Sauna

Definition

A heated room used for bathing and relaxation, and an everyday part of life in Finland. UNESCO, which inscribed Finnish sauna culture on its intangible heritage list in 2020, notes 3.3 million saunas in a country of 5.5 million inhabitants, and says they come in electric, wood-heated, smoke and infra-red forms. Visitors meet saunas in hotels, cottages and public baths. Follow your host's guidance on clothing, heat and water. See also: löyly, savusauna, and the guide Finnish Sauna Culture: A Guide for Visitors.