The best winter saunas of Southeast Finland

Winter saunas of Loviisa, Kotka and Hamina

In the historic Strömfors ironworks village, sauna lovers are surprised by an authentic yurt sauna. You can order a complete experience that combines sauna bathing with refreshing in a hot tub, massage, clay, peat and wild herb treatments, or even hiking and experiential accommodation.

If you are looking for a different kind of sauna luxury, you will find a sauna selection to suit even the most demanding tastes at Santalahti Sauna World in Kotka. A visit to the smoke sauna built into a cave is unforgettable, and you can admire the sea views of Santalahti from the jacuzzi. For a romantic weekend, the best steam is experienced in the Santa Glass Sauna and staying overnight at Santa Glass Villa, where you can enjoy the evening atmosphere in the terrace jacuzzi.

The two saunas at Kotka's Sapokka small boat harbor are heated daily from early November to May Day. Come and try the beneficial combination of cold seawater and sauna steam at the Marina Cafe Laituri winter swimming spot.

Rampsinkari sauna in Hamina operates as a private sauna that can be reserved for your own group in advance.

In the Linnoitus swimming hall located in Hamina's city center, the whole family can easily enjoy the sauna and swimming both indoors and outdoors. The cold water pool temperature is 8 °C and the outdoor pool 15 °C. The outdoor area has a shared sauna and two magnificent swimming pools – this is a definite attraction for cold water swimming enthusiasts!

More detailed information about the saunas and their services:

Yurt sauna Santalahti Sauna World Marina Cafe Laituri winter swimming spot Rampsinkari sauna Linnoitus Swimming Hall & spa Salpalinja Museum's Mottisauna Hauhia Mill sauna

South Karelia winter saunas

Moving from the coast towards Lakeland, the first sauna and swimming spot is in Luumäki. At Hotel Salpa, you can use the public sauna session and swim in the clear waters of Lake Kivijärvi's winter swimming hole. There is also an indoor pool. Sauna bathing is free for guests. It is also possible to book a private sauna.

In Lappeenranta, you can enjoy the warmth of a cozy wood sauna and a refreshing winter swim. Myllysaari sauna is located near Lappeenranta city center, from where it is easy to continue along Lake Saimaa's shore to Holiday Club Saimaa Rauha. Saimaa Rauha is one of Finland's largest spas, offering various sauna and swimming experiences as well as treatments and activities.

The route continues from Lappeenranta to Imatra, whose spa has ten saunas and sixteen swimming pools, ensuring everyone finds a favorite. The cold pool guarantees the traditional sauna-cold water experience, but you should definitely also experience the fresh outdoor pool and the therapeutic effect of flowing water in other pools. The theme of Taikametsä (Magic Forest) in Imatra spa reflects the nearby nature of Saimaa.

The 150-kilometre-long flow of the Vuoksi river connects Saimaa to Lake Ladoga. Want to feel the power of flowing water and swim outdoors also in winter? This is possible in Imatra on the Vuoksi river. The Imatra sauna boat offers unforgettable experiences with warming in a wood sauna, jumping into Vuoksi, and dry suit floating. Vuoksi steaming in winter frost is a magnificent experience.

From Imatra you move on to Rautjärvi, right near the national border, where you can enjoy a traditional log smoke sauna by the lake. Hugon Smoke Saunas offer soft steam, lake swimming and relaxation in a hot tub. The smoke saunas have public sessions as well as the possibility to reserve the sauna for private use. Nearby cottages offer accommodation and opportunities to explore the interesting history of the border area.

Another South Karelia border river is Hiitolanjoki, along which you can find the cozy B&B Hiitolanjoki riverbank sauna. The river does not freeze in winter, so you can jump into the flowing water from the sauna. The charming B&B, founded in a former border guard station, offers accommodation and access to restored free-flowing historical rapids of Hiitolanjoki.

In addition to the border rivers, manors and estates are part of Finland's history. At Olkkola Manor sauna in Savitaipale, the atmosphere of the 1950s is charming. Private saunas are available for groups of different sizes, and you can also order a purifying peat treatment for the sauna. You can swim in the winter swimming hole in Lake Kuolimo from the sauna.

More detailed information about the saunas and their services:

Hotel Salpa winter sauna Myllysaari beach and winter sauna Holiday Club Saimaa Rauha spa Imatra Spa Resort Imatra sauna boat Hugon smoke saunas B&B Hiitolanjoki river sauna Olkkola Manor beach saunas

Winter saunas of Kouvola

The sauna tour continues towards Kouvola and crossing into Kymenlaakso from South Karelia. From Savitaipale it is a bit over an hour's drive to Orilampi Lodge, where guests can use the public sauna session or book a private sauna session for their own group. From the sauna, you can swim in the winter swimming hole of Lake Vuohijärvi, whose winter scenery captivates. Near Orilampi lies Repovesi National Park, where you can also hike, ski or snowshoe in the winter.

