Hot Rooms, Hidden Rituals: Exploring Sauna Culture Around the World

Mention the word sauna and most people immediately think of Finland. Fair enough - they've certainly earned the reputation. But the love of getting wonderfully warm on purpose isn't exclusive to the Finns. Around the world, countries have developed their own traditions, rituals and, in some cases, slightly quirky ways of enjoying a good sweat.

Finland: Where It All Began

It's no surprise Finland tops the list. With around three million saunas for just over five million people, they are woven into everyday life. For many Finns, the sauna is a place to relax, catch up with family and friends, or simply switch off, often followed by a refreshing dip in a lake, whatever the weather.

Germany: The Performance Sauna

Germany has turned sauna into something of an event. The highlight is the Aufguss ceremony, where a sauna master pours water infused with essential oils onto hot stones before expertly wafting the heat around the room with a towel. Think of it as part relaxation, part theatre.

Russia: A Massage with a Difference

The Russian banya has one tradition that's hard to forget: the venik. These bundles of leafy birch or oak branches are used to gently tap and massage the body, helping to stimulate circulation and release muscle tension. It may sound unusual, but it's an essential part of the experience.

South Korea: The Sauna That Never Sleeps

South Korea's jjimjilbangs are much more than saunas. These huge wellness centres often stay open around the clock and include hot rooms, cold pools, restaurants, cinemas, sleeping areas and even family spaces. You don't just visit, you settle in for the day.

Türkiye: The Art of the Scrub

A traditional hammam is less about extreme heat and more about cleansing. After relaxing in warm steam, visitors are treated to an invigorating full body exfoliation and a luxurious soap massage. You'll leave feeling cleaner than you thought possible.

Japan: A Moment of Calm

In Japan, saunas are often enjoyed alongside hot baths as part of a slower wellness routine. Rather than chatting, many people embrace the quiet, moving between heat, cold plunges and periods of peaceful rest. It's as much about calming the mind as warming the body.

Sweden: Sauna in the Wild

Swedes love combining saunas with nature. Whether perched beside a lake, hidden in a forest or overlooking the sea, the setting is often just as important as the sauna itself. The best part is stepping straight outside for a swim in fresh, cool water.

Estonia: The Sauna as a Tradition

Estonia's most distinctive tradition is the smoke sauna, known as suitsusaun. Heated slowly without a chimney, the smoke fills the room before being cleared away, leaving behind a gentle heat and a unique smoky aroma.

The smoke sauna is deeply connected to nature and family life, and for many Estonians it is a ritual passed down through generations rather than simply a place to warm up.

Lithuania: The Herbal Sauna

Lithuanian sauna culture places a strong emphasis on plants, herbs and natural rituals. Sauna masters often use bundles of birch, oak or aromatic plants, as well as herbal infusions, to create a calming sensory experience.

The focus is not just on heat but on creating a connection with the seasons and the surrounding landscape.

Mexico: Temazcal, an Ancient Heat Ritual

Although not a sauna in the traditional sense, Mexico has a long history of ceremonial heat bathing through the temazcal. These small, dome-shaped structures use steam created from heated stones and water, with roots in Indigenous traditions.

The experience is often spiritual and communal, focusing on purification and connection rather than simply relaxation.