Finland: Where It All Began (Probably)

Let’s start in Finland, often considered the spiritual home of the sauna. In a country with a population of 5.5 million and over 3 million saunas, the math is simple: everyone’s sweating, often, and on purpose.

Here, the sauna isn’t a luxury—it’s a way of life. Families have saunas in their homes, apartments, even inside office buildings and gas stations. It’s where Finns relax, socialize, and, yes, sometimes seal business deals.

Key Rituals:

Steam is created by pouring water over hot stones (called löyly) Most Finns go nude—it's not weird, it's just Wednesday After a good sweat, it’s common to jump into an ice-cold lake or roll in the snow

It’s not about wellness trends. It’s about balance, routine, and clarity—things the Finns seem to have figured out better than most of us.

Sweden & Norway: The Cozy Cousins

In Sweden and Norway, saunas (often called bastu in Swedish) are also beloved, though not quite as omnipresent as in Finland.

Here, the vibe is similar—clean, calm, and deeply ingrained in the culture. Many Swedes and Norwegians have access to saunas at summer cottages or apartment complexes, and they’re often paired with cold water dips in the nearest fjord or forest lake.

You’ll also find the occasional sauna on a floating dock or even a boat—because why not mix sweating with scenery?

Russia: The Mighty Banya

Now let’s crank up the heat (and the theatrics). Welcome to the Russian banya—a steamy, intense, and highly social experience that’s less “spa day” and more “controlled chaos.”

Banyas are often louder, livelier, and very, very hot. And unlike some Western saunas, a Russian banya is a full ritual, involving:

Sitting in wooden steam rooms heated with blazing stoves Getting smacked (gently?) with venik—bundles of birch or oak leaves Taking a break for snacks, vodka, and deep conversation Rinsing off in ice-cold water, or sometimes even snowbanks

It’s cathartic, invigorating, and a little wild—just like a good Russian novel.

Japan: Less Sauna, More Sento & Onsen

Japan doesn’t have traditional saunas in the Nordic sense, but it does have sento (public bathhouses) and onsen (hot spring baths), both deeply embedded in Japanese culture.

While these aren’t typically dry saunas, many sento and onsen facilities now include sauna rooms as part of a wider bathing experience.

What makes the Japanese approach unique?

Ritual cleanliness: Everyone scrubs thoroughly before entering Shared silence: Bathing is seen as a quiet, reflective activity Natural beauty: Onsen are often set in stunning natural environments, like mountain valleys or riversides

Japanese bathing culture isn’t about detox trends—it’s about harmony, rest, and presence.

South Korea: The Jjimjilbang Experience

If Finland is minimalist and Japan is serene, Korean jjimjilbangs are like a wellness theme park. A jjimjilbang is a large, often 24-hour sauna and spa complex that can include:

Multiple sauna rooms with different temperatures and materials (salt, jade, clay) Gender-separated bathing areas Sleeping rooms, snack bars, even arcades and karaoke People in matching pajama sets napping, eating boiled eggs, and watching TV

It’s a social hub, a family outing, and a wellness center all rolled into one. You can stay for hours, or overnight, for just a few dollars. Affordable, accessible, and weirdly relaxing.

Turkey: The Historic Hammam

The Turkish hammam is a blend of bathing, relaxation, and centuries-old tradition—tracing back to Roman baths and Islamic purification rituals.

Here’s how it works:

You lie on a warm marble slab in a steamy room An attendant scrubs your skin within an inch of its life Then they rinse you with warm water and maybe even give you a massage The result: you leave feeling cleaner than you ever knew possible

Hammams aren’t technically saunas (they’re wetter), but the goal is the same: sweat out the stress, leave reborn.

USA: The Land of Gym Saunas and Wellness Trends

In the U.S., sauna culture has been on the rise—especially with the boom in wellness trends, biohacking, and luxury spa treatments.

You’ll find saunas in:

Gyms and health clubs Spas and retreats Some homes (especially in colder states like Minnesota, where Finnish influence is strong) Portable infrared models you can install in your basement or bathroom

Americans are also increasingly interested in infrared saunas, which use light instead of heat to induce sweat. Are they the same? Not quite. Do people love them anyway? Oh yes.

The U.S. sauna scene is eclectic: part relaxation, part status symbol, part “Instagrammable self-care moment.” But hey, sweating is sweating, right?

Germany: Nudity and No-Nonsense

Germany’s sauna culture is structured, efficient, and very German. The key features?

Strict rules: No clothes (nudity is the norm), no talking loudly, no phones Aufguss ceremonies: Sauna masters pour water and essential oils on the stones, then wave towels around to circulate the steam (yes, it’s a thing—and it’s awesome) Mixed gender: In many public saunas, men and women share the same space, which can surprise first-time visitors

It’s relaxing, respectful, and surprisingly wholesome—once you get past the initial awkwardness.

🌍 So... What Do All These Cultures Have in Common?

Despite the differences—salt rooms vs. oak branches, quiet zen vs. steamy snacks—saunas and steam baths all serve a universal human need:

To reset To heal To be present in the body And sometimes, to share space with others—clothed or not

In a world that rarely slows down, these heated rooms offer a kind of pause. A reminder that sweat is good, quiet is powerful, and sometimes, the best conversations happen when everyone’s wrapped in a towel.

Curious About Trying Sauna Culture Yourself?

You don’t need to fly to Finland or book a Turkish bathhouse. Plenty of local spas and wellness centers now offer:

Dry saunas Infrared saunas Steam rooms Community-style bathhouses (in larger cities)

If you’re looking for a way to unwind that doesn’t involve screens, scrolling, or spending $400 on a new gadget—a sauna session might be your new favorite ritual.