9 Helsinki saunas to add to your bucket list

Finland is home to 5.5 million people and 3.3 million saunas. For Finns, there is nothing quite like going to sauna to relax and recharge. Helsinki has a vibrant sauna scene, and there are several public saunas scattered around the Finnish capital to fit any taste or requirement. 

Many of these are conveniently located close to the city center, where most visitors stay. Below is a list of popular saunas in Helsinki to put on your bucket list for your next visit.

Allas Sea Pool

This urban spa is in the heart of the city next to the Market Square. Allas Sea Pool has a large outdoor pool open throughout the year with warm water, so the pool is nice and cosy even in freezing weather. They also have a sea water pool, if you want to take a dip in the Baltic Sea. During summer, a separate pool is reserved for the little ones. Allas has separate saunas for male and female visitors and a shared-use sauna with views of the far archipelago.

During summer, Allas is a concert venue where you can enjoy live music from top Finnish artists. The venue also has three restaurants.

Admission fee: 18–22€

Löyly

The word löyly doesn’t have an English equivalent. It roughly means the intensity of the steam in a sauna. This oasis is on Helsinki’s southern waterfront and its stunning building was designed by architects Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen. One of the owners of Löyly is actor Jasper Pääkkönen, known for the TVseries Vikings and Spike Lee’s movie BlacKkKlansman. Löyly also has a restaurant and on a sunny day, its large outdoor seating area is the perfect place to have a drink or a bite to eat while admiring the views of the Baltic Sea. Löyly is a co-ed sauna, and you need to wear a bathing suit. There are separate dressing rooms for men and women.

Admission fee: 25€

Lonna

Lonna’s public sauna is on the island of Lonna in the archipelago of Helsinki, just a short ferry ride away from the city. There are two loft saunas which are heated up with wood burning stoves. They are next to the water so you can take a refreshing dip in the sea. It’s recommended to take suitable shoes for the walk to the sea in as the path to the swimming area is rocky. All days are mixed sauna days, and you can enjoy the sauna with or without bathing suit. There is also a large terrace, which opens to a beautiful view of the archipelago. The island of Lonna is open from May to September.

Admission fee: 20€

Furuvik Sauna

Villa Furuvik offers public sauna hours in their seaside sauna. Located a bit further away from the city, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of this old sauna. Furuvik sauna can host up to 12 people at a time. Check out the calendar as some days are mixed and some days are women only. It is possible to have a swim in the sea or even go ice swimming in winter, as the sauna is located right by a sandy beach.

Admission fee: 18€

Culture Sauna

Located in Merihaka, Culture Sauna has a cool, minimalist vibe with a Japanese influence. The founders of this calm and serene space are Nene Tsuboi and Tuomas Toivonen. The sauna has a wood-heated single-fired mass stove, and you can cool off by swimming in the Baltic Sea.

Admission fee: 17€

Sompasauna

If you want to experience something totally different and authentic, head off to Sompasauna. This establishment has no staff, and you need to fetch your own water and heat the stove. Sompasauna is run by a community association, and the chances are you’ll have really interesting conversations with the other sauna goers. 

Admission: Free

Kotiharju sauna

Built in 1928, the famous Kotiharju Sauna in Kallio district is Finland’s oldest neighbourhood sauna. Back in the day small downtown apartments did not have bathrooms, so people relied on public saunas for bathing. You can enjoy the mellow heat of the traditional wood-burning stove in this sauna. Even on the coldest days you can see sauna goers cooling off outdoors in front of the sauna dressed in their towels. Kotiharju sauna is also popular with groups of friends who want to get together or relax in the sauna before heading off for a night out. 

Admission fee: 16€ 

Sauna Hermanni

A little bit further east from Kallio, Sauna Hermanni is another great traditional neighbourhood sauna frequented by locals. This quirky and cosy establishment has been raising steam since 1953. You can also book Sauna Hermanni for private events. Refreshments and snacks are available on site, or you can bring your own. 

Admission fee: 13€

Uusi Sauna

Uusi Sauna (The New Sauna) is one of the latest additions to Helsinki’s sauna scene. It brings the classic neighborhood sauna into the 21st century in the recently developed Jätkäsaari area. The space has wood pellet heated saunas for male and female visitors and there is also a restaurant. 

Admission fee: 18€