In summer and winter, in sickness or in health, alone or together – the Finns will always find a reason to go to the sauna. Design Stories lists some of Finland’s most interesting urban saunas, ranging from the oldest public saunas in the country to stunning feats of contemporary architecture.
THE FINNISH SAUNA CULTURE is alive and flourishing. The country, which has a population of 5,6 million, is estimated to have over three million saunas. In 2020, the Finnish sauna tradition became the first Finnish entry on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage. In recent decades, especially Helsinki has seen a fascinating emergence of new public saunas.
Reasons for the newfound popularity of public saunas can be found in the modern urban culture, which emphasizes communality and shared experiences. Instead of cramming into a small, dry electric sauna in the privacy of their own apartment, saunagoers are now thirsty for more opportunities for shared moments, genuinely good löyly (wet steam that rises when you throw water on the sauna stove) and cooling off in a comfortable setting – perhaps even at the edge of a lake or the sea.
We listed ten must-see urban saunas from around Finland. In the wide selection of public saunas available, there is something to please everyone, from the more old-fashioned public saunagoers to avid swimmers and lovers of modern architecture.
10 public saunas to experience in Finland:
1. Löyly, Helsinki
Designed by the Finnish architecture company Avanto Arkkitehdit, the Löyly sauna complex is an award-winning masterpiece of timber construction that has also been included on Time Magazine’s World’s 100 Greatest Places list. The sauna is located on the seashore in Hernesaari. Opened in 2016, Löyly features three saunas, one of which is the only smoke sauna open to the public in Helsinki. No matter the season, you can always take a dip in the sea to cool off, and afterwards, enjoy the delicacies offered by Löyly’s restaurant, where organic and local food take center stage.
Löyly, Hernesaarenranta 4, Helsinki
2. Kotiharjun sauna, Helsinki
Towel-clad bathers cooling off on Harjutorinkatu have been a familiar sight in Kallio for nearly a century: opened in 1928, Kotiharju Sauna is Helsinki’s oldest still-operating public sauna. It’s also the city’s only wood-heated neighbourhood sauna, requiring a cubic metre of metre-long logs to heat – its larger stove alone weighs about 7,000 kilos. The sauna’s ground floor interior is protected by the Finnish Heritage Agency due to its cultural and historical significance.
Kotiharjun sauna, Harjutorinkatu 1, Helsinki
3. Kuuma, Tampere
The urban sauna boom isn’t limited to Helsinki – it has also reached Tampere, which declared itself the Finnish sauna capital in 2018. Located in the heart of Tampere near the shoreline at Laukontori, the sauna restaurant Kuuma offers visitors both sauna and culinary experiences, and the terrace is open all year round. The venue features three saunas in total, including a traditional wood-fired sauna and a modern take on the classic smoke sauna.
Sauna & Restaurant Kuuma, Laukontori 21, Tampere
4. Rajaportin sauna, Tampere
The Rajaportti sauna, opened in 1906 in the idyllic district of Pispala, is the oldest public sauna still in use in Finland – and much like its contemporaries in Helsinki, Rajaportti is also due to receive special protection status from the Finnish Heritage Agency soon. Known for its massive stone stove, soft steam and relaxed atmosphere, the sauna’s original structures have been largely preserved. Rajaportti is also home to a traditional sauna master who specialises in Finnish bathing rituals and vihtominen – the practice of gently whisking the body with birch twigs to boost circulation and deepen relaxation.
Rajaportin sauna, Pispalan valtatie 9, Tampere
5. Allas Sea Pool, Helsinki
Opened in 2016 at the edge of the Helsinki Market Square, Allas Sea Pool is popular among both locals and tourists. In addition to five different saunas, Allas features three swimming pools: a warm water pool, children’s pool and a seawater pool filled with purified Baltic Sea water. On the roof of the building, visitors can find the largest terrace in Helsinki, which can accommodate up to 1,500 customers. The main building, a showcase of modern Finnish wooden architecture, is constructed from locally sourced spruce wood.
Allas Sea Pool, Katajanokanlaituri 2a, Helsinki
6. Lonna’s sauna, Helsinki
Lonna’s sauna is one of Helsinki’s newest public saunas. It is located on the Lonna island, only a 10-minute ferry ride away from the Helsinki Market Square. The beautiful log-framed seaside sauna features two wood-burning, one-time-heated stoves and welcomes bathers with or without swimwear. Visitors can also access the restaurant and café-bar, and during the summer, the island hosts small concerts and other cultural events.
Lonna Island, waterbus service from Helsinki Market Square
7. Saana, Kuopio
The newest addition to the Kuopio sauna culture is Saana, which opened in 2019. The sauna’s spacious terrace and the log-built main building with its sail-shaped roof fit perfectly into the landscape of the Kallavesi lake. Saana’s Sauna & Spa pampers the visitors with traditional and smoke saunas as well as warm and cold outdoor swimming pools, a hot tub and waterfall showers. Saana’s restaurant also serves as a lunch restaurant and a refreshing brunch oasis.
Kuopion Saana, Siikaranta 12, Kuopio
8. Villa Järvelä, Turku
Villa Järvelä sauna is located at Lake Littoistenjärvi, near the southwestern city of Turku. The public sauna is a lively place that is especially busy during the winter swimming season. In addition to five distinct saunas, Järvelä offers several warm hot tubs and a deep-freeze chamber, where you can take an ice-cold dip in near-zero-degree water even in the middle of summer. Paddleboarding and kayaking on Lake Littoistenjärvi are also available right by the sauna.
Villa Järvelä, Järveläntie 133, Turku
9. Kesän Sauna, Oulu
Kesän Sauna (“summer sauna”) is a sympathetic, volunteer-run floating sauna that has revived the public sauna culture in Oulu after a silent period of two decades. The sauna, which appeared in the Oulujoki river in 2014, was initially intended to last only one summer, but the volunteers and saunagoers decided to continue the project further. During its first 10 summers, the floating sauna has hosted nearly 100,000 visitors from over 70 different countries.
Kesän Sauna, Koskitie 58, Oulu
10. Sompasauna, Helsinki
Sompasauna is a semi-anarchistic urban space project, unbound by opening hours, entrance fees—or even a permanent location. In 2011, a makeshift sauna built from chipboard and tarps first appeared on the shores of Sompasaari, reappearing time and again despite repeated demolitions by the city. Over time, the DIY sauna gained a loyal following and cult status, eventually earning a rental agreement and even a cultural award from the City of Helsinki. Throughout the years, Sompasauna has operated in several locations, and starting in the summer of 2025, its new home will be on the island of Mustikkamaa.
Sompasauna, Kansapuistonpolku 5, Helsinki
See also:
• Midsummer magic in the Finnish sauna – 7 products you need for the perfect sauna moment >
• Products for the sauna and bathroom >
Text: Nora Uotila
Originally published on 30 June 2021, updated on 30 May 2025.