Our guide to floating saunas and cold plunges in the Nordics

Discover how saunas, cold plunges, nature and time outdoors come together in the Nordic approach to wellness, from floating city saunas to frozen lakes and Arctic wilderness.

The cold plunge has found its way into city gyms and morning routines around the world. In the Nordic countries, it never needed discovering. A sauna, a moment in cold water, then rest: in Finland and elsewhere in the Nordics, this combination has long been part of sauna and outdoor culture.

Floating saunas are a newer idea built on that old one. If the cold water is half the point, why not put the sauna on the water itself? Today you can find floating and waterside saunas in Nordic cities, on mountain lakes and fjords across Norway, and, in Swedish Lapland, even saunas designed to sit in the winter ice.

Why do Nordic saunas often sit beside cold water?

For many people, the sauna is only half of the ritual. You sit in the heat until you're thoroughly warm, then cool off in a lake, the sea or the snow, before resting and deciding whether to go back in.

The Finnish word löyly refers to the heat and steam created when water is thrown onto the hot stones – and to the atmosphere that fills the sauna as a result. For many Finnish sauna-goers, good löyly is as important as the temperature itself.

Cooling off afterwards is not necessarily about endurance. For many people, the appeal is the contrast: stepping from intense warmth into crisp air or cold water, then wrapping up and taking a moment to rest. The ritual creates a natural pause between one experience and the next.

In winter, that contrast becomes particularly vivid. Snow, frozen lakes and dark skies turn a simple sauna and swim into an experience that is deeply connected to the season and the landscape.

Why do people love the sauna and cold plunge?

The appeal is wonderfully simple: heat, cold, fresh air and a moment to stop.

In the Nordics, sauna is not usually treated as a wellness treatment. It is part of everyday life - somewhere to warm up after being outdoors, catch up with friends, sit quietly or simply take a break. Cooling off afterwards, whether with a swim in a lake, a dip in the sea or a roll in the snow, adds another element to the ritual.

There is something about the contrast that makes you pay attention to the moment. Step out of the sauna into crisp winter air, ease into cold water, climb out and wrap yourself in something warm. For a few minutes, there is very little else to think about.

In Finland, avantouinti means ice swimming, usually through an avanto – a hole cut into the ice. For many people, it is part of a social sauna tradition, rather than a test of endurance. The same spirit can be found across the Nordic countries, where cold-water bathing has become increasingly popular alongside long-established sauna and outdoor cultures.

You don't need to count the minutes or follow a prescribed routine. The point is simply to experience the contrast - and then slow down.

A little caution goes a long way. Take cold water slowly, keep your first dips brief and never swim alone. Use designated bathing areas and follow the guidance of the sauna or swimming facility. The cold can be an intense experience, particularly in winter, so listen to your body and take time to warm up afterwards.

Where can you take a sauna frozen into the ice?

There are countless places across the Nordics where sauna, snow and cold water come together in winter. From remote wilderness camps to lakeside retreats, these are a few standout places where the experience becomes part of the landscape.

Aurora Safari Camp, Swedish Lapland

In the Råne River Valley of Swedish Lapland, Aurora Safari Camp offers a particularly Arctic take on the sauna. The camp is surrounded by winter wilderness, with simple accommodation and outdoor experiences designed around the landscape.

The camp has two wood-fired saunas, including a Sauna in the Ice, where the frozen winter landscape becomes part of the experience. Days can be spent snowshoeing, Nordic skiing, winter biking and exploring the surrounding wilderness before returning to the warmth of the sauna.

On clear winter nights, there is also the possibility of seeing the Northern Lights overhead.

Arctic Bath, Swedish Lapland

Further south on the Lule River, near Harads, Arctic Bath offers a more refined interpretation of the same relationship between heat, cold and nature.

Its striking circular design draws inspiration from the history of timber floating on the Lule River. The main spa structure sits on the river, surrounded by water in summer and frozen landscape in winter. At its centre is an open-air cold bath, surrounded by saunas and spaces for relaxation.

