Saunas aren’t just relaxing, they’re a way of life in many countries. From snowy Finland to busy cities in Japan, people everywhere enjoy the heat and health benefits saunas offer.
Wondering where saunas are most popular? This list takes you around the world to explore the top countries that truly love their sauna time.
In Finland, saunas are everywhere, from homes and offices to lakesides and city apartments, because they are deeply tied to Finnish identity and daily life. With over 3 million saunas in a country of 5.5 million people, it’s clear this tradition is essential. A traditional Finnish sauna is made of wood, filled with hot stones, and quiet except for the sound of steam when water hits the stones. People go in naked, relax, and may use birch branches to gently hit their skin to improve circulation. It’s a family activity, a place to connect, and even recognised by UNESCO as a cultural treasure.
Swedes enjoy saunas as a natural way to relax and stay healthy, especially after outdoor activities or long winter days. Saunas are found in many homes, cottages, and gyms, and they’re often part of weekly routines. While similar to Finnish saunas, Swedish ones can be more modern, with softer steam and calming scents. The tradition blends quiet reflection with light socialising, making it both personal and communal. Tourists can easily experience saunas in hotels or countryside retreats, especially near lakes where a cold dip follows the heat. Saunas remain a gentle but powerful part of Swedish lifestyle and wellness.
In Russia, the banya is a cherished place for cleansing the body and spirit, shared by friends, families, and even strangers. It’s steamy, social, and full of unique customs, like using venik (birch branches) to gently slap the skin and boost health. A typical visit includes sitting in intense heat, jumping into cold water or snow, and then relaxing with drinks and conversation. These gatherings are common every week, especially in winter, and reflect deep-rooted beliefs in the power of heat and steam. More than a bathhouse, the banya is a cornerstone of Russian tradition and connection.
The Estonian smoke sauna, especially in the Võromaa region, is so unique that UNESCO added it to its cultural heritage list. Unlike modern saunas, the smoke sauna has no chimney, smoke fills the room as it heats, then is aired out before people enter. The ritual involves heating slowly, relaxing in silence, and using natural tools like birch whisks. Families use it for bonding, and even spiritual cleansing. Its history is influenced by both Finnish and Russian traditions, yet it remains proudly Estonian. Travellers can find these saunas in southern Estonia, especially during local festivals that celebrate this ancient tradition.
Norwegians love saunas, especially as a way to enjoy nature and relax after skiing or hiking. While public saunas exist, many use cabin or floating saunas, structures on lakes or fjords where you heat up and jump straight into cold water. These floating saunas have become trendy and offer amazing views of Norway’s landscapes. Saunas are used year-round but feel especially cozy in winter. The most common styles are traditional wood-fired saunas, though electric ones are growing. Places like Oslo Fjord or Tromsø offer scenic sauna spots that attract both locals and visitors looking for calm and warmth.
Germany has a strong and organised sauna culture, with over 30 million people visiting saunas regularly. It’s not just for wellness, it’s a lifestyle. Germans take sauna rules seriously: full nudity is standard, Sauna clothing is generally not permitted, silence is respected, and cleaning before entering is a must. One standout feature is the Aufguss, a special ritual where hot water mixed with essential oils is poured over stones, creating a wave of scented steam, often with fans and music. There are famous sauna resorts all across Germany offering themed experiences. The sauna is both a peaceful escape and a cultural expression of health and order.
In Japan, saunas are part of a broader bathing culture that values purification and relaxation. While onsens (hot springs) are more famous, saunas are common in bathhouses, gyms, and capsule hotels. Japanese saunas are often smaller and drier than Finnish ones, but many also feature steam rooms. A unique Japanese version is the ganbanyoku, a stone sauna where people lie on heated slabs to sweat gently. Locals use saunas for health, stress relief, and skin care. Tourists can find authentic sauna experiences in cities and rural spas, making them an easy and enriching part of Japanese travel.
South Korea’s jjimjilbangs are a huge part of local culture, large, 24-hour sauna complexes that offer everything from hot rooms to ice caves, snacks, and sleeping areas. Unlike traditional saunas, jjimjilbangs are social spaces where families and friends gather to relax, nap, and chat. The hot rooms use various materials like salt, jade, and clay, each said to offer different health benefits. These places are very affordable and popular among both locals and tourists. They reflect Korea’s unique blend of wellness, community, and modern convenience, turning the simple sauna into an all-day (and night) experience.
In Canada, saunas are becoming more popular as people seek natural ways to relax and stay healthy, especially during cold winters. Many Canadians have embraced Finnish-style saunas, and there’s a growing interest in infrared and steam saunas too. You’ll find saunas at cottages, spas, gyms, and even eco-retreats. They are used both socially and for personal wellness. While not as deeply rooted as in Nordic countries, sauna culture in Canada is strong and growing. Popular sauna destinations include Ontario’s Muskoka region and British Columbia’s wellness resorts, where nature and heat combine for a peaceful escape.
