- Outdoor pool
- Sauna
Sunbathing
The Sonnenbad, built in 1915, is a unique outdoor pool that is known for its long opening hours. The cult pool, located on Karlsruhe's Rhine harbour, was one of the first open-air pools in Germany to start the swimming season and is open longer than any other open-air pool in Karlsruhe. Due to its location, the pool is also known by many as the Rheinhafenbad. From around mid-March to around the end of October, bathers can enjoy the open-air pool air. The opening of the season at the Sonnenbad is well known throughout Germany and is featured in the public media, as the annual Anbaden is celebrated in cooperation with the Freundeskreis Sonnenbad. Even visitors from outside Germany don't miss the early opening of the pool.
In addition to the longest outdoor pool season, the Sonnenbad is the only outdoor pool in Karlsruhe with a small sauna area. A total of 2 sweat rooms (60 degrees and 85 degrees) invite you to take a sauna after swimming in the heated 50-metre swimming pool. A total of 6 lanes are available. The large massage mushroom provides relaxation after swimming laps. A non-swimmers' pool with a slide and a paddling pool are available for younger bathers in the main season. The large sunbathing lawn with playground at the back invites you to sunbathe.
Karlsruher Bäder Opening hours
High season (16.05.26 to 13.09.26)
* Ticket office closes 60 minutes before the pool closes. Bath closes 20 minutes before closing time.
Low season (from 13.03.26 to 15.05.26 and 14.09.26 to 31.10.26)
Special opening hours
admission fees
Sunbathing 2026
Single entry
11er card
25 card
Heating surcharge (from pool opening until 30.04 and from 01.10 until the end of the season)
* The family ticket in the Sonnenbad is valid for one or two adults with up to three children (under 18 years) of the same family (legal guardian, own child(ren), grandparents and grandchildren or parent-child-grandchild). Families with 4 or more children?
Further information on prices can be found in the following section.
Season ticket for outdoor pools 2026
Valid at Rheinstrandbad Rappenwört, Sonnenbad, Freibad Rüppurr & Turmbergbad
Members Freundeskreis Sonnenbad e.V.
Swimming season ticket
Further information on the season ticket is available from Freundeskreis Sonnenbad e.V.
Other prices
Hire and rental
Booking plan
General instructions for sunbathing
Explanation Single entry
The single ticket entitles the holder to one entry to the pool. The card becomes invalid when you leave the pool.
Tickets that have already been paid for cannot be exchanged at a later date. There is also no refund in the event of a thunderstorm.
Heating surcharge
In the period from the pool opening until 30.04. and from 01.10. until the pool closes, a heating surcharge applies in addition to the admission price*:
- Adults € 2.50
- Children and young people under the age of 18: €2.00
- Children under 6 years are free of charge
*Please note the opening hours of the pool.
Season ticket
- Available from the opening of the respective outdoor pool (usually in May at the Sonnenbad)
- Valid for the outdoor pool season at Rheinstrandbad Rappenwört, Sonnenbad, Freibad Rüppurr and Turmbergbad
- Valid in the outdoor pool season from May to September (start and end of season may vary)
- A photo / passport photo is required when purchasing a season ticket.
- When purchasing a family season ticket, the photos of all family members must be presented at the pool ticket office, as well as the certificate/state family pass. Season tickets are only issued with a photo!
- All information on the certificate under "Family of 4 children or more?"
Reduced admission
- Persons under the age of 18
- Full-time students under the age of 27
- Students under the age of 27
- People with disabilities aged 18 and over with a GdB of at least 80.
Only on presentation of valid official proof
11 & 25 tickets | Group tickets
- The 11 and 25 tickets are valid in the following pools: Rheinstrandbad Rappenwört, Sonnenbad, Freibad Rüppurr, Turmbergbad, Weiherhofbad, Adolf-Ehrmann-Bad.
- Validity of the 11 and 25 tickets: year of purchase + 3 subsequent years.
- The 11 and 25 tickets are available at the ticket office of the above-mentioned pools.
