Bernaqua

Bernaqua is an indoor and outdoor bathing, sauna, spa and fitness complex in the Westside leisure and shopping centre in the Brünnen quarter of western Bern. It operates as a distinct venue with its own admission and opening hours within the Westside building, which was designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind. Westside opened on 8 October 2008. Bernaqua has a water surface of 2,000 square metres and eighteen indoor and outdoor basins.

The operator gives each basin with its depth and temperature. The Flussbad current channel is 1.35 metres deep at 30–32 °C; the Attraktionsbecken is 1.35 metres deep at 33–36 °C; the Erlebnisbecken, also 1.35 metres deep, is held at 33 °C; the Sprudelbecken is 0.5 metres deep at 33–35 °C; and a cold-water basin is kept at 18 °C for cooling after the steam bath. Outdoors there is a freshwater pool at 33–35 °C and a brine pool at 33–36 °C with 4 per cent brine, while the indoor Solaqua brine pool runs at 34–36 °C, also at 4 per cent brine. The Takatikiland children's area has 0.2 metres of water at 33–36 °C, and a steam grotto is listed at 45 °C and 100 per cent humidity.

There are four slides. The Emotionride runs 169 metres with light and sound effects and is open from age eight; the Black Hole runs 152 metres with rotating lights, also from age eight; the Magic Eye descends 175 metres from a height of 17 metres on tubes almost 1.5 metres wide and admits children from four in adult company or from eight unaccompanied; and the Wildwassercanyon drops 80 metres past calm basins and rapids, with access from age ten or a height of 1.20 metres.

The sauna area is split between a mixed zone and a women-only zone. Named cabins include Salz der Erde, a hot-air sauna at 60–70 °C with 15 per cent humidity; Feuer und Eis, a hot-air sauna reaching 80 °C at 10 per cent humidity; Ein Stück Natur, a bio-sauna at 65 °C and 40 per cent humidity; and the Finnish Lavaglut at 95 °C and 10 per cent humidity. The women-only area holds the Polarlicht steam bath at 45 °C and 100 per cent humidity and a candle-lit bio-sauna up to 65 °C at 25 per cent humidity. The bath and sauna are open from 9.00 to 22.00 every day, including weekends and public holidays; the fitness centre opens earlier on weekdays.