7 Unique Saunas In Finland You Have To Try
Enjoying a regular sauna is a great tradition in Finland and is considered a necessity by the Finns. With more than three million saunas in Finland, there are actually more saunas than cars in the country, which has a population of just five million and nearly every home has a sauna.
‘Sauna’ is the only Finnish word in the English language and a famous Finnish saying suggests -‘Build the sauna, then the house’! Basically, a sauna is a heated wood-lined cabinet which you step into with no clothes on! It is a place to relax That will cleanse both your body and mind. Being invited to a sauna is regarded as a privilege. Many saunas in Finland are luxurious and others in the quirkiest places imaginable. All of them are enjoyable, so grab your towel!
Sauna in a Gondola at Ylläs
After a good day of skiing in Ylläs, nothing beats relaxing in a sauna bath in a gondola that is suspended in the air with marvellous panoramic views of Lapland! The sauna gondola is part of Café Gondol 718 which is situated on a mountain slope. You can enjoy three tours in the gondola – each lasting 20 minutes. The gondola can accommodate four people. The attractive café has a roaring fire, showers and a heated outdoor whirlpool bath. At the end of your sauna gondola, you can enjoy a snowcat ride to the summit and back before tasting the local cuisine in a nearby restaurant (optional).
The Floating Sauna at Jalo – Lautta
Jalo Lautta in Finland offers a floating summer house experience along with one of a kind most unique sauna experiences you can imagine. This floating sauna is a private affair so gather a group of friends and head to the lake for an exciting Finish experience. Floating in a picturesque private lake, the wood-heated sauna warms up in less than an hour and can easily accommodate up to 10 people. Being located on a private lake offers you the opportunity to dips in the crystal clear water.
There’s also a hot tub located on the Jalolauta island overlooking the lake, the lake looks at its best between spring and autumn. Upstairs on the roof deck, you can relax with drinks or a barbecue grill or if you prefer, a meal made with local ingredients can be prepared for you. If you are looking to explore the surrounding area stand up paddling is available in the warmer season, the perfect way to explore the beautiful lake enjoying its peace and serenity.
SkySauna
Looking like a big wheel at a fairground, SkySauna is the perfect way to enjoy a sauna in the air – with stunning views over Helsinki and its archipelago. There are 30 climate controlled cabins, that each accommodates 4-5 people and the wheel has a height of 40 metres and makes a revolution every 5-7 minutes.
The SkySauna operates all year round and there is a comfy hot tub and spacious terrace for enjoying a relaxing drink.
Sauna in Skybox Arena
Imagine being able to enjoy a hockey game or world class concert from the luxury of your sauna! The ten Skyboxes are situated in Helsinki’s Hartwell Arena There are two VIP Skyboxes with saunas. Skybox 270 is situated on the 2nd floor and the box can accommodate 30 people. Meals and drinks can be served in the Skybox. For concerts, the Skybox is situated behind the stage and its sauna has large windows for viewing all the action!
Skybox 408 is decorated in Hartwell Arena blue and the Jokerit’s team livery of red and yellow. This is a larger Skybox as it can comfortably accommodate up to 72 people and is situated on the 4th floor of the arena. The Skybox is situated behind the stage for concerts and has a lovely sauna with large windows – promising a memorable occasion.
Löyly – Trendy Seaside Sauna
Situated on the Helsinki waterfront overlooking the Balkan Sea, this popular sauna features some stylish and innovative architecture and is popular with both locals and visitors alike. The name of the sauna is ‘Löyly’ which is the term for the sauna steam produced by throwing water onto hot rocks. There are two public saunas – a traditional smoke sauna and a wood burning one – and both are large enough to accommodate 20 people. Swimsuits must be worn as both have direct access to the beach which is ideal for a quick dip in the sea to cool off.
For those who prefer a smaller sauna, one that accommodates up to 12 people can be hired. Lõyly has a large sun deck for relaxing afterwards and drinks and light bites can be ordered. There is a restaurant serving brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails.
Sauna in a 100-year-old building
The Kaurilan Sauna is in a beautiful 19th-century sauna building and is still heated by the same wooden stove. The sauna is just 15 minutes from the city centre and close to the Seurasaari museum island. There are private sauna sessions and public ones called ‘snowshoe’ and each session is two hours in length. Linen towels, sauna seat covers and shower products are provided and there is the chance to buy a range of ecological natural cosmetics.
Allas Sea Pool
The newly opened Allas Sea Pool is a garden-like oasis in the heart of Helsinki – next to the market square. There are three separate pools – a saltwater, warm water and children’s pools and they all float on the seawater and have views of the Presidential Palace!. The water for them is pumped from quite a distance out at sea and is filtered and treated using UV technology.
The pools are perfect for relaxing in, but if you want to get some exercise, the heated pool is 25 metres in length. There are also three attractive saunas too that are electrically heated to 80ºC. There is a women’s sauna, men’s sauna and one for private hire. There are plenty of excuses to linger after enjoying the pools and sauna as there is the Allas Café & Terrace and Wine & Dine and both have lovely terraces with stunning sea views.
