Löyly Sauna
Löyly (pronounced louw-lu) is the Finnish word for the evaporating hot steam that rises when you toss water onto the hot stones. The best sauna in Helsinki is the only co-ed public sauna in the city. If you’re traveling with your partner or family, this means you don’t have to sweat separate from each other! The other public saunas in the city are gendered.
We recommend reserving your spot in advance online to guarantee your entrance. You can do that directly on their website here: Löyly Sauna. It costs €23 for a 2 hour visit, which includes access to their locker rooms, a towel and a peflet (cloth for sitting on in the sauna). You must bring your own swimsuit and sandals. You can add additional hours for €12, but we found 2 to be just the right amount of time!
Löyly Sauna is about a 10 minute drive from the city center. It’s also very accessible by public transportation. If you ride the M6 Tram to stop Eiranranta, it’s only a 3 minute walk from there!
The Experience
After you check in at the front desk, make your way to the gendered locker rooms where you’re given a key with a wrist band to lock your belongings in. After that, there is a shower area. It’s recommended to wash yourself before and after sauna use.
There are 2 different saunas to use at Löyly. (Please note: occasionally there are 3 but it depends on if it’s rented for a private event). There is a smoke sauna and a traditional wooden sauna. The saunas range in temperature from 175 – 215 degrees Fahrenheit (or 80-100 Celsius). We found them to be much dryer and hotter than saunas in the US.
Common Space
Löyly has the most beautiful common spaces. The indoor space has couches, a fireplace and a water station to grab a glass of water and cool off. You can even order a drink at their bar to enjoy in between sauna sessions!
The outdoor space is a grand deck overlooking the Baltic Sea, filled with lounge chairs to basque in the sun during the nice weather. If you’re feeling brave, Löyly Sauna offers access to the Baltic Sea for a quick swim. There is a ladder that brings you down to the water where you can take a dip to cool off, before re-entering the sauna. The sea ranges in temp from 31-60 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the time of year. If there is ice on the sea, they’ll drill a large hole in the ice so you can still access the water. We were there in April and the water was still very cold. Mark was the only one brave enough in our group to go fully in!
Löyly Restaurant
One of the reasons this is the best sauna in Helsinki is because of the delicious restaurant located on site. From May-August, you cannot make table reservations and its first come first serve. The remainder of the year you can reserve a table for before or after your sauna and grab a bite to eat. We timed it up so our sauna began at 3, ended at 5 and our table was ready for us at 5:15. We got a lovely spot by the window overlooking the deck and sea beyond!
Review
As someone who personally does not love saunas, I was thoroughly impressed by Löyly. They’ve created a wonderful environment to zen out after a busy week. While I never lasted more than 10 minutes in a sauna without needing a break, I found the common spaces to be incredibly relaxing and cozy. Everything feels clean and modern, while keeping the saunas traditional.
Löyly is the best best sauna in Helsinki. Our top reasons to love this place is because it is co-ed, has access to the Baltic Sea and a restaurant with delicious food & gorgeous views. You truly can’t beat an afternoon at Löyly Sauna so be sure to add this to your travel list when visiting Helsinki!
