5 Finnish public saunas you probably haven’t heard of—tips from sauna bloggers Anne and Pilvi

Sauna-loving Anne Tammela and Pilvi Peltola started their shared sauna hobby when they ended up co-leading the same Cub Scout pack. When they realized they were both sauna enthusiasts, Anne and Pilvi decided to hold their first planning session on the sauna benches.

“In the sauna, you can relax and take time for yourself. You don’t think about anything else there,” Pilvi says.

She and Anne report their experiences from public saunas all over Finland on Instagram and on their blog, Saunamimmit saunoo. Experience has sharpened their sense of what kind of sauna they love.

“I notice pretty quickly if, say, the air in a sauna doesn’t feel fresh enough. I’ve gotten a bit picky—not every sauna feels that great anymore,” Pilvi says.

“If the only option is an electric sauna, I might wonder whether it’s worth going at all,” Anne chimes in.

Both favor moody, dark, and fragrant smoke saunas with soft, humid steam.

Now THEY share five Finnish saunas that are absolutely worth a visit:

1. Järvelä, Turku

A firm favorite from their very first visit! Järvelä’s specialty is an indoor ice-hole plunge for anyone wanting icy water even in midsummer. The site offers several wood-fired saunas and warm-water pools. You can access natural water year-round.

2. Zoolandia’s smoke sauna, Lieto

At the Zoolandia animal park, there’s a rather unusual smoke sauna: bathers sit high up on the benches while the stove sits far below. The steam is created by a trickle of water—poured from the benches into a funnel, it slowly runs down a pipe to the stove. Between authentic smoke sauna steam sessions, you can take a dip in a small pond.

3. Villa Miilia, Karijoki

At Villa Miilia, you can sauna in a rural idyll. The atmospheric sauna and spa are set in a former barn at a guesthouse in a traditional Ostrobothnian farmhouse. The wood-fired sauna has great steam. Between rounds, you can dip into a warm or cold pool. Guests staying at the inn can use the sauna, or you can book it for private use.

4. Kontiolahti winter swimmers’ sauna

The regulars at the Kontiolahti winter swimmimg association’s sauna welcomed visitors warmly—our sauna experts praise the atmosphere. Set on the beautiful shore of Lake Höytiäinen, the sauna is heated with an oil-fired stove. It provides gentle, humid steam. Visitors can join public sessions with a single-entry fee, and the sauna is also available to rent.

5. Jätkänkämppä smoke sauna, Kuopio

Classic smoke sauna vibes! Spa Hotel Rauhalahti’s Jätkänkämppä, Lumberjack Lodge, is an old lodging for forest workers that hasn’t been overly modernized. In the large sauna, you’ll get hotter steam on the upper benches and milder on the lower ones. On Jätkänkämppä’s traditional evenings, you can not only sauna but also enjoy live music and a meal.