The next stage on the route is the beach sauna at Valkeala swimming hall, heated by the winter swimming association. It is heated three days a week. Experience the authentic communal sauna atmosphere with winter swimmers! If you have never tried winter swimming, there are experienced swimmers at the sauna who are happy to guide beginners.

You can also enjoy a nature-close sauna experience at Tykkimäki Sauna. The sauna is heated daily and you can dip into a large winter swimming hole and the refreshing water of Lake Käyrälampi. A wood-heated sauna boat is also heated several days a week. Have you tried sauna yoga? At Tykkimäki Sauna you can try how it feels to do yoga in the sauna, after which it is good to enjoy cool refreshments, salty and sweet treats at the Sauna café.

Tykkimäki Resort is also located at Käyrälampi, where you can reserve a panoramic sauna, beach sauna or smoke sauna for your own group without accommodation booking. The beautiful lake scenery and jacuzzis at Käyrälampi create a pleasant experience with the sauna. Refreshments and tasty treats can be ordered from the Resort's own restaurant. At Käyrälampi you will also find winter activities and outdoor routes.

The saunas of Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna located in the city center of Kouvola offer an authentic Finnish sauna experience. The sauna has the Finnish Sauna Experience URBAN quality certificate. The saunas and hot tub are atmospherically relaxing, and from them you can go out to the terraces to cool off. In addition to the public saunas there is also a private sauna, and you can also enjoy the sauna in the Pentik suite in peace.

More detailed information about the saunas and their services:

Orilampi Lodge saunas Valkeala swimming hall and beach sauna (Likolampi Winter Swimmers Association) Tykkimäki Sauna Tykkimäki Resort saunas Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna saunas

The route from Kouvola returns back to Loviisa.

In wintertime, sauna-goers should be prepared with slippers or similar footwear and a cap or other headgear to make the transition from sauna to winter swimming more pleasant in cold air.

In public saunas, you need to bring your own towel and a sauna seat cover towel to sit on the sauna benches. A small towel works well as the seat cover. Accommodation providers’ saunas and private saunas generally provide towels and seat cover towels. Spa accommodations usually also include bathrobes. Availability of swimsuits, towels and seat covers should be checked when planning to visit the sauna or booking accommodation.

The sauna route travels on both large and small roads, where weather conditions can vary greatly during winter. Take weather conditions into account and prepare properly for winter driving.

Familiarize yourself with the instructions at each sauna and swimming place or ask the sauna operator for advice on how to act safely at the sauna and swimming place.

In traditional public saunas, the old gender division is still practiced: women have their own and men their own sauna session. However, mixed sauna sessions are becoming more common, where everyone wears a swimsuit or wraps themselves in a towel in the sauna.

There are generally no separate dressing rooms, showers or sauna facilities or sessions for gender minorities in saunas or spas. Spas have separate locked changing cubicles where you can change into a swimsuit. In swimming halls, a blue and white usage right mark entitles the swimmer to wear a swimsuit, even if the rules would require being without a swimsuit in the sauna and showers. The right to use this mark can be exercised for health reasons, such as illness, medical device or gender reassignment process. You can ask for the usage right mark at swimming hall counters.

Loviisa is easily reached via highways 7 and 6. From Helsinki to Loviisa is about 90 kilometres. You can also start the route from other cities.
Loviisa-Kotka 46 km
Kotka-Hamina 27 km
Hamina-Luumäki 49 km
Luumäki-Lappeenranta 38 km
Lappeenranta-Imatra 35 km
Imatra-Rautjärvi 49 km
Rautjärvi-Savitaipale 116 km
Savitaipale-Orilampi 80 km
Orilampi-Kouvola 44 km
Kouvola-Loviisa 64 km

Loviisa, Kotka, Hamina, Lappeenranta and Imatra are easily accessible by bus. Check routes and timetables: Matkahuolto
Kotka, Kouvola, Lappeenranta and Imatra can also be reached by train in addition to bus. Check routes and timetables: VR

For public transport travel, it is recommended to choose saunas located in cities and their immediate vicinity along the sauna route. Information about arriving in cities and municipalities as well as local transport can be found on the tourism websites of each area and municipality:

Visit Kotka-Hamina goSaimaa VisitKouvola

There is free or paid parking available at the sauna destinations.

