Löyly, Helsinki: a guide to visiting

Heading to Helsinki and considering a visit to Löyly to experience Finnish sauna culture? In this guide, I share everything you need to know before visiting.

Löyly, nestled on the scenic shores of the Baltic Sea in Helsinki, is a beacon of Finland’s rich sauna tradition and contemporary architecture. It’s also one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Helsinki in the first place, and boy, was it worth the trip. A must-do for anyone looking to immerse themselves in authentic Finnish sauna culture, Löyly also offers incredible views. Whether you visit in summer to enjoy the terrace or in winter to jump into the icy Baltic Sea, you’ll receive a slightly different experience that you won’t forget. In this guide, I share everything you need to know before visiting Löyly, as well as some tips I wish I’d known before I visited.

Quick tips for visiting Helsinki

Get this: Hop on hop off bus tour of Helsinki. Hop on hop off tours are always one of the first things I do in any new city – it’s a great way to get your bearings and to discover the highlights of Helsinki.

Don’t miss: entrance to Helsinki’s iconic Temppeliaukio Church. It’s an architectural gem, and a renowned venue for concerts thanks to its acoustics.

Bucket list experience: a return day ferry ticket to Tallinn. If you fancy ticking off another country, book a ferry – it was one of the best things I did during my trip to Helsinki. The ferries do get booked up quickly, so I’d recommend booking this trip in advance.

Flights: find the cheapest flights to Helsinki with Skyscanner.

Stay: Find the most affordable hotels in Helsinki on Booking.com.

What is Löyly, Helsinki?

Löyly is an iconic public sauna complex located in Helsinki, Finland. The word löyly actually refers to the steam that rises from the hot rocks in a sauna. It’s not just a sauna; it’s an architectural gem that embodies Finnish sauna culture while offering a contemporary and luxurious experience. Opened in 2016, Löyly was designed by top Finnish architects, and its stunning wooden architecture blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment. The complex features both traditional wood-burning saunas and smoke saunas, catering to various preferences for sauna bathing. It’s situated beautifully by the Baltic Sea, offering breathtaking views and the opportunity for you to experience the Finnish tradition of taking a refreshing dip in the sea after a sauna session. Löyly also features a restaurant serving delicious Finnish cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients. The café provides a more casual setting for enjoying drinks or light bites.

How to get to Löyly

To get to Löyly in Helsinki, you have a few transport options:

• By tram – trams 6T and 8 will take you close to Löyly. Disembark at the “Löyly” stop.
• By foot – depending on where you are in Helsinki, you can enjoy a pleasant stroll or bike ride to Löyly, especially if you’re in the city centre. The route along the waterfront can be quite scenic. Helsinki is fairly compact and walkable.
• By taxi – taking a taxi or using ride-sharing services is another convenient option. Just input “Löyly” as your destination.
• By car – if you’re driving, you can input Löyly’s address (Hernesaarenranta 4) into your GPS or navigation app. There’s parking available nearby.

What facilities does Löyly have?

Löyly has a range of facilities designed to provide you with a holistic sauna and relaxation experience:

Sauna Facilities

• Traditional saunas: Löyly has both wood-burning saunas and smoke saunas, allowing you to experience different sauna types, each with its unique atmosphere and heat. Both can accommodate 20 bathers at any one time.
• Sauna rooms: these sauna spaces are designed to accommodate varying temperatures, catering to different preferences for sauna bathing.
• Changing rooms: there are separate changing rooms and shower facilities for men and women. As public areas are mixed, bathers are asked to wear swimming costumes at all times.

Do note that regarding sauna etiquette, you can experience the saunas in swimming costumes or in the traditional Finnish manner, au naturel. Towels are provided for sitting.

Refreshing Dips

• Baltic Sea access: after your sauna session, you can immerse yourself in the invigorating Baltic Sea from the dedicated pier adjacent to Löyly. It’s a traditional way to cool off after a sauna. This was on my bucket list and it feels really incredible.
• Avanto: in the winter, you’ll find an ‘avanto’, a hole in the ice for winter swimming. This is a popular Finnish hobby.

Dining & Relaxation

• Restaurant: Löyly has a restaurant that offers a menu featuring Finnish cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients. It’s an excellent place to try Finnish flavours and enjoy a meal after your sauna experience. The restaurant has even featured on Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil. I highly recommend trying Finnish salmon soup at any opportunity – it’s delicious.
• Café: the café offers a more casual setting for you to grab a light bite, enjoy drinks, or simply relax in between sauna sessions. We enjoyed a fireside glass of fizz in between saunas when we visited, and it was perfect.
• Relaxation areas: unwind in the relaxation lounge or on the outdoor terrace, taking in the serene atmosphere and sea views.

Other Amenities

• Architectural design: the stunning wooden architecture, designed by top Finnish architects, seamlessly integrates with nature, offering a visually captivating space. The stunning glass windows provide panoramic vistas of the sea.
• Accessibility: Löyly is designed to be accessible to all, ensuring everyone can enjoy the sauna experience and facilities.
• Events and programs: occasionally, Löyly hosts events, workshops, or special programs related to Finnish culture, wellness, and other themes.

