What makes the sauna experience so enchanting that nearly the entire Finnish population is hooked on it and goes to sauna at least weekly? How do you conjure the perfect sauna experience? Dive into the secrets of the sauna with us and we’ll give you the best tips on how to sauna like a genuine Finn!

If your Finnish friend or guide suggests a sauna session, don’t hesitate for a moment. In the dim, atmospheric twilight of the sauna, you can gain new perspectives, both on the Finnish mentality and on your fellow sauna-goers. And even if no one invites you to the sauna, don’t worry: there are countless public saunas in Finland where you can enjoy a sauna and where locals go too. These saunas can be found in both cities and along the shores, and also on the shores of cities. Also consider the option of renting a cabin with a sauna in the heart of nature instead of staying in a city hotel. This way, you get to enjoy both the peace, quiet, purity, and beauty of Finnish nature as well as the sauna experience.

A Beginner’s Guide to Sauna: Finnish Sauna Etiquette

Before stepping into the heat, take these sauna tips with you.

Good to know before going to the sauna

• The Finnish sauna is considerably hotter than the steam saunas more widely known around the world. In the Finnish sauna, it is not warm, but hot: the temperature is between 70–100 degrees Celsius (160–210 Fahrenheit). Be mentally prepared!
• During private sauna sessions, most Finns go to sauna naked, even in the company of strangers. This may come as a surprise to many, as in promotional images, people are often depicted in the sauna wearing a swimsuit or a towel.
• In some public saunas, it is not allowed to sauna naked, while in others the use of a swimsuit is specifically prohibited. Observe how others are doing, and do the same yourself.
• The sauna has sitting platforms usually on 2–3 levels. It is significantly hotter on the upper benches than on the lower ones. You can start from the lower benches, or if you sit up and it’s too hot, then move down a level.

During the sauna session

• Finns are often completely silent in the sauna for long periods of time. It’s normal and not because something is wrong. So just relax.
• However, sometimes the conversation flows. The main thing is not to argue or debate in the sauna, but to chat amicably. This way, the sauna elf is not angered.
• The water thrown on the hot stones, or löyly, increases the humidity in the sauna. Therefore, the sauna feels hottest immediately after throwing löyly, then it slowly cools down a bit until more löyly is added. If you go to the sauna with a larger group, it is polite to ask if you can throw more löyly. Most of the time, of course, it is allowed, but it is polite to ask.
• If you see a bunch of birch branches in the sauna, it is a vihta, or in some dialects, a vasta. It is intended to whip oneself (and the person next to you, if they request it) with it. Vihta produces a unique scent and your skin feels smooth afterwards. Whipping your skin with a vihta helps to gently wash away grease and dirt. Circulation increases and the skin warms up. Using a vihta removes dead skin cells and can even alleviate muscle pain. When you go to the sauna, don’t start using the vihta immediately, but wait a moment for your skin to warm up.
• An absolutely important rule to follow in the sauna, which is taught to children from an early age, is that one should never, under any circumstances, fart in the sauna.

After or in between the sauna sessions

• When going swimming, take a cue from others: if they go swimming naked, it’s okay and you can do it too. It is a very traditional Finnish practice. If others put on a swimsuit, you should probably do the same. This is mainly dictated by the environment in which the sauna is located. If it’s in the midst of nature, no one probably minds if you swim naked.
• You can repeat the cycle of sauna and cooling down as many times as you want, either by going to the terrace or swimming in between sauna sessions, if possible. Some sauna enthusiasts linger in this process of sauna and cooling down for hours.
• Some go rolling in the snow in winter. Approach this with caution, as the snow can be surprisingly slippery and sharp and scratch your skin unpleasantly.
• During and after the sauna, remember to drink lots of water because you have sweated a lot.
• Enjoying a cold beer or cider during cooling down is popular. Also, grilling sausages over the sauna stove or by the fire is a common practice in Finland.
• Once you’ve bathed and feel the effects of the sauna, you’ll be ready to leave. The sauna has fulfilled its purpose, it has cleansed you both physically and mentally.

In the sauna we are equal

When going to sauna, materialistic possessions and statuses are left outside, promoting genuine and equal human interaction. The magic of the sauna lies in the fact that it cleanses us both physically and mentally. In the sauna, we are naked and not pretending anything – we are just ourselves, without any pretense. There are no titles.

The sauna offers the opportunity for complete relaxation, after which the world seems simpler, brighter, and lighter. Men and women can go to sauna separately if agreed upon, but traditionally everyone can also go to sauna at the same time and together. Finnish sauna culture does not include any form of harassment of others, and everyone in the sauna should grant each other peace. In the Finnish sauna experience, harmony and tranquility are highly valued.

Saunas in Finland

Sauna is at the heart of Finnish culture. In a country with 5.5 million inhabitants, there are over 3 million saunas. This practically means one sauna per household. Saunas can be found in private homes, along numerous lake- and seashores, in company premises, at Helsinki airport, on floating rafts, and even underground, like the Storfinnhova underground sauna on Kemiö Island. In Helsinki, there is even SkySauna in a Ferris wheel, and for instance, in Lapland on the shore of Lake Jerisjärvi, there is Arctic Sauna World, which houses several different types of saunas to enjoy by the lake and, in winter, by an ice hole. Finns have also built saunas in cars and tents.

An essential part of the sauna experience is also the combination of sauna and a dip in the water. In summer, the sea, a lake, or a sufficiently calm river provides refreshing coolness, while in winter, descending into ice-cold water through an ice hole offers an adrenaline-filled, addictive, and authentic Finnish experience. Imagine a thousand little needles pricking your skin while you’re still in the water – but when you rise from it and wait a few seconds, your body is overtaken by an unprecedented good and warm feeling. After this, you return to the sauna, and a little later, you go swimming again!

Pro tip! To get the perfect Finnish sauna experience, make sure that your sauna location is by the water and that you have the opportunity to go swimming between the sauna sessions regardless of the season. The best thing is if you get to sauna together with Finns.

An extremely magnificent and traditional Finnish sauna type is the smoke sauna. It has no chimney at all, and it needs to be heated for a very long and devoted time. When the smoke sauna is ready to welcome the sauna-goers, there is a delightful soft warmth and a charming smoke aroma.

Finnish sauna concepts

Finnish people recognize special sauna concepts in their everyday life and language, such as lenkkisauna (a sauna after a run), lauantaisauna (translates to Saturday sauna, Saturday evening is a very traditional time to sauna if you only go to sauna once a week), mökkisauna (cottage sauna, many Finns have a cottage in the countryside, which naturally includes a sauna), the traditional Christmas sauna, often enjoyed on Christmas Eve, and of course, the Midsummer sauna, which coincides with the midsummer festival Juhannus.

Additionally, there is morsiussauna, a Finnish bachelorette tradition where bridesmaids take the bride-to-be to sauna before marriage. The bride is bathed and whisked with a vihta, and can be given life advice for the upcoming marriage at the same time.

Moreover, the term ‘saunakalja’ or sauna beer is known in Finnish culture – it is very common to take a can of beer to drink in the sauna, although water is a healthier choice.

In Finnish culture, the sauna is a place to relax, unwind, and be in harmony with oneself and others. When you visit a Finnish sauna, leave all troubles, stress, and worries behind. Enjoy the unique experience to the fullest and give in to the magic of the sauna.

Now you should be fully prepared and eager to try the perfect sauna experience. Welcome to the world of Finnish sauna magic!

This post is also available in: German