Löyly
A wooden public sauna by the sea; after the sauna, you walk down the steps and jump straight into the Baltic Sea, the easiest way to experience Finnish sauna culture.
Sauna is a national way of life for Finns, and Finnish sauna culture was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2020. Löyly is located on the Hernesaari waterfront in southern Helsinki. It opened in 2016 and was designed by Avanto Architects. Its outer layer is a stepped grid of heat-treated pine slats; visitors can climb onto the “roof” to look out at the sea, and the building has won several design awards. Inside are several saunas, including a traditional smoke sauna and wood-fired saunas, shared by men and women, so swimsuits are required. After sauna, you can go down the ladder from the wooden deck directly into the sea; in winter, ice holes are cut for winter swimming. Admission is charged by two-hour time slots, about 25 euros, including towels and toiletries (check the official website). Weekends and evenings often sell out, so booking online in advance is strongly recommended. The restaurant and rooftop bar in the same building don’t require reservations, so you can come just to eat and enjoy the sea view. Allas Sea Pool beside Market Square also offers saunas and an outdoor seawater pool and is closer to the city center, suitable for visitors short on time. Getting there: take bus 14 from the city center, or walk about 25 minutes.
Opening hours
Approx. 11:00 or 13:00–22:00 (varies by day; check official website)
Nearby sights
- Amos Rex
- Kamppi Chapel of Silence
- Design District Helsinki
- Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art
- Temppeliaukio Church
- Ateneum Art Museum
- Helsinki Central Station
- National Museum of Finland