What if I Told You About Finland’s Sauna Obsession?
Welcome to Finland, a country utterly obsessed with saunas. The sauna is the most important social forum in Finland. There are more saunas than cars; most apartments have their own saunas; and more than 90% of Finns report visiting the sauna at least once per week. So, what do Finns see in the sauna that we clearly don’t?
Saunas in the U.S. vs. Finland
In the United States and much of the Western world, a sauna is typically a small, electric-heated room in a spa or gym, hovering around 125ºF (52ºC), with a wooden bench and perhaps a bucket of tepid water. It’s considered a health amenity, but primarily frequented by die-hard fans of hot yoga or sweat detoxes. It’s certainly not for everyone.
But in Finland, saunas are an entirely different experience. They often feature multi-tiered benches, vessels of coal, and bundles of birch branches meant for light self-flagellation. Many lack electricity, towels, or clothing. Most Finns – and brave tourists – sauna in the nude. They’re perhaps the closest a modern person can get to living among the Vikings.
Best Tours & Excursions in Helsinki, Finland
My Day in the Genuine Finnish Sauna
While visiting Finland this May, I experienced a sauna day like no other—though for most Finns, it was completely ordinary. I joined some friends I’d met the previous year on a trip to their lake cabin. The building resembled something from the 19th century, nestled in a pine forest beside a still blue lake that stretched into the horizon, where in summer, the sun barely sets.
Inside the cabin was a wood-paneled room with three tiers of benches, a wooden bucket, a basin of water, a stack of logs, a cast-iron stove, and a vitrine of coals. You’re meant to feed the stove with wood; the fire both lights the room and heats the coals, which, when doused with water, produce the steam that warms the space.
I was stunned by how much heat the natural stove generated—far more intense than the electric saunas I was used to. The thermometer quickly rose to 70ºC (160ºF), which, according to my Finnish hosts, was on the cooler side! American saunas rarely reach this kind of heat. Your body floods with sweat, and breathing feels like inhaling fire.
The Sauna Social Experience
Despite the heat, the room wasn’t silent. We talked about philosophy, gossip, and everything in between. Hours passed as we cycled in and out of the sauna. And “cycling out” doesn’t mean just cooling off in the open air like in America. It means grabbing a beer or cigarette and diving headfirst into the nearby lake—chilled to just 10ºC (50ºF). The extreme contrast in temperatures is both invigorating and an essential part of the experience.
When night finally fell—a dusky twilight typical of Finnish summers—we had spent three hours rotating between sauna and lake. By then, the room was lit only by firelight. In those flickers, all you could see were eyes wide from fluid loss, pools of sweat on the floor, and hulking, bearded men speaking an ancient Uralic language, exuding the scent of beer and pine. It felt like a reincarnation of the Viking longhouse—absolutely magical.
But for my Finnish friends, this wasn’t some rare or ceremonial occasion. It wasn’t a party or a holiday. It was just another weekend trip to the lake and another night in the sauna. This experience isn’t reserved for the wealthy or privileged. Once again: there are more saunas than cars in Finland. Going to the sauna is a social tradition on par with going out to eat or seeing a movie—except it’s far healthier.
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Health Benefits of Sauna
Going to the sauna is objectively linked to health benefits. Your heart rate rises; your blood vessels dilate; and feelings of relaxation and euphoria follow. Going to the sauna has also been linked to relief of lower back pain, improved blood circulation, and increased mental acuity. They can also help reduce muscle soreness after exercise. That’s why so many gyms and spas feature them. Sweating at high temperatures can flush toxins from the body and “clean out” your system.
Of course, extended exposure to high heat can have risks. Dehydration is a real concern, so you need to drink plenty of water. Pregnant women, individuals with epilepsy, and people with asthma should avoid saunas altogether. So use caution—but know that, when done properly, sauna use can greatly benefit your health. Finland is the happiest country on earth – and I believe that sauna culture contributes a lot to it.
Places Where YOU Can Sauna in Finland
Many tourists come to Finland hoping to sauna, and you can definitely do what I’ve just described in many places that don’t require you to know any Finns personally:
- Kotiharjun Sauna is the best-rated and largest sauna in Helsinki. One can enjoy an authentic sauna experience in communal or private rooms.
- Allas Sea Pool features sauna rooms with views of Helsinki’s skyline, as well as a pool directly in the sea where you can do your cold plunge between sessions, and swim in refreshing and rejuvenating salt water.
There are many other public saunas in Helsinki, and outside the capital, nearly every Finnish city—and even nearby Estonia—offers affordable, accessible sauna facilities. Prices are comparable to visiting a public pool in the United States. So, consider a trip to Finland—not just for the dogsledding, northern lights, and reindeer meat, but for the enriching and rejuvenating sauna culture. You won’t regret sweating out all your worries.
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