Sauna bathing is beneficial:

1. Stress decreases: Sauna bathing calms and relaxes. Sauna reduces stress, which in turn is good for the heart and circulation.

2. Metabolism activates: Sweating removes up to half a liter of fluid from the body per hour. Circulation improves, which enhances cell metabolism and nutrient supply.

3. Breathing flows: The warm and moist air of the sauna is easy to breathe.

5. Swelling decreases: Sauna bathing promotes the excretion of salts and uric acid from the body.

6. Pain alleviates: The body relaxes in the sauna and various pain symptoms may ease as a result.

7. Hormones buzz: Sauna bathing increases the secretion of beta-endorphin and other pleasure hormones in the body. Sauna helps in recovering from mental and physical strain.

8. Mind refreshes: Sauna is a safe place to practice presence amidst the rush. Sauna bathing can be a meditative moment or a joyful shared experience.

9. Skin glows: Enhanced surface blood circulation and increased pleasure hormones give skin a glow – refreshed from the sauna you look your best! Sauna bathing does not dry the skin but gently cleanses the body.

10. Sleep improves: Sauna bathing can improve sleep onset and quality. The heat of the sauna increases serotonin hormone in the body. Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin, which affects sleep and alertness.

11. Brain likes it: For all of the above reasons, especially because of the improved circulation and metabolism, the brain likes sauna bathing. No wonder you feel SO GOOD after the sauna!

Read more: Health and wellbeing effects of winter swimming

Instructions for first-time sauna users

You should prepare well in advance and allocate enough time for sauna bathing. There is no hurry in the sauna. Drink a few glasses of water before the sauna session. Put your phone on silent. You don't need it and cannot use it in the sauna. Sauna time is time for yourself without distractions. Take a shower and wash. Remove makeup from your face and gels from your hair. You can go to the sauna naked, wrapped in a towel or in a swimsuit. If you wish you can wear a damp towel or sauna hat on your head to protect your hair. Arrive at the sauna with a curious and open mind. Sit on the uppermost bench on your towel. Breathe calmly, close your eyes and relax. Listen to your body and trust your feelings. Sweating, slight acceleration of pulse and skin redness are normal. Drink water to compensate for sweating. If the sauna feels too hot, lie down, move to the lower benches or go out to cool off for a while. Finnish saunas have no time limits. Everyone may come and go at their own pace. Sauna bathing is not a competition. Once you have gotten used to the initial heat of the sauna, throw steam by cautiously throwing small amounts of water on the stove while sensing the appropriate temperature. The more water you throw, the hotter it becomes. Let the steam soothe your skin and mind. Cool off from time to time in the dressing room or outside. Sit a moment in the fresh air, swim or simply sit down. It is important that you drink enough during and after the sauna session to maintain fluid balance. You may go to the sauna as many times as you like. Remember to leave space for other sauna users on the benches. Finally rinse off sweat from your skin and wash in the shower facilities. Continue relaxing after the sauna alone or with friends. Enjoy your feeling refreshed from the sauna.

Instructions for first-time winter swimmers

Always swim together – do not go swimming alone. The best safety guarantee is another swimmer who can alert help if needed. Warm up before going into the water in the sauna or by brisk walking or a short gym session. You may go swimming with or without a swimsuit - follow the sauna and swimming place instructions on attire. Use headgear (e.g. a cap, swimming cap) especially in cold and windy weather. Heat evaporates fastest from the head area. Use footwear, slippers or wool socks and, if you wish, gloves when going swimming. Use them especially if the ground and swimming steps are not heated. Neoprene accessories provide the best protection in icy environments and water. Note that wet skin may freeze to unheated surfaces and steps in cold weather. You may wrap yourself in a towel or bathrobe when entering and leaving the water. The air is often colder than water in winter! Move slowly because the path from the sauna to the water and the swimming steps may be slippery. When entering the water, breathe calmly and take a few long exhalations. Cold water may initially cause harmless breath inhibition. Submerge briefly at first and hold on to the swimming steps. Avoid getting your head wet and do not jump into the water. Extend swimming time according to your own feelings. After swimming, warm up moderately in the sauna and drink plenty of lukewarm or warm drinks. Winter swimming is not suitable for those who are ill or under the influence of alcohol. If you have heart or vascular disease, discuss with your doctor first whether winter swimming is suitable for you. Enjoy the wellbeing and health benefits of winter swimming! Swimming in cold water can improve sleep quality, sauna relaxes muscles and invigorates mood. Children can also try winter swimming under adult supervision.