11 of the world’s weirdest and coolest saunas
Sauna is one of Finland’s most treasured traditions. For centuries, Finns used the sterile environment of the sauna for personal hygiene, births, cooking and relaxation. Considered a luxury in many other countries, saunas are a necessity in Finland. Even the Finnish soldiers of World War II constructed their own makeshift saunas out in the field.
Today there are more than 3 million saunas in Finland. That is about one sauna per household. The Finnish tradition of stripping down and sitting back in a steamy sauna is not going anywhere. Although the tradition remains the same, some modern saunas are weird in the most amazing ways.
We have rounded up a few of the world’s most unique saunas. Prepare to sweat with sauna envy.
The Tram Sauna
Italian designers wanted to prove that public transport could be relaxing. They created the first ever Tram Sauna. The sauna is made in a real tram cart. It is currently located in the middle of a spa complex where it sits on its own tracks.
The Sauna Bus
If you love sauna bathing but are too busy to do it, this Finnish sauna bus is the solution. You could sauna bathe on your way to work.
The Lakeside Sauna
This sauna offers a view of Ontario. It is a place to relax.
The Gondola Sauna
In Lapland you do not have to leave the slopes to enjoy a sauna. You can hop on a Gondola lift with a sauna inside.
The Barrel Sauna
If you lack space for a sauna in your house, you can add a barrel sauna to your backyard.
The world’s largest public sauna
A Norwegian art project installed the world’s largest public sauna on a remote beach on an island in the Arctic Circle. The sauna holds over a hundred people. It is suitable for those who enjoy the company of many others.
The Fast Food Sauna
Burger King in Helsinki opened the first ever fast food sauna in 2015. You can combine burgers and sauna bathing. You can sweat out the fat immediately after consumption.
The Floating Sauna
The sauna can make you too hot. This floating sauna is the solution. When it gets too hot, you can jump in the water for a chilly swim.
The Salt Sauna
This salt sauna in Den Bosch, The Netherlands, has walls made of Himalayan salt. The salt supposedly has health benefits including the regulation of blood sugar. The sauna is beautiful.
The Ice Sauna
Ice is a great insulator. This ice sauna in Lapland is almost as warm as a regular sauna.
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I would love to be able to afford a small barrel sauna!
You and me both! Wouldn’t mind a floating sauna either :)
They’re not as expensive as you might think, I’ve seen them for $2500 on SaunaMarketplace.com
I’d love to try them all, but the lakeside one looks especially awesome
I loved the ‘fast food’ sauna!! :D
As the list of ‘not interested in’ is shorter, I’ll put those down: the Fast Food Sauna and the World’s Largest Public sauna…the rest I’ll enter with relish!
The ice sauna was one of my favorites, not because I thought it was one of the coolest ones but because of the ice and heat factor working against each other, I guess. Nice list!
I’ve been to a public sauna in Tampere that was close to the size of the largest one.