A Guided and Deeply Relaxing Sauna Experience Just Outside Helsinki: Silent Sauna

At the Saivo sauna of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia in Nuuksio National Park, you can now enjoy a relaxing sauna session guided by a professional host, our very own Master of Sauna. The Silent Sauna is a two-hour, holistic, multi-sensory, and deeply soothing experience in which the host’s carefully conducted steam ritual and the […]

Sauna in Nature! Where to Enjoy a Sauna at Finland’s Outdoor Destinations

Finland offers countless nature destinations where you can experience an authentic Finnish sauna. You’ll find saunas deep in the wilderness as well as in green areas close to cities. At the end of this article, we list nature saunas our team members have personally enjoyed around the country. There are many more, of course — […]

Christmas Sauna Traditions in Finland – Ancient Beliefs and Modern Tips

In Finnish Christmas traditions, going to the sauna — joulusauna a.k.a. the Christmas sauna — has long been one of the most important rituals. Old folk beliefs were filled with elves and spirits, and various charms were performed to ensure a good harvest in the coming summer. Most modern Finns no longer have flax fields […]

The 5 Most Common Finnish Sauna Sayings Explained – What Do They Really Mean?

Finnish sauna culture is full of colourful expressions that may sound mysterious—or even a little startling—to someone from abroad. Many of these sayings reflect the long-standing Finnish relationship with heat, steam, and the sense of wellbeing that the sauna provides. This article breaks down the meanings and background of common phrases, helping readers from outside […]

Welcome to enjoy a sauna in Nuuksio! How to use the Saivo Sauna at the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia

Experience an authentic Finnish Dry Sauna at the gateway to Nuuksio National Park, just a short 35 min journey from Helsinki. In Saivo’s private sauna at the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, you can unwind, enjoy traditional sauna rituals, and immerse yourself in the tranquillity of Finland’s beloved natural landscapes. Is there anything I should take […]

The bright and modern sauna features light wooden walls and benches, with a wooden water bucket placed on the bench for throwing steam.

Experience Finnish Sauna in Nuuksio: Saivo Sauna at the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia

When you long for a nature-inspired experience with an authentic Finnish twist, you don’t have to travel far – just half an hour from the centre of Helsinki or Helsinki Airport, and you’ll find yourself at the gateway to Nuuksio National Park. There, nestled within the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, awaits a real Finnish sauna: […]

This Is Why Haltia Is the Best Gateway to Nuuksio National Park

Looking for an easy way to immerse yourself in Finland’s forests and lakes without travelling far from Helsinki? Choose Nuuksio National Park and, at its heart, the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia. Haltia is the ideal gateway to the park: you can arrive by public transport, get personalised advice at the information desk, rent outdoor gear, […]

Why Does Sauna Bathing Feel So Good? – Science Hasn’t Found All the Answers

Why Does Sauna Bathing Feel So Good? How Does the Sauna Relax Us? Great questions! We’ve gathered here a few interesting ways in which being in a hot Finnish sauna affects your body. Where exactly the feeling of wellbeing comes from, however, we still do not know for sure. This article is based on the […]

The Peat Ritual: My Deeply Relaxing Sauna Experience at Tupaswilla in Central Finland

Written by Laura Hokka, photos: Tupaswilla I attended a women’s peat sauna evening at Tupaswilla, a traditional heritage estate located in Laukaa, Central Finland, near the city of Jyväskylä. This wasn’t a regular sauna visit – while we relaxed in the heat of the sauna, the dark peat applied to our skin worked to draw […]

What to Bring to a Finnish Sauna – A First-Timer’s Guide

Heading to a Finnish sauna for the first time? Read what to pack and how to prepare for an authentic and relaxing sauna experience.