In the Hot Seat

Question: Approximately how many saunas are located in Finland?

Answer: 3 million

When the temperature starts to drop in Finland, there’s no better way to warm up than stepping into a scorching hot sauna and sweating it out. For thousands of years, locals have enjoyed saunas to keep toasty on the coldest days as well as take advantage of the numerous health benefits a sauna session offers. They sit amongst each other for this physical and mental cleansing with only the sound of crackling wood and hissing water being tossed onto hot stones.

This daily ritual has been a key part of Finnish culture for generations. From the earliest days of history, settlers escaped the freezing cold climate by digging holes in the ground and filling them with hot stones. Research suggests this practice dates back to the Neolithic period around 7000 B.C.E.

Since that time, Finns have continued the tradition and expanded it tenfold. Saunas have come to be considered a sacred space, almost as revered as a church. Because of the intense heat (about 175°F), entering into a sauna brings about a sort of meditative state. The space is dark and so hot that you do not want to speak. After about 15 minutes, you’ll work up quite the sweat, ridding your skin and body of toxins. Sauna-goers will also occasionally pour water onto a stack of heated stones to release steam.

There are numerous health benefits to be had by spending time in the sweltering chambers. These include reducing stress, strengthening the immune system, helping muscle pains, and improving the quality of sleep, among many others. Some Finns may also gently hit their bodies with fresh birch twigs, called vihta, to improve circulation.

You might think that having a sauna in your home is a luxury, but to the Finns, it is an everyday necessity just like a shower. There are three million saunas and counting in a population of just over five million people. From homes to offices and factories, saunas are all over the place. You can find them in the wackiest of places too—including a Ferris wheel sauna and sports arena saunas for spectating a game while you relax. They come in many different forms, including electric, wood-heated, smoke, and infra-red.

The routine of taking a sauna is such an important piece of Finnish daily life that it is inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. For Finns, it’s never too cold for a post-sauna dip in a frozen lake, and a summer holiday wouldn’t be the same without enjoying the pine-clad rooms.

Proper Etiquette in Finland’s Saunas:

• Make sure to shower before and enter the sauna clean. Because swimsuits have chemicals that react with the warmth of the sauna, they are typically not worn. You can cover up with a towel if you’re feeling shy. Most places have separate saunas for men and women.


• Towels are important so you don’t drip sweat onto the wooden benches. Some public saunas have specific disposable sauna tissue to sit on.


• Saunas are usually 175°F but you can sit lower down on the benches if this is too hot for you. You may also take the seat nearest to the door where the heat is not as sharp.


• While talking is not forbidden, typically Finns keep quiet to fully relax the mind.


• In Finland, anyone is allowed to pour water on the stones to release the burst of steam. You can ladle on the löyly as you see fit.


• Make sure to take breaks and drink plenty of water. Sauna-going is not a competition to see who can last the longest.


• After the sauna, it is tradition to have a cold drink such as beer, cider, lemonade, or water. Eating roasted sausages is another key part of the sauna experience.

Perhaps you’ll step into a Finnish sauna and enjoy its rejuvenating benefits during our New! Nordic Countries & the Arctic Circle: Finland, Sweden’s Sami Lapland & Norway adventure.