Experience Finnish sauna

Discover authentic Finnish sauna experiences at Lapland Hotels, in Lapland and our city hotels

Warmth, peace, and northern wellbeing
Saunas in Lapland and cities
From lakeside saunas to in-room saunas
Sauna from Finland certified
Authentic Finnish sauna tradition

Sauna is one of the most cherished traditions in Finnish culture. For generations, people have exchanged news, made important decisions, and enjoyed the silence on sauna benches. The warmth of the steam, the refreshing cool-down, and the leisurely atmosphere make the sauna a wellness experience that is an essential part of the Finnish lifestyle.

At Lapland Hotels, you get to experience an authentic Finnish sauna experience either in the tranquility of Lapland’s nature or in our atmospheric city hotels. You can enjoy the sauna experience in your own way – in a traditional Finnish sauna, by the water in a lakeside sauna, in a private sauna reservation, or even in your hotel room with a private sauna.

Sauna experiences in Lapland and cities

Sauna is part of the Finnish lifestyle

The Finnish sauna is much more than just a warm room or a place to wash – it’s a place for relaxation, rejuvenation, and socializing. In the heat, time slows down, the mind rests, and everyday life is left behind for a moment.

The sauna tradition is strong throughout Finland and includes gentle steams, whisking oneself with a birch branch, and cooling off in the fresh air as essential elements. The bravest also take a dip in cold water.

How to sauna like a Finn

  • Take a shower before the sauna.

  • Use a seat cover (pefletti) or sauna towel.

  • Saunas are usually enjoyed without swimwear (except in mixed saunas).

  • Sauna at your own pace – competition doesn't belong in the sauna.

  • Cool down outside or in a cool shower from time to time.

  • Drink plenty of water.

  • Remember to respect others' peaceful sauna experience.

Did you know this about Finnish saunas?

  • There are about 3.3 million saunas in Finland

  • Sauna used to be the cleanest room in the house, where births occurred and the sick were treated.

  • According to Finnish folklore, a sauna elf resides in the sauna and should be treated with respect. Noise or arguing in the heat was not advisable.

  • The first Finnish saunas were smoke saunas without chimneys. Their soft steams are still appreciated.

  • In Finland, saunas have been built in unique places – on rafts, gondolas, Ferris wheels, and even in old phone booth.

  • Whisking with a birch whisk revitalizes the skin and is part of many Finnish sauna traditions. (In Western Finland, it's called 'vasta,' in Eastern Finland, 'vihta'.)

  • For many Finns, cooling down by swimming in a lake, rolling in the snow, or taking an ice swim is also part of the sauna experience.

  • Finnish sauna is usually heated to 70–100 degrees Celsius, but the softness of the steam is more important than the temperature.

  • Finnish sauna culture was added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2020.

Find your own sauna experience

Authentic Finnish Sauna Experience quality certificate for Lapland Hotels

Authentic Finnish Sauna Experience Quality Certificate is an internationally recognized seal of quality awarded by the Finnish sauna network Sauna from Finland. It proves that a sauna destination meets stringent criteria based on eight core values: authenticity, multisensory experience, presence and relaxation, wellbeing, contrast, cleanliness, safety, and responsibility.

We are proud that the Authentic Finnish Sauna Experience Quality Certificate has been awarded to two of our hotels: Lapland Hotels Bulevardi (Helsinki) in 2019 and Lapland Hotels Tampere in 2020.

”"It was our goal to create a delightful sauna and spa world that leaves the guests gasping for breath. We succeeded in that. The rooms contain some of the most impressive room sauna experiences in the world. The guest feedback has been amazing. ” – Leena Turunen, Area Manager