Saunas are gaining popularity across the U.S., driven by trends in wellness, detox, and stress relief. Infrared saunas are especially popular in urban areas, known for their gentle heat and supposed health benefits. Traditional Finnish saunas and steam rooms are common in gyms and spas, while luxury resorts offer high-end sauna experiences. Usage has grown over the past decade, especially in health-conscious cities like Los Angeles, Austin, and New York. Many Americans use saunas for muscle recovery, relaxation, or skin care. While regional, sauna culture is becoming a more regular part of the American wellness lifestyle.
Sauna customs vary widely: Finns value silence and nudity, while Russians enjoy lively banyas with branch massages. Germany allows nudity too, but Japan and Korea prefer modesty cloths. Scandinavia often has mixed saunas; elsewhere, genders separate. Talking? Okay in Russia, not in Finland. Always shower first, unless local rules differ. When in doubt, watch and follow!
Health regulations for public saunas vary by country but often share common safety practices. Europe typically has frequent inspections, while some Asian countries rely on local policies. Finland enforces strict cleaning rules due to the cultural importance of saunas. Most places regulate temperature and humidity to prevent overheating, with violations leading to fines or closures.
Sauna preferences vary by country. Dry saunas are most popular, especially in Nordic nations like Finland and Sweden. Russians favour steam saunas, or banyas, for their humidity and rituals. Germans use both types, while Japan leans toward steam in bathhouses. Globally, dry saunas are gaining popularity due to health trends and convenience.
Sauna rules vary by country based on culture and safety. In Finland and Estonia, saunas are family-friendly, though very young kids are cautioned. Germany and Japan allow minors with adults. Austria often restricts access to those over 14, while the UK typically requires parental consent for teens.
Key Takeaways:
- Explore global sauna traditions: Discover how different countries uniquely enjoy sauna culture.
- Learn sauna etiquette worldwide: From quiet Finnish saunas to social Russian banyas, customs vary.
- Understand regional sauna styles: Dry, steam, smoke, and stone saunas each offer a distinct experience.
- Experience saunas as wellness & community: Saunas aren’t just for health—they’re cultural and social hubs.
- Get inspired to sauna like a local: Whether you're in Norway, Japan, or the U.S., there's a style to try.
Top Countries Where Saunas Are Popular
Finland
In Finland, saunas are everywhere, from homes and offices to lakesides and city apartments, because they are deeply tied to Finnish identity and daily life. With over 3 million saunas in a country of 5.5 million people, it’s clear this tradition is essential. A traditional Finnish sauna is made of wood, filled with hot stones, and quiet except for the sound of steam when water hits the stones. People go in naked, relax, and may use birch branches to gently hit their skin to improve circulation. It’s a family activity, a place to connect, and even recognised by UNESCO as a cultural treasure.
Sweden
Swedes enjoy saunas as a natural way to relax and stay healthy, especially after outdoor activities or long winter days. Saunas are found in many homes, cottages, and gyms, and they’re often part of weekly routines. While similar to Finnish saunas, Swedish ones can be more modern, with softer steam and calming scents. The tradition blends quiet reflection with light socialising, making it both personal and communal. Tourists can easily experience saunas in hotels or countryside retreats, especially near lakes where a cold dip follows the heat. Saunas remain a gentle but powerful part of Swedish lifestyle and wellness.
Russia
In Russia, the banya is a cherished place for cleansing the body and spirit, shared by friends, families, and even strangers. It’s steamy, social, and full of unique customs, like using venik (birch branches) to gently slap the skin and boost health. A typical visit includes sitting in intense heat, jumping into cold water or snow, and then relaxing with drinks and conversation. These gatherings are common every week, especially in winter, and reflect deep-rooted beliefs in the power of heat and steam. More than a bathhouse, the banya is a cornerstone of Russian tradition and connection.
Estonia
The Estonian smoke sauna, especially in the Võromaa region, is so unique that UNESCO added it to its cultural heritage list. Unlike modern saunas, the smoke sauna has no chimney, smoke fills the room as it heats, then is aired out before people enter. The ritual involves heating slowly, relaxing in silence, and using natural tools like birch whisks. Families use it for bonding, and even spiritual cleansing. Its history is influenced by both Finnish and Russian traditions, yet it remains proudly Estonian. Travellers can find these saunas in southern Estonia, especially during local festivals that celebrate this ancient tradition.
