Journey

Sauna meets design – the Finnish way

Credits: Pekka Keränen

Starting Point: Helsinki

1-4 days

Journey: Sauna meets design – the Finnish way

Sauna and design are part of everyday life in Finland. A haven for the mind, retreat for the muscles and escape from stress and worries, visiting a sauna leaves bathers feeling relaxed and content. And design is an equally important part of Finnish culture. Starting in Helsinki, here are some of the places where you can experience both.

Helsinki

Löyly sauna

Löyly is one of the most iconic and well-known public saunas in Finland. An urban sanctuary situated on the Helsinki waterfront, its sculptural wooden building houses three wood-heated saunas and was designed by architects Ville Hara and Anu Puustinen of Avanto. There’s also an outdoor swimming pool that’s available year-round and a welcoming restaurant that serves Finnish classics.

Travel tip

Continue your journey to the sauna capital of the world, Tampere, which is a two-hour train trip from Helsinki. Check timetables at vr.fi. In Tampere, you’ll find numerous public saunas, including sauna and restaurant Kuuma, which merges Finnish traditions with urban vibes and is one of the newest additions to the city’s sauna scene.

Tampere

Sauna-Restaurant Kuuma

Melding sauna tradition with urban vibes, Kuuma is a welcome addition to Tampere’s sauna scene. This sleek lakeside building features two saunas and a popular restaurant serving seasonal, Nordic-style cuisine and a delicious tasting menu.

Travel tip

Head further into Lakeland to Kuopio via a 3.5-hour train ride from Tampere. Situated on the shores of Lake Kallavesi in Kuopio, Saana is a fairly recent addition to Finland’s public sauna scene and is well worth a visit. The Finnish word “saana” means “sauna” when pronounced in the local Savo dialect.

Kuopio

Kuopion Saana, Sauna & Spa

The Finnish word “saana” means “sauna” when pronounced in the Savonian dialect. Situated on the shores of Lake Kallavesi in Kuopio, Saana is a fairly recent addition to the country’s public sauna scene and features three separate saunas, an indoor hot tub, waterfall showers, two outdoor swimming pools, and the opportunity to try open-water swimming year-round.

Accommodation in the Helsinki region

Explore accommodation in the Helsinki region

From urban boutique hotels to cozy stays in the forest, the Helsinki region offers plenty of places to get a good sleep after your sauna visit.

Helsinki

Haltia Lake Lodge - nature boutique hotel

Places to eat in the Helsinki region

Explore places to eat in the Helsinki region

The Helsinki region offers a variety of restaurants ranging from Michelin-starred establishments to casual family eateries – and your meal often comes with sweeping views of the city or sea.

Helsinki

Löyly Restaurant

Helsinki

Finlandia Cafe & Wine

Helsinki

Bistro Ego

Helsinki

Restaurant Meripaviljonki

Helsinki

Gillet Bar & Bistro

Highlights of Tampere

Explore the highlights of Tampere

Tampere is a bustling Lakeland city that’s known for its rich industrial heritage, winning ice hockey teams, exciting Särkänniemi amusement park and family-friendly Moomin Museum. There’s plenty to see and do, and the city offers a variety of restaurants where visitors can enjoy a meal.

Tampere

Restaurant Näsinneula

Tampere

Restaurant Tampella

Tampere

Pyynikki Observation Tower and Café

Asiakkaat istuvat kiven muotoisilla tuoleilla tunnelmallisessa näyttelytilassa.

Tampere

World's Only Moomin Museum

Tampere

Hotel Ville

Tampere

Lillan Hotel & Kök

Highlights of Kuopio

Explore the highlights of Kuopio

Like most Finnish provincial cities, Kuopio really comes into its own in the summer, when it plays host to a major dance festival and a lively wine festival. The city’s essence, however, comes from its lakeside location on the shores of Kallavesi. Check out these hotels and restaurants before you visit.