- It is also possible to use the 11- and 25-ticket as a group ticket.
- In the Sonnenbad, the heating surcharge must be paid separately at the ticket office from opening until 30 April and from 1 October until closing.
- The old multiple tickets (without QR code) must be validated at the cash desk.
Free entry
- People with disabilities under the age of 18 with a degree of disability of at least 80*
- Children under the age of 6*
- Birthday children have free admission on their birthday up to their 17th birthday with ID*
- Accompanying person (min. 18 years and not disabled themselves) of people with disabilities - regardless of the degree of disability (adapted to the areas used by the disabled person: sauna / bath), if the pre-printed "B" or "H" is not crossed out in the ID card
Only on presentation of valid official proof.
*Free entry to the sunbathing area only applies to entry to the pool. The sauna entrance fee must be paid separately.
Family from 4 children
The family ticket at the Sonnenbad is valid for one or two adults and a maximum of three children (under 18). Families with more children can use the family ticket on presentation of the family pass / family record book to the pool staff. Alternatively, more children can be recognised upon application and presentation of the family record book at the pool administration (Hermann-Veit-Straße 7, 76135 Karlsruhe, e-mail: info@ka-baeder.de).
The state family pass can be applied for at the responsible city or municipal administration.
Please note that requests are only processed from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 3 pm.
Attractions
Massage mushroom
The large massage mushroom provides relaxation after a swim. It provides five minutes of back and shoulder relaxation on the hour and half hour.
Paddling pool and multi-purpose pool
The paddling pool with its child-friendly water slide and modern sun awning is a great place to play in the cool water (no pool lifts). The multi-purpose pool with slide offers fun for non-swimmers, with a water depth of 0.60 m - 1.25 m (no pool lifts).
The paddling pool and the multi-purpose pool are closed in the low season. In the high season, the paddling pool is open from 11 am.
50 metre swimming pool
The swimmer's pool is the centrepiece of the sunbathing area. Here, all outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy the open-air pool feeling with water temperatures of up to approx. 27 °C - in the sunbathing pool for longer than in the regular outdoor pool season. It doesn't matter whether you are a hobby or sports swimmer (no pool lifts).
Gastronomy
Whether it's a cool drink, open-air fries, ice cream or much more - the kiosk in the sunbathing area has something for everyone.
No card payment possible at the kiosk.
Sauna
Two sauna cabins round off the sunbathing experience. Visitors can relax every day at a pleasant 60 °C after a sporty swimming session. An automatic infusion takes place every 60 minutes in the 85 °C sauna.
Children's playground
Thanks to the Freundeskreis Sonnenbad e. V., the children's playground at the back of the sunbathing lawn has been making children's hearts beat faster since summer 2015. While mum and dad soak up the sun on the lawn, the little ones have a great time playing.
Pictures and videos
Payment
Card payment possible.
Photo and video recordings
Only permitted with prior authorisation.
Swimming wings compulsory
For non-swimmers
Own infusion agents prohibited
Please do not use your own sauna infusions.
Glass prohibited
Please do not take any glass containers or glass bottles into the bathroom.
Barrier-free access
Wheelchair access to the bathroom possible.
Castle
A separate lock is required to lock the lockers.
Catering
You may bring your own catering.
Under 10 years
Children under the age of 10 are only permitted to enter if accompanied by parents, legal guardians or a suitable accompanying adult.
Accessibility
- Number of exchangeable wheelchairs: 1
- Passenger lift: 0
- Pool lift: 0
- WC: 2
- Showers: 2
- Changing rooms: 1
Access: Pay entrance fee at the cash desk. Access via the gate at the Sonnenbad restaurant.
If using a bathing pass, direct access is possible via the gate at the Sonnenbad restaurant.
Directions
Sunbathing area
Am Sonnenbad 3
76189 Karlsruhe
Tel. 0721 / 133 52 30
Directions by public transport: Rheinhafen stop, tram line 5












