You’ve Been Pronouncing Sauna Wrong this Whole Time

Few things rank higher than the sauna in terms of cultural importance to Finland

While the rest of the world knows saunas mostly for their health benefits, in Finland, sauna is practically a religion

Put into context, in Finland there are more saunas than cars, with about 3.3 million saunas in the whole country

For further reference, there are about 5.5 million people in Finland, so theoretically every single Finnish person could fit into a sauna at the same time

Every Finnish embassy has a sauna, and saunas have been used to cool tensions with the Soviets in the past

a move known as sauna diplomacy. Finnish people put saunas everywhere. There's a sauna in a Burger King, Ferris Wheel

and even UN peacekeeping missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Finnish people go to space

they'll build some kind of zero-gravity sauna. I'm sure of it. We'll be seeing Finnish people taking saunas on the moon

I'm pretty positive my grandma was born in a sauna. In fact, in 2020, UNESCO added

Finnish sauna culture to its intangible cultural history list. Visiting Finland without going to a

sauna is like going to New York City and not grabbing a slice of pizza. Sure, maybe you visited

but did you really get the full experience? Not a chance. So I'm here to help you navigate

Helsinki saunas and decide which is the right one for you. But first, yes, I am saying sauna

or as you may know it sauna. Technically both pronunciations are correct in English

but sauna is one of the few words in the English language with Finnish roots, so I feel it's proper

to pronounce it the Finnish way. I know it may seem a bit pretentious and can come off as snobby

but because I speak Finnish I feel that it's a little easier for me to say sauna and it's just

kind of proper. It's like somebody saying jalapeno. It just sounds kind of wrong. Saunas have been

around in Finland for thousands of years. Before hospital births became mainstream

Finnish women would often give birth in the sauna because it was the most hygienic

and warm place in a Finnish home. That's why I think my grandmother was born in a Finnish sauna

In Finland, it's extremely rare for a house to not have a sauna and it's really rare when an

entire apartment building has no sauna at all. Not only are saunas important to the history of Finland

but they're also important to the development of Helsinki as a major city

When Helsinki was growing rapidly in the late 1800s, early 1900s, many of the apartments were too small for a proper bathroom

Rather, they would have communal saunas on almost every city block. Industrialization and subsequent suburbanization led to a lot of these communal saunas being put out of business

mostly because now Finnish people could afford their own private saunas. But there are still a few of these communal saunas that you can go visit for yourself

Saunas come in a few different varieties. You've got infrared saunas that are a little bit more space-agey, your traditional smoke saunas

and then you have the standard Finnish sauna. Now, the standard Finnish sauna operates as a stove with rocks on top that is used to heat up the sauna

Oftentimes, actually, if it's a Finnish sauna, all the time, throwing water on top of the rocks

Now the Finnish sauna can further be divided into two categories electric heated and wood heated Purists will say only wood heated is the true Finnish variety However both electric and wood accomplish the same end goal getting the sauna hot

The biggest culture shock for foreigners when they go to a Finnish sauna is always nudity

Finnish people are very comfortable with nudity, especially in the sauna. They won't always force you to be nude, but there are certain cases where a swimsuit will not be allowed

but you can always cover up with a towel. Different saunas have different rules for nudity

and who can be nude around who. Many of the saunas that cater more towards tourists tend to require

swimwear. Some of the more traditional Finnish saunas will be entirely nude, but you can generally

cover up with a towel there. For Finnish people, saunas are a place for relaxation and acting

creepy in them or inappropriately is extremely taboo. And people who do act this way tend to be

scolded. The sauna is an almost holy place in the Finnish national mindset. A shrine towards

rewinding, recuperation, and letting go of external problems. In the sauna, we're all stripped down

No titles, no money, and everyone is seen as equal. It's a really Finnish take on egalitarianism

But if there are naked people in the sauna, try not to gawk or stare. I'm not going to convince

you to get entirely nude in the sauna if you're uncomfortable with that, but I will say it is

pretty nice not having to worry about packing a swimsuit. Besides nudity, here are a few other

guidelines to follow. Perhaps the most important is to always keep the door closed. If you keep the

door open to a sauna, all the heat will escape and it ruins the experience for everyone. So make

sure when you enter and exit the sauna to keep the door closed. Otherwise, you'll probably hear

Finnish people screaming, oh bikini, which means door closed and finish if you couldn't put two and

two together. Another very important aspect of the sauna is to only throw fresh water on the sauna

Some saunas will not let you wear a swimsuit into the sauna because it'll have chlorine water on it

which will ruin the experience. In the same vein, don't throw pool water that may have chlorine and

other chemicals onto the sauna. Otherwise, you'll have chlorine gas all over the sauna and it can be

extremely dangerous to people's health, perhaps deadly. Another aspect is if you throw salt water

onto the sauna it will corrode the sauna stove so make sure only throw fresh water onto the rocks

if the sauna is too hot for you you can always take a seat on a lower bench remember heat rises

and it's hotter the higher you go so if you go lower it's going to be a bit more manageable

you can also find other ways to cool off you don't need to ice swim but just step outside the sauna

