
Sauna in Finland
Happy as a Finn – go to sauna! It is a must experience in Lapland.
There are over 3 million saunas in Finland – that’s more than passenger cars. It’s safe to say we love our saunas! For an absolute Rovaniemi experience one must try sauna.

Wellbeing from sauna
Wellbeing from sauna
For us Finns the sauna is a place for relaxation and laidback socialising. It’s our sanctuary and a source of wellbeing. We go to sauna to clear our minds of our everyday worries.
Sauna is often combined with a swim in natural waters or a dip in a jacuzzi – an exhilarating sensation whether it’s summer or winter.

Benefits of sauna
Benefits of sauna
Sauna helps to relax both the mind and body, so the health benefits are versatile.
- Sauna relieves stress
- Sauna induces deeper sleep
- Sauna helps to recover after exercise
- Sauna combined to ice swimming or cold shower affect mood, improve stress tolerance and can relieve pain

Rovaniemi saunas welcome you
Rovaniemi saunas welcome you
Going to a small, hot and steamy space wearing only a swimsuit or a towel can be a little intimidating. We get it. But no stress, we appreciate the visitors and newcomers joining!
In Rovaniemi one can choose from a variety of diverse sauna experiences, such as snow sauna – a sauna built with ice and snow – traditional wooden saunas, a sauna boat, and a riverside restaurant offering a sauna experience.

Which sauna is for me?
Which sauna is for me?
For a casual, easy access sauna experience, one can try out the public saunas in and around Rovaniemi. Saunas are found in all the resorts and hotels with public and private shifts. If you’d like to experience a sauna on the river, we have sauna rafts and boats, and floating saunas.
There are electrically heated saunas and wood burning saunas, you can even order one to come to your doorstep, or you can book your own sauna experience with spa treatments and dinner.
Questions about Sauna
No preparation is needed. Wet and wash yourself in the shower and enter the steam room. Wear a towel or a swimsuit, if you like. If you attend a sauna tour or have book a sauna experience, it is adviced to check what is included. It might be a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you or another sauna drink. After the sauna wash yourself and drink some water, also it’s good to wear warm clothes after the sauna at winter time.
Us Finns believe there’s nothing to be ashamed of in naked human bodies, so in the public saunas (such as swimming halls) in Finland people don’t wear swimsuits. The public saunas are divided to women’s and men saunas. In the mixed, all gender saunas people often tend to use towl or swimsuit. Yet, we totally understand wearing a swimsuit or wrapping a towel around you for sauna feels more comfortable for you.
Just relax and enjoy – take time to breathe and clear your mind. Sit on a sauna bench on your bench covering cloth. If more benches than one is available, you can choose a higher bench for more heat or a lower one for less. Anyone in the sauna can throw water on the stove to add more steam and heat. This will make a hissing sound and bring on a little extra heat quickly.
Everyone can stay in the steam room for as long as they feel like, there’s no rule to it, it can be from a minute or two, or much longer. If you are not used to sauna, listen to your body and get some fresh air in the between of the heat whenever necessary or just cool off and get back into sauna.
It’s good to have some water or other refreshing drink with you in the sauna. If the sauna has a swimming possibility, cool off by dipping yourself in the water and head back to sauna. This is the way we Finns do it through out the year!
This depends on the sauna and the people. Some like alternating from the sauna steam room to a dip in a pool, natural waters, or a jacuzzi. Some step out of the sauna to sit for a drink on the terrace. In the winter, taking a break from the steam room might mean a dip in a winter swimming spot or rolling in snow. The ultimate sauna experience is meant to leave a wonderful feeling to your whole body and relax your mind.
It depends on the situation, but generally the temperature is anything between 70 to 90 up to 100 centigrade. It also depends on a sauna type, wooden and electric sauna can feel different even though the temperature would be the same. Recommended temperature for a beginner is 70 centigrade.
Book sauna activities!

VÄKI – Forest Bath
Welcome to this inclusive, private and guided experience. With our local guide you will feel and sense the power of the nature – Väki.

Arctos Autumn Spa – Private evening session (1-4 persons)
Includes the private use of the traditional wood-heated sauna, hot tub and swimming in the Arctic lake. Price: 325€ per group (1-4 persons)

Arctos Winter Spa – Evening session (Private)
Spa experience in a magical setting. Includes wood-heated sauna, hot tub surrounded by cosy candles and ice-dipping. Price: 185€ per person

Traditional Lappish Evening in the Wilderness with Dinner
Experience the traditional Lappish firewood sauna next to a cozy cottage and take a dip in the private Arctic lake! Blow off some steam and enjoy a peaceful night in the authentic Finnish sauna. End the night with a tasty dinner cooked over an open fire.

Lakeside Sauna & Arctic Bath
Bask in the soothing warmth of our Lakeside Sauna and enjoy authentic Finnish relaxation. No matter the season, a refreshing plunge into Lake Olkka always offers an invigorating thrill!

Arctos Winter Spa for 2 persons – Evening session (Private)
Spa experience in a magical setting, just for the two of you. Includes wood-heated sauna, hot tub and ice-dipping. Total price: 499€

Visiting package: Snow sauna experience with food by the fire
Includes 1.5hour of private sauna, snow sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, a guided tour of the SnowHotel, and a 3-course dinner by the fire at the Kota Restaurant

Arctos Autumn Spa – Private daytime session (5-6 persons)
Includes the private use of the wood-heated sauna, hot tub and swimming in the Arctic lake. Price: 299€ per group (5-6 persons)
This type of activity is also provided by

StayLapland
Spend an activity packed vacation in Rovaniemi and try all the wonderful activities we offer!

Sunny Safari
Sunny Safari is a high quality, experienced and customized local safari activities provider. We always focus to organize enjoyable and memorable programs to customers.

Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
Our experience packages include arctic activities that are sure to make your holiday one you will never forget.

Nordic Odyssey
Nordic Odyssey is a new tour operator company based in Rovaniemi and specialised in providing memorable & unique experiences to travellers visiting Lapland. We offer high-quality guided services in English and in French, at the best price!