Over the years this rustic tradition has of course been urbanised – for example, many apartment buildings these days offer free-of-charge communal Christmas saunas. Yet there are many public saunas in Helsinki where visitors too can experience the magic of an authentic Finnish Christmas sauna. We listed six Christmas sauna tips.
Löyly
Löyly is a stunning sauna and restaurant complex that commands the city’s silhouette on its southern shoreline. A masterpiece of contemporary wooden architecture, Löyly has claimed awards in numerous international design and architecture competitions. To cool off, you can even take a dip in the frigid waters of the Baltic Sea!
Hernesaarenranta 4
December opening hours:
Mon 4pm-10pm
Tue-Thu 1pm-10pm
Fri 1pm-11pm
Sat 9am-11am & 1pm-11pm
Sun 11am-21pm
Christmas time:
24 December: closed
25 December: 2pm-9pm
26 December: 1pm-9pm
31 December: 11am-9pm
1 January: 1pm-9pm
Allas Sea Pool
The Allas Sea Pool next to the Market Square is open all year round. You can visit Allas also during the holiday season for either a sauna, swim or a meal - or why not combine them all into a nice gift for yourself. The sea water pool and the warm water pool are perfect spots to swim, exercise, or just hang out and enjoy.
Katajanokanlaituri 2a
Opening hours in December:
Mon-Fri 6.30am-9pm
Sat 8am-9pm
Sun 9am-9pm
Christmas time:
23 December: 8am-9pm
24 December: 8am-4pm
25 December: 10am-6pm
26 December: 9am-8pm
31 December: 9am-8pm
1 January: 10am-8pm
The Christmas sauna is a big part of the Finnish Christmas. In fact, taking a sauna on Christmas Eve is one of the oldest Christmas traditions in Finland, dating all the way back to ancient history. Over the years this rustic tradition has of course been urbanised – for example, many apartment buildings these days offer free-of-charge communal Christmas saunas.
Sauna Hermanni
Sauna Hermanni is another classic local sauna that opened in the 1950s. The men’s sauna fits 30 and the women’s sauna 20 at a time.
Hämeentie 63
Opening hours in December:
Wed-Fri 3pm-8pm
Sat-Sun 2pm-6pm
Christmas time:
23 December: 2pm-6pm
24-26 December: closed
31 December: 2pm-6pm
1 January: closed
Kotiharju sauna
Kotiharju Sauna is the oldest wood-heated public sauna in Helsinki, having operated since 1928. Kotiharju Sauna is open in December from Tuesdays to Sundays, 2pm to 8pm, and on Christmas Eve from 10am to 4pm.
Harjutorinkatu 1
December opening hours:
Tue-Sun 2pm-8pm
Christmas time:
23 December: 2pm-8pm
24 December: 10am-4pm
25-26 December: Closed
31 December: Closed
1 January: Closed
Uusi sauna
Uusi Sauna in Jätkäsaari is a modern neighbourhood sauna, a combination of a public sauna and a restaurant. The saunas, separate for men and women, are heated with wood pellets. There's also one electric heated sauna which can be booked for private use.
Välimerenkatu 10
December opening hours:
Tue-Sat 4pm-12am
Christmas time:
23 December: 4pm-12am
24 December: 10am-4pm
25-26 December: closed
31 December: closed
1 January: closed
Kämp Spa
Kämp Spa is a world of well-being in the middle of Helsinki. Even at Christmas time, the saunas are warm every day, and treatments for pampering and well-being are also available. The atmospheric sauna section has a Finnish sauna, a gentle eucalyptus steam sauna and heated divans.
Kluuvikatu 4 B, 8 floor
Opening hours in December:
Mon-Sat 10am-8pm
Sun 9am-6pm
Christmas time:
24 December 9am-6pm
25 December 9am-6pm
26 December 9am-6pm
31 December 9am-6pm
1 January 9am-6pm
+1 according to your own schedule: Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
At Lapland Hotels Bulevardi, you don't have to worry about the opening hours - more than a hundred of the hotel's 182 rooms have their own sauna. The hotel, located in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the capital city, offers a breath of Lapland's peace and magical atmosphere. In the hotel's restaurant Kultá Kitchen & Bar, you can enjoy modern and natural northern flavors even on Christmas Eve.
Bulevardi 28
+1 with pre-booking only: 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, tablecloth, swimsuit and water bottle. The construction works around the sauna restrict the traffic to the area, please check out Kulttuurisauna's website for the latest directions.
Hakaniemenranta 17
December pre-booking possibilities:
Wed-Sun 4pm-9pm
Christmas time:
24-31 December: Closed
