Hotels near Public Sauna at Loyly or Allas Sea Pool

Finland has 3 million saunas for a population of 5.6 million and no Helsinki trip is complete without one. Loyly (Hernesaarenranta 4) is the flagship modern public sauna, opened in 2016 by designer Anu Puustinen and Ville Hara in a striking timber-lattice building at the tip of Hernesaari peninsula. It combines a wood-fired smoke sauna, a continuous wood-fired sauna and an electric sauna with a wooden pier that steps directly into the Baltic Sea for the ice-cold plunge. Sessions run 2 hours (22 EUR adult) and swimwear is required in the mixed-gender saunas. Opening hours are Monday-Thursday 16:00-22:00, Friday 13:00-23:00, Saturday-Sunday 11:00-22:00.

Allas Sea Pool (Katajanokanlaituri 2a, at the ferry terminal next to Market Square) is the alternative on the waterfront - three heated pools (one filtered sea water pool at Baltic ambient temperature, two heated pools) plus three saunas overlooking the harbour and Uspenski Cathedral. Admission is 20 EUR for a 2-hour block; a swimsuit is required. Opening hours are Monday-Friday 06:30-21:00, Saturday-Sunday 09:00-21:00. Both venues are gender-mixed (with private changing rooms) and rent out towels and sauna hats.

Pro Tip: Book Loyly online at least 1-2 weeks ahead in July-August - Saturday evening slots sell out first. Bring your own swimsuit and flip-flops (rental adds 5 EUR each). Do the ice plunge 3 times minimum; residents insist that fewer counts as a warm-up, not a swim.