Everything a visitor needs to know to enjoy their first Finnish sauna — what to bring, what to do, what not to worry about.
Bring a towel (or rent one). Bring swimwear if you're going to a mixed-gender public sauna or if you're uncomfortable with nudity. Single-gender saunas are nude; that's the norm.
1. Shower first — mandatory. 2. Enter the hot room, sit on a towel on the bench. 3. Stay as long as feels comfortable (5–15 min usually). 4. Cool down — outside, in a cold shower, or if you're brave, in the sea. 5. Repeat 2–4 times. 6. Drink water between rounds.
Silence is fine. So is quiet chat. Don't shout. Don't splash water on stones aggressively — ask if others want more heat (löyly) first. If someone leaves the hot room, don't follow immediately; they may need a minute alone.
Löyly (Hernesaari): modern, by the sea, restaurant. Allas Sea Pool (central): heated outdoor pools, classic. Sompasauna: free, volunteer-run, bring your own firewood, very local. Kotiharjun Sauna: last traditional wood-burning public sauna (Kallio).
Common mistake
Treating sauna as an endurance test. It's not a competition — leave when you're done.
Good to know
Public saunas often have a cafe or restaurant attached. Eating after sauna is part of the ritual.