The experience is built around contrast. Move between the different saunas and the cold bath, then take time to warm up and enjoy the stillness of the river and surrounding landscape. Spa rituals and treatments can be combined with the sauna and cold-water experience.

For guests staying at Arctic Bath, Water Cabins provide a peaceful base on the river. The combination of accommodation, saunas, cold bathing and spa rituals makes it an especially immersive way to experience the Nordic approach to wellness.

You can experience both Aurora Safari Camp and Arctic Bath on Swedish Aurora Glamping and Arctic Wellness, a five-day journey from Luleå. The journey combines winter wilderness, sauna and cold-water experiences with dog sledding and time with a Sámi host, including a meal cooked over an open fire.

Where can you find floating saunas in the Norwegian countryside?

Norway has no shortage of waterside saunas, from mountain lakes to deep fjords. Here are a few that stand out for their setting and design.

Soria Moria, Telemark

At Dalen, where the Telemark Canal ends, Soria Moria sits on Lake Bandak surrounded by steep mountain scenery. Its distinctive silhouette and wooden cladding draw inspiration from local folklore and the landscape around it.

The sauna is open throughout the year and booked in two-hour sessions. In winter, the walk down to the lake can be part of the experience itself, particularly when snow covers the surrounding landscape.

Gausta, Telemark

High in the mountains near Rjukan, two floating saunas sit on Lake Kvitåvatn, with views towards Gaustatoppen. Each sauna accommodates up to ten people and has a changing room and ladder leading directly into the mountain lake.

The saunas are a short walk from Gaustablikk Fjellresort, making them an easy addition to a mountain stay. You can experience them on our Heroes of Telemark and Hardangerfjord self-drive.

Heit

Heit has helped bring the Norwegian sauna experience to a growing number of destinations, with saunas in settings ranging from fjords and harbours to other waterside locations.

The experience began in 2020 with a sauna on the Sørfjorden near Lofthus. Here, the sauna sits beside the quay with views across the Hardangerfjord towards the mountains and glaciers of Folgefonna. A sauna master fires the Finnish wood stove, while the fjord is just a few steps away.

Heit now has several sauna locations around Norway, including Bergen, Haugesund and Åkrafjorden. Its different locations offer a chance to experience the same basic ritual in very different landscapes.

The Sørfjorden sauna is an easy addition to a stay at Hotel Ullensvang and can be included on our Heroes of Telemark and Hardangerfjord self-drive.

Where can you try a floating sauna in a Nordic city?

Across the Nordic capitals, saunas have become part of the waterfront landscape, bringing an old tradition into distinctly urban settings. These are a few worth knowing about.

Pust

Pust has brought floating saunas to several Norwegian destinations, including Tromsø, Bodø and Oslo. The concept varies by location, but the idea is consistent: combine the warmth of a sauna with the landscape outside, whether that means an Arctic harbour, the Oslofjord or the changing scenery of the Norwegian coast.

In Tromsø, Pust floats in the historic harbour, with views towards Tromsdalstinden and the Arctic Cathedral. A sauna session here brings you right into the city's Arctic setting, with the possibility of combining the experience with a dip in the sea.

Pust also operates in Bodø, where the setting brings a different perspective on Norway's northern coastline, and in Oslo, where floating sauna culture has become part of the city's lively waterfront.

Nearby in Tromsø, Vulkana offers another take on the combination of sauna, bathing and life on the water. The former fishing boat has been converted into a spa with a wood-fired sauna, hammam and hot tub on deck.

Oslo

Oslo's harbour has developed a lively sauna culture, with floating saunas and sauna venues spread along the waterfront.

KOK operates wood-fired sauna rafts that can accommodate up to ten people. When conditions allow, they head out onto the Oslofjord on quiet electric-powered trips.

Nearby, SALT is a nomadic art project on the waterfront with several saunas alongside cold-water bathing, food, music and cultural events. It is as much a social gathering place as a sauna.

For a closer look, read our guide to floating saunas in Oslo.

Helsinki

Finland is the home of the sauna, and Helsinki has embraced the tradition across its waterfront.

