Finnish sauna culture still alive and thriving! Who would have thought that Finland has three million saunas for a population under 5.5 million? When in Rome… you wander around the city looking at antiquities. When in Finland you sauna. Why sauna when you can sauna in a unique way? We’ve compiled a list of the eight most unusual saunas in Finland.
Oldest Public Sauna in Finland
UNESCO has declared the Finnish sauna culture a cultural intangible heritage. The first saunas were holes dug in the ground during Stone Age. In the Iron Age, wood-burning smoke saunas were invented above ground. You can find the oldest public Sauna in Tampere, The Sauna Capital of the World. There are over 55 public Saunas.
Rajaportti Sauna dates back to 1906 and is the oldest Finnish public sauna. The Pispala Sauna Association runs the cafe and the building today and invites all to experience the traditional Finnish sauna culture. We invite you to read this article and learn something new. In Finland, for example, wood-burning Saunas like Rajaportti are highly regarded. And everyone knows how to make a fire in a sauna.
Helsinki Sky Sauna
Rajaportti Sauna demonstrates how cities built saunas in the early 20th century to welcome their guests. In the early 20th century, cities began building Ferris wheels to lure guests with views of the city from gondolas. The Helsinki Sky Sauna offers both. It is the first ferris wheel sauna in the world.
The heated gondola will take guests on a 5-7-minute ride around the 40m Helsinki sky wheel. They can also enjoy hot tubs and traditional drinks like Long Drinks – an alcoholic grapefruit soda that is the national drink in Finland.
Ski Gondola Sauna
Finland is well-known for its Nordic Sports. The Pallas-Yllastunturi National Park has 500 km of cross-country skiing trails and the cleanest air in the world. Yllas also has Finland’s biggest ski resort and the longest gondola. Cross-country skiers may enjoy a warm coffee in a backcountry café, but lift riders will be able to stay warm in the only ski Gondola Sauna in the world.
The ski gondola can be booked by groups of up to twelve people. The gondola offers three passes of 20 minutes, allowing participants to ride together in fours. Sauna guests can enjoy the facilities on the summit, including a lounge with showers, second saunas, heated outdoor jacuzzis and spectacular views.
Sauna Boats under the Midnight Sun
In Finnish Lapland, the sun does not set more than 45 consecutive days during the summer. This gives you a chance to chase after the Midnight Sun. You’d be remiss to miss a Sauna boat ride.
Finland is home to more water bodies than any other country and has over 76,000 islands. Floating saunas are a natural fit. The boat saunas are all over Finland. We enjoyed our cruise in Levi with Cinemas Safaris, where the crew prepared us a midnight treat of coffee and crepes.
Ice Saunas
Finns do not stop using saunas because the lake has frozen over. Pyhapiilo SaunaWorld builds ice saunas to keep the fun going. Your nine closest friends and you can jump in the frozen lake after a sauna session. Make sure that they are your friends and will not judge you if you jump into the freezing water because you’re not dressed in traditional Finnish fashion. Pyhapiilo has also traditional Finnish smoke Saunas which are considered to be one of the authentic sauna experiences in Finland.
Glass Saunas under the Northern Lights
The sun does not rise much in December and January. This doesn’t mean you have to stay indoors. You head out to the outdoors and watch the Northern Lights, one of the most spectacular light shows on Earth. In Finland, it’s possible to watch the Northern Lights while in the sauna.
The Northern Lights can be seen on clear nights in large parts of Finland. Finland is the forest-rich nation in Europe, so there’s little light pollution when you leave the cities.
In Lapland, at places like the Arctic Skylight Lodge you can find glass-walled saunas where you can watch the sky while warming your legs. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the water or soaking in a jacuzzi, you should still look around. Many of these facilities have cabins that feature glass ceilings to allow you to enjoy the view even after you’ve dried off.
Indoor Waterpark Sauna
The Levi Hotel & Spa is the perfect place to find a Finnish-style family sauna. The Levi Hotel Spa has seventeen pools with varying sizes, shapes and temperatures. There are also water slides and saunas. This is one of the biggest saunas in Finland, and it’s a great place for families. You can rent pool toys and water belts in the pool area if you forgot them. The swimming supervisors will lend you goggles.
Sauna in Your Suite
Burger King saunas may suggest that the Levi Hotel Spa offers a less than intimate experience. You might have a good idea if you combine that with the spa reception offering baby diapers. If you want something more intimate, all the Junior, Sammal and Kumpu Suites have saunas. The jetted bathtub in our suite (along with the sauna inside) made us wonder why we would ever leave.
Last Thoughts about Unusual Places for Saunas in Finland
It is in those small moments in Finland when the time stops that I find magic. You come face-to-face with contradictions like being steamy hot and then jumping into ice cold water. Each visitor to Finland should experience at least one Finnish Sauna. Why not try a sauna that is truly unique in Finland? Do some research to find out if your dream sauna is only for individuals or groups. If you are traveling as a couple or if your group is mixed, make sure that the saunas can be used together.
Take the chance to experience Finnish sauna culture. Sauna naked if everyone else is. You can also try jumping into the lake, or beating your skin with soft birch branches. You’ll enjoy the experience, even if it seems strange.