Katja Pantzar shares her tips for sauna in Helsinki.

What is your favourite hidden gem in Helsinki?

One of my favourite hidden gems (I have so many!) is Villa Salmela Sauna, tucked into the shoreline of eastern Helsinki, and housed in a small red wooden cottage on the grounds of Villa Salmela.

The villa, built in 1886 and perched atop the tip of a rocky promontory, is the summer home of the Karelians, a Baltic Finnic ethnic group indigenous to the historical region of Karelia, which is today split between Finland and Russia. I recently discovered that I have strong Karelian roots.

Down the hill from the Villa, the friendly atmosphere at the waterfront sauna reflects the rich Karelian cultural legacy—one of its characteristics is warm hospitality. 

The small but cosy wood-burning sauna is known for its gentle löyly and easy sea swimming access off the nearby dock.

Sauna-goers bring drinks and snacks to enjoy on the sauna cottage’s porch after a good sweat and swim session.  

The sauna is open year-round, located in the Jollas neighbourhood and accessible by public transport; reservations through the online booking calendar are recommended, especially during the busier summer months.

Villa Salmela Sauna

Meri Perttilän polku 8

https://villasalmela.fi/sauna-2/

Your favourite time of year to sauna?

Early autumn, or in the depths of winter following an icy plunge in the Baltic Sea, which is about 1 to 4 degrees Celsius during the winter months. A good hot löyly feels absolutely amazing after a cold dip in the sea!

Best sauna snack?

Vichy mineral water, a balance of minerals and sodium (salt), which is refreshing and restorative after a good sweat. I think of Vichy as the champagne of waters.

Anything the visitor must do on a weekend sauna trip?

If you’re visiting during the summer season, book a sauna session and dinner at the cute little car-free island of Lonna (www.lonna.fi/en). Though Lonna is not far - just a ten-minute ferry ride - from Helsinki’s central Market Square, it feels like a world away.

Lonna’s unique draws include loft-style wood-burning saunas on the waterfront, complete with a long terrace for cooling off and easy access to the Baltic Sea for swimming in between steam sessions. The sleek modern saunas neatly complement the island’s other historic buildings.

Lonna’s varied history—it was once used for storing and clearing mines—is evident in the older structures, including the repurposed brick building housing the bespoke restaurant serving excellent Nordic cuisine.

If you have time, sample a few different types of public saunas in the Greater Helsinki area that are open year-round. A traditional smoke sauna is a rarity and a must – there are several at Kuusijärvi, or one at Löyly Helsinki (which has the only smoke sauna open to the public in the city centre). Or, head back in time to the Kallio neighbourhood for an old-school steam session at Kotiharjun Sauna, which has large wood-heated saunas (men and women sauna separately) and has been around since 1928.

Best swim spot?

In the sea – Helsinki has about 130 kilometres of shoreline and numerous swimming spots with or without a sauna. My favourite spot is off an old wooden rug-washing dock in the Katajanokka neighbourhood in central Helsinki where swimmers gather every morning during the warmer months.

Where to buy the best sauna accessories.

One-stop sauna shopping from towels and seat covers to soaps and cosmetics at Kaurilan Sauna https://kaurilansauna.fi/, Lapuan Kankurit for high-quality Finnish woven textiles https://lapuankankurit.fi/ and Myssyfarmi (https://myssyfarmi.fi/en) for authentic wool hats hand-knitted by grannies perfect for sauna and sea and guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Katja Pantzar’s new book, Helsinki by Sauna, is available to buy at booky.fi.