Allas Sea Pool, beside Market Square, combines saunas with pools overlooking the harbour. Along the shore, Löyly offers a traditional smoke sauna and a wood-burning sauna, with the option to cool off in the sea.

More options can be found in our guide to saunas in Helsinki.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen has developed a strong year-round harbour swimming culture, and La Banchina on Refshaleøen is one place where sauna and cold-water bathing come together.

This small waterfront café and restaurant has a wood-fired sauna that can be booked privately, with a swimming area directly outside. It is not a floating sauna, but the combination of sauna, harbour and winter air captures the spirit of Nordic waterside bathing.

Stockholm

On Årstaviken, a short walk from Södermalm's cafés, Tanto bastu is a wood-fired sauna on a raft at the Tanto bathing spot. It has been run since 2016 by a volunteer association.

Visitors can join scheduled public sessions, with different sessions for women, men and mixed groups. Because the sauna relies on volunteer hosts, it is worth checking the association's current schedule before visiting.

Reykjavík

Iceland takes a slightly different approach. Rather than a strong tradition of floating saunas, its bathing culture is built around geothermal water, with hot pools and swimming facilities forming an important part of everyday life.

In Reykjavík, you can combine a warm soak with a cold-water dip at several swimming pools, creating a similar contrast of heat and cold. The city's harbour is also developing new ways to bring sauna and bathing experiences to the waterfront.

How do you use a Nordic sauna?

The details vary from place to place, but the basic etiquette is simple. Shower before entering and sit on a towel. In many public and floating saunas, swimwear is expected, while traditional Finnish sauna settings can have different customs depending on the location and whether the sauna is mixed or single-sex.

Stay in for as long as feels comfortable rather than treating a particular number of minutes as a goal. When you are ready, cool down, rest and decide whether you want another round.

If water is available for throwing onto the hot stones, check that everyone is comfortable with more steam before adding any. The same applies to conversation and noise: some saunas are social, while others are deliberately quiet.

Drink water between rounds and leave alcohol until afterwards. Heat and alcohol can be an uncomfortable combination, particularly when combined with cold-water bathing.

If you are entering cold water, do so gradually and never swim alone. Use designated bathing areas and follow the instructions provided by the facility.

Commonly asked questions

How is a Nordic sauna different from a Japanese onsen?

A Japanese onsen is a bath using naturally occurring hot spring water. You generally enter the bath after washing and spend time soaking in the hot water.

A Nordic sauna is different. It is a heated room where water may be thrown onto hot stones to create löyly. Cooling off in cold water, the sea or snow can be an important part of the wider sauna experience, but it is not essential to the sauna itself.

Both traditions offer a way to pause and step away from the pace of everyday life, but they come from different bathing cultures and have their own customs.

Can you use a floating sauna in winter?

Yes. Many Nordic floating saunas operate throughout the year, although opening arrangements vary between locations.

Winter can bring an especially dramatic setting, with snow, dark skies and cold water adding to the contrast with the warmth of the sauna. In places where lakes and rivers freeze, such as Swedish Lapland, bathing may involve an opening kept clear in the ice or another designated way of cooling down.

Always follow the local facility's guidance and check conditions before entering cold water.

What should you bring to a floating sauna?

Swimwear, a towel to sit on, a second towel for drying off and a water bottle are useful basics. In winter, bring something warm to wear afterwards and consider sandals or slippers for walking across cold or icy surfaces.

Many saunas provide or hire towels, robes and other essentials, so check what is included when you book.

Do you need to book?

Usually, yes. Many floating saunas operate timed sessions, and popular locations can become busy, particularly at weekends and during winter.

Some offer drop-in sessions, while others can be booked privately for groups or couples. Check the individual sauna's arrangements before you visit.

Where to next?

Explore our health, wellness and slow travel journeys, or read more Nordic travel stories.

About the author

Terhi Runnalls looks after content and communications at 50 Degrees North, writing about the places, people and traditions behind our journeys. Her family is Finnish, and the sauna has never been a wellness trend to her so much as a fact of life. Her parents, now in their seventies, have taken a cold plunge in Finland almost every day for decades, and she knows the feeling first-hand.