7 Finnish Christmas saunas to try in Helsinki
For most Finns, Christmas wouldn’t feel complete without sauna. The cherished joulusauna tradition invites everyone to slow down and get together before and during the festivities. Many public saunas in Helsinki are open even on Christmas Day!
We’ve listed seven of them below, from historic neighbourhood bathhouses to modern design landmarks by the sea. Take your pick and get into a true spirit of a Helsinkian Christmas.
Please note that the sauna-specific opening hours will be shown here closer to Christmas!
Helsinki’s many public saunas bring Finland’s timeless Christmas tradition to life for everyone — locals and travellers alike. Throughout December, and even during Christmas Eve and Day, you can step into these warm havens to experience an authentic Finnish holiday ritual.
Combine your sauna visit with either rolling in fresh snow or dipping into icy waters and you will feel truly heavenly. Here are seven must-visit Helsinki Christmas saunas – see if you can conquer them all!
Löyly
Löyly is a stunning sauna and restaurant complex that commands the city’s silhouette on its southern shoreline. A masterpiece of contemporary wooden eco architecture, Löyly has claimed awards in numerous international design and architecture competitions. There are three different saunas that are all heated with wood, one of them being a traditional smoke sauna – a true rarity in an urban environment. To cool off, you can take a dip in the frigid waters of the Baltic Sea and admire the beautiful archipelago views.
Allas Pool
Allas Pool next to the iconic Market Square by the sea is open all year round. There are a total of five saunas, three on the pool level and two in the main building. The sea water pool and the warm water pool are perfect spots to swim, exercise, or just hang out and enjoy. You can visit Allas throughout the holiday season for either a sauna, swim or a meal – or combine them all into a nice Christmas gift for yourself!
Sauna Hermanni
Sauna Hermanni is a classic local sauna that has welcomed bathers since the 1950s. With its mellow wood-fired heat and retro charm, Hermanni offers separate saunas for men and women and preserves the atmosphere of Helsinki’s traditional neighbourhood bathhouses. Simple, authentic, and unmistakably Finnish.
Note: it is possible to rent a towel and small snacks are also available.
Kotiharjun sauna
Kotiharjun Sauna is the oldest wood-heated public sauna in Helsinki, having operated since 1928. This genuinely old-fashioned sauna still offers traditional services such as massages, cupping and washing ladies to help you get squeaky clean! It is possible to rent towels, vihta (the birch branch to whisk off that melancholy!), snacks and more. After the relaxing communal sauna you can cool off on the street and soak in the authentic Kallio neighbourhood vibes.
Uusi sauna
Located in the lively Jätkäsaari district, Uusi Sauna reimagines the communal sauna as a modern neighbourhood living room. Its restaurant and wood-pellet-heated saunas create a welcoming atmosphere where locals and travellers meet, dine, and relax together. A modern classic for the urban sauna enthusiast.
Furuvik
Along Helsinki’s beautiful coastline, Villa Furuvik’s public sauna Furuvik offers tranquillity by the sea and the soothing warmth of a traditional wood-fired sauna. It’s the perfect escape from the festive rush — a peaceful spot to breathe in the crisp sea air and let time slow down amid nature and the sounds of the waves. The sauna hosts approx. 14 persons at a time. In the winter, it is possible to dip in avanto (ice hole) too!
Lähteen sauna
Lapinlahden Lähteen sauna claims to be the oldest public sauna in town! The seafront and the stunning surroundings of the old hospital park offer a unique sauna experience in the middle of the city, with both women’s and men’s turns as well as public mixed saunas. The sauna can also be booked for private use, for example for a group of friends. You can order catering services from Café Lähde during its opening hours.
Kulttuurisauna
Kulttuurisauna is an ecological design sauna in the sculptural architecture of Merihaka. The sauna, which focuses on relaxation, does not accept groups, and access to the sauna is only possible with a pre-booking. Bring your own towel, pefletti (a cloth to sit on), swimsuit and water bottle. Pre-booking only!
