In Helsinki, 4 of the curated saunas fit this cut. See the full Helsinki guide for every venue, or keep scrolling for just the historic saunas.
Every historic sauna in Helsinki
Kotiharjun Sauna
€Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki's last remaining public wood-fired sauna, operating continuously since 1928 in the Kallio neighbourhood. The löyly is fierce, the benches are worn smooth, and the regulars don't say much. This is sauna at its most essential: no design concept, no brand, just heat.
Lähteen Sauna
€Helsinki, Finland
An 1880s sauna in the Lapinlahti hospital park by the sea, reckoned to be the oldest public sauna still working in Helsinki. Mixed, women's and men's shifts run through the month with no booking; you turn up and pay at the door. The whole sauna can also be hired privately, and the beach is under 100 metres away.
Sauna Hermanni
€Helsinki, Finland
A public sauna off a courtyard on Hämeentie in Hermanni, running since the 1950s, with separate men's and women's sides heated by IKI stoves. Walk in during opening hours and pay at the kiosk, which also rents towels and sells coffee and grilled sausage. Friday and Saturday evenings can be booked for private groups.
Talin sauna
€Helsinki, Finland
The sauna of Tali's 1936 allotment garden in Pitäjänmäki heats on Tuesdays and Saturdays through the summer, in separate two-hour shifts for women and men. Anyone may come, not only plot holders; visitors from outside pay a little more at the door. Refreshments are sold at the sauna, and payment is by card or MobilePay.