Norway
Norwegians love saunas, especially as a way to enjoy nature and relax after skiing or hiking. While public saunas exist, many use cabin or floating saunas, structures on lakes or fjords where you heat up and jump straight into cold water. These floating saunas have become trendy and offer amazing views of Norway’s landscapes. Saunas are used year-round but feel especially cozy in winter. The most common styles are traditional wood-fired saunas, though electric ones are growing. Places like Oslo Fjord or Tromsø offer scenic sauna spots that attract both locals and visitors looking for calm and warmth.
Germany
Germany has a strong and organised sauna culture, with over 30 million people visiting saunas regularly. It’s not just for wellness, it’s a lifestyle. Germans take sauna rules seriously: full nudity is standard, Sauna clothing is generally not permitted, silence is respected, and cleaning before entering is a must. One standout feature is the Aufguss, a special ritual where hot water mixed with essential oils is poured over stones, creating a wave of scented steam, often with fans and music. There are famous sauna resorts all across Germany offering themed experiences. The sauna is both a peaceful escape and a cultural expression of health and order.
Japan
In Japan, saunas are part of a broader bathing culture that values purification and relaxation. While onsens (hot springs) are more famous, saunas are common in bathhouses, gyms, and capsule hotels. Japanese saunas are often smaller and drier than Finnish ones, but many also feature steam rooms. A unique Japanese version is the ganbanyoku, a stone sauna where people lie on heated slabs to sweat gently. Locals use saunas for health, stress relief, and skin care. Tourists can find authentic sauna experiences in cities and rural spas, making them an easy and enriching part of Japanese travel.
South Korea
South Korea’s jjimjilbangs are a huge part of local culture, large, 24-hour sauna complexes that offer everything from hot rooms to ice caves, snacks, and sleeping areas. Unlike traditional saunas, jjimjilbangs are social spaces where families and friends gather to relax, nap, and chat. The hot rooms use various materials like salt, jade, and clay, each said to offer different health benefits. These places are very affordable and popular among both locals and tourists. They reflect Korea’s unique blend of wellness, community, and modern convenience, turning the simple sauna into an all-day (and night) experience.
Canada
In Canada, saunas are becoming more popular as people seek natural ways to relax and stay healthy, especially during cold winters. Many Canadians have embraced Finnish-style saunas, and there’s a growing interest in infrared and steam saunas too. You’ll find saunas at cottages, spas, gyms, and even eco-retreats. They are used both socially and for personal wellness. While not as deeply rooted as in Nordic countries, sauna culture in Canada is strong and growing. Popular sauna destinations include Ontario’s Muskoka region and British Columbia’s wellness resorts, where nature and heat combine for a peaceful escape.
United States
Saunas are gaining popularity across the U.S., driven by trends in wellness, detox, and stress relief. Infrared saunas are especially popular in urban areas, known for their gentle heat and supposed health benefits. Traditional Finnish saunas and steam rooms are common in gyms and spas, while luxury resorts offer high-end sauna experiences. Usage has grown over the past decade, especially in health-conscious cities like Los Angeles, Austin, and New York. Many Americans use saunas for muscle recovery, relaxation, or skin care. While regional, sauna culture is becoming a more regular part of the American wellness lifestyle.
FAQs
Are sauna customs and etiquette the same across all sauna-loving countries?
Sauna customs vary widely: Finns value silence and nudity, while Russians enjoy lively banyas with branch massages. Germany allows nudity too, but Japan and Korea prefer modesty cloths. Scandinavia often has mixed saunas; elsewhere, genders separate. Talking? Okay in Russia, not in Finland. Always shower first, unless local rules differ. When in doubt, watch and follow!
How do health regulations impact public saunas in different countries?
Health regulations for public saunas vary by country but often share common safety practices. Europe typically has frequent inspections, while some Asian countries rely on local policies. Finland enforces strict cleaning rules due to the cultural importance of saunas. Most places regulate temperature and humidity to prevent overheating, with violations leading to fines or closures.
Do all popular sauna countries use the same type of sauna (dry vs. steam)?
Sauna preferences vary by country. Dry saunas are most popular, especially in Nordic nations like Finland and Sweden. Russians favour steam saunas, or banyas, for their humidity and rituals. Germans use both types, while Japan leans toward steam in bathhouses. Globally, dry saunas are gaining popularity due to health trends and convenience.
Are there legal or age restrictions for sauna use in these countries?
Sauna rules vary by country based on culture and safety. In Finland and Estonia, saunas are family-friendly, though very young kids are cautioned. Germany and Japan allow minors with adults. Austria often restricts access to those over 14, while the UK typically requires parental consent for teens.
What about you, what's your favourite country for saunas? Feel free to share any tips & advice below! (Image source: Unsplash)
