Private saunas in Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland

A small electric sauna on Itäinen Pihlajasaari, designed and built by architecture students and run by the City of Helsinki. Six people fit inside, it is used self-service, and the whole sauna is booked for a slot through the city's Varaamo service over the summer season. The island is reached by ferry from Merisatama or Ruoholahti.

Helsinki, Finland

A hired sauna floor beside Pasila station, run by Pasilan Saunatilat alongside its sister space Esterin Sauna. Two saunas open onto a 200 m2 room with a kitchen, lounge seating, fireplaces and a balcony to cool off on. The whole place goes to one group, booked by the hour in the day or as an evening shift.

Helsinki, Finland

A 240 square metre sauna space in the Etola building in Herttoniemi, hired by the group rather than by the seat. The sauna takes ten, beside a 13-metre pool, a lounge, changing rooms, a bar counter and a billiards room. Hire has no fixed start or finish, so an evening can run into the morning.

Helsinki, Finland

The sauna section at Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa sits beside an 11-metre heated pool on the Gulf of Finland shore. Two saunas are hired by the hour for groups of two to twenty, and in summer the terrace and hotel beach open straight off them. Food and drink are ordered from the hotel restaurant in advance.

Helsinki, Finland

A rooftop sauna and lounge on top of the Radisson Blu Seaside in Ruoholahti, looking out over the water and the Helsinki roofline. The windowed sauna seats eight around the stove, with a two-level lounge and a terrace beside it. The space is hired by the group rather than sold by the seat.

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.

Helsinki, Finland

The City of Helsinki's wood-heated shore sauna sits on the south side of Länsi-Pihlajasaari, a ten-minute water bus from Merisatama or Ruoholahti. One group books it at a time for a three-hour slot, up to seven people, and heats it themselves with the firewood provided. The sea is a few steps from the door.

Helsinki, Finland

A wood-fired sauna boat moored at the Mustikkamaa marina in Helsinki, run by Saunalautta.fi alongside its smaller m/s Sauna. The 12-metre vessel takes sixteen at the dock, with a heated hot tub, a sheltered lounge and a ladder into the sea. It is booked whole, by the shift or as a cruise.

Helsinki, Finland

A wood-heated sauna raft moored at Taivallahti in Töölö, with a roof terrace, a shower and room for ten on the benches. Public hourly turns are booked online seat by seat, and the whole raft can be taken privately; in summer it leaves the dock for anchored cruises for up to twelve. Swimming is straight off the deck.

Helsinki, Finland

A top-floor space near Kamppi with a sauna section, changing room and a large lounge, hired whole for gatherings of up to fifty. The steam room takes four to six at a time. Guests heat the stove themselves and may bring their own food or order catering.

Helsinki, Finland

A sauna and function space on Lauttasaari with a lounge, kitchen and a small hot tub beside the wash room. The steam room holds around twelve and the whole space takes up to forty. Hired privately, with guests heating the stove themselves.

Helsinki, Finland

A basement sauna and meeting space in Taka-Toolo, hired whole rather than by the seat. The steam room seats about six, while the wider space holds fifteen, with a lounge, kitchen and changing rooms alongside. Guests heat the stove themselves, which takes about 45 minutes.

Helsinki, Finland

A rooftop sauna and function space above Teollisuuskatu, hired whole by the group. The sauna seats twelve and opens onto a 200 m2 terrace with an outdoor hot tub, alongside changing rooms, lounges, a billiard table and a karaoke room. Grill and sauna catering menus can be added to a booking.

Helsinki, Finland

A sauna and party space on Aleksis Kiven katu in Kallio, taken by the group rather than by the seat. Around 160 square metres holds a lounge, a fitted kitchen and a sauna for ten, with four showers and a sound system. Guests bring their own food and drink.

Helsinki, Finland

Two private saunas on the eighth floor of the Hilton Helsinki Strand, facing the water. A group books one or both for a session of an hour and three quarters, which also covers the hotel pool and gym and comes with towels and robes. Booking is by phone or email.