It's definitely a big part of the tradition and a huge part of Finnish sauna culture

Be communal. There's a bucket of water on the sauna for throwing water onto the rocks

Don't be afraid to fill it up if it gets too low. Again, with fresh water. If possible

shower or bathe before going into the sauna. It's more hygienic and the experience is a lot better

when you start out wet This last one is extremely important but stay hydrated Now when you in the sauna you lose a lot of water And when you in the sauna with Finnish people you tend to drink a lot of alcohol If you decide to drink alcohol it important to have a water bottle on hand

You'll be doing two dehydrating activities at the same time and can get a little bit delirious

So make sure you're drinking enough water. And even if you're not drinking alcohol, it's important to have enough water on hand

These just cover the basics and different saunas will have different rules

So keep that in mind when you go and visit. Make sure to check the rules at the sauna you decide to go to

Now that we understand the basics of finished saunas, let's go over some of the best ones to go visit when you're in Helsinki

Let's start with what I think is the perfect starter sauna, Olas Seapool

Olas Seapool is in a convenient, tourist-friendly location in the center of town

If you don't have enough time to go really explore Helsinki, this is perfect

if you have like a layover or you only have 24 hours in Helsinki

This is the sauna to go to. However, in my eyes, the main attraction isn't actually the sauna

but rather the heated pool outside to about 27 degrees Celsius. Even during a blizzard, it's this warm

and it's a really surreal experience to be swimming in the water while snow is falling down around you and feeling completely comfortable

Are you searching for something a bit more upscale? Well, then your choice is Lolo

Now, Lolo is a Finnish term for the essence of a sauna

It's kind of hard to translate, but it generally means the vibe or the feeling within a sauna after water is thrown on the rocks

Lolo is not only one of the top destinations in Finland, but it's arguably one of the top destinations in the world

It is also a top rated restaurant and bar with an amazing terrace looking out onto the Helsinki archipelago

Leolu is the pinnacle of the Helsinki sauna experience. And it costs about 20 euros, but you need to book ahead because spots go up quick

Going a bit from upscale to traditional, we can go to Koti Harriu sauna

Koti Harriu is also the oldest running sauna in Helsinki, which means it's an experience in and of itself

The sauna is an icon with its neon sauna sign. And it's a piece of history that you can go and experience for yourself

Initially built in 1928 for the railroad workers living in the same building

the sauna has been family owned and wood fired for almost 100 years

It also has separate men's and women's facilities. The sauna is an institution of its eclectic neighborhood, Calio

If you're looking for a bit more of an adventure and it happens to be summer

because this sauna is only accessible during the summer when the ferries are open, Lona is the perfect sauna for you

You have to take a ferry, as I've previously said, to get to this small island known as Lona

But once you're there, it's an oasis away from the city with amazing views to complement the experience itself

You need to book ferry tickets ahead of time, and you also need to check to see if there's a spot available in the sauna

Plus, the island has other attractions too, like a few restaurants, cafes, and a rotating art gallery

Last but certainly certainly not least is my favorite sauna and you might see me there from time to time if you go visit yourself What is Sompasauna Sompasauna is not for everyone and I willing to admit that but it

kind of Finland's take on Christiana or Burning Man counterculture just in the form of a sauna

It's an anarchist sauna that was started without the city's approval almost 10 years ago and has

grown into an entire sauna community. It's the only completely free sauna option in Helsinki

and it's where many people go to get their sauna fixed because sometimes it's the only option

It's got amazing options to swim and amazing community around it. Sonpa Sauna attracts a variety of people

You'll meet exchange students, locals, and all around just interesting characters. Now, the mood of Sonpa Sauna changes depending on what time of day it is

When the sun's out, it's not rare to see families with small children running around Sonpa Sauna

But when it gets a little bit dark, let's just say the crowds get a little bit more raucous

Sompasauna is open 24-7, and it's rare to have the sauna entirely to yourself

even at the wee hours in the morning. Sompasauna is a mixed-gender, clothing-optional sauna, so just be prepared for that, too

You don't have to be naked, and you can wear a swimsuit inside. However, the question isn't if you'll see nudity at Sompasauna

It's how much. Remember to be respectful and mindful, don't gawk or stare, and especially be cognizant if you have a camera

Even though Finnish people like to be naked in the sauna, it doesn't mean they want their naked photos plastered all over the internet

If you go to Sompasana, it's smart to bring your own supplies. Towel, water, maybe some food because it's a bit of a trek to get out there

And if you wish, a bathing suit. But again, it's pretty nice not having to worry about packing one

There are a lot of saunas all over Helsinki. And while I didn't mention all of them, you can't really go wrong with any Finnish sauna

It's like getting a slice of pizza in New York. You still had a slice of pizza in New York

And it's hard to mess up a Finnish sauna, especially in Finland. Just remember, keep the door closed

Oveikiini! No niin, mä oikeasti opin paljon mun suomea saunoista. Mä tiedän, mun suomea ei oo tämmöinen

Mutta se on ymmärrettävää. And I want to tell you, if you want to learn new language, Brightrippin Kielten opus is a great help for you

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