with the staff recommendations and I was far from disappointed.