Do you need to book Löyly?

I highly recommend booking your visit to Löyly in advance, especially during peak seasons or weekends. In order to not overcrowd the saunas, there is limited availability for each time slot. As Löyly was one of the key things I wanted to do in Helsinki, we booked well in advance and it was perfect. You get a two-hour slot by default, although you can extend this if you wish. It was just right in my eyes, and gave us time to enjoy a drink in between sauna sessions too.

How much does Löyly cost?

The admission fee for a two-hour sauna visit is 23 Euros. The price includes a towel, seat liner, and shampoo and shower gel. Additional hours are charged at 10 Euros per hour. Children under 10 can visit Löyly free of charge if they share a locker with a parent. They can also rent a towel for 5 Euros, or you can bring them their own towel. There is also a 24 hour cancellation policy.

After visiting Löyly, you’ll see why the Finnish sauna experience is so deeply engrained in their culture, promoting true relaxation, wellbeing, and connection with nature.

My visit to Löyly, Helskini

I thought I’d share my experience of visiting Löyly as well as some of the other highlights of my trip to Helsinki so you can see what to expect. We rose early after a wonderful day in Tallinn exploring the festive Christmas market. November was a perfect time to visit Helsinki and Tallin, and I’d recommend doing so for Löyly too, so you can experience a dip in the icy Baltic Sea. Following our busy day trip to Tallinn, we planned a more relaxed day in Helsinki. We started off with an easy brunch, before heading to our scheduled slot at Löyly.

Brunch in Helsinki

We did try and have a buffet brunch at the famous Cafe Ekberg near our apartment, but unfortunately for us, it was packed to the rafters. We ended up visiting a couple of days later. After a quick Google of brunch spots nearby, I discovered Andante Speciality Coffee.

Andante is a speciality coffee shop and cafe, serving raw and vegan snacks, as well as fine tea. All its delicious products help to promote a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. We both ordered avocado toast, as well as a raw blueberry cheesecake. The presentation of all the dishes was beautiful, and as the first raw cheesecake I’ve tried, I was surprised by how delicious it was. Our coffees were great too, so it’s somewhere I’d recommend visiting if you’re staying in Helsinki.

Kamppi Chapel of Silence

With a little time to kill before our slot at Löyly, we headed into central Helsinki for some sightseeing. Located in Narinkkatori Square, we discovered Kamppi Chapel of Silence, a welcome retreat from the bustling city.

Free to enter, it’s well worth going inside to take a look around. Constructed by architects back in 2012, the sanctuary’s curved shape allows the chapel to flow into its urban background. From the inside, the shape nurtures its visitors from the day to day life of outside.

A calm, contemporary space, visitors must be quiet on entry. There’s a warm atmosphere inside, thanks in part to the soft lighting and solid wood furnishings. The chapel is a testament to Finland’s focus on wellbeing and calm.

We left the Kamppi Chapel and came across another of Finland’s famous icons, the Moomins. For any fans of the Finnish childhood show, don’t miss the Official Moomin Shop.

Inside, you’ll find all kinds of Moomins memorabilia from the iconic cartoon, from pins to plates to pillows and everything in between.

After a brief browse and a couple of souvenir purchases, we left in search of our highlight of the day – Löyly.

Löyly, Helsinki

We arrived at Löyly in the early afternoon, just as the sun was beginning to set. Do note that visiting Helsinki in the winter means you’re very limited by the amount of daylight you’ll experience, although it does make it very cost.

Look carefully, and you’ll spot sauna bathers in their swimsuits slipping into the Baltic Sea. Might I add that when we arrived, the temperature was already -1°C already. I was cold even with a thick North Face coat and scarf.

Taking a dip in the Baltic Sea is encouraged by Löyly, even in the winter and it’s very popular among the Finnish. This is because of the belief that shocking the body from the heat of the saunas with the icy water is excellent for your circulation. I can’t lie, it was incredibly invigorating and something I’d highly recommend doing yourself.

As we got closer to Löyly, the sunset became more dramatic. It was amazing to experience such a dramatic view as we spent time between the various saunas and the Baltic Sea. Once you arrive at Löyly for your booking, you’re provided with towels, and guided to the changing rooms to shower and get into your swimsuit. There are separate changing rooms and shower facilities for both men and women, although the saunas and public areas are mixed. Each visit entitles you to two hours.

Saunas at Löyly

Saunas are an important part of Finnish culture. For a country of just 5.4 million people, there are 3.3 million saunas. Löyly literally refers to the steam that evaporates when you throw water on hot stones in a sauna, further reiterating the importance of saunas in this country.

After working up a sweat in the various different saunas, I took my first dip in the Baltic Sea. As you can imagine, it was absolutely freezing! My body went into complete shock as I hit the water, chattering away, but it felt so refreshing afterwards.

In order to defrost after our dip in the Baltic, we grabbed a seat in one of the relaxation areas by the fire. There’s a bar at Löyly, so we ordered a beer and a glass of fizz to relax with.

We enjoyed the beautiful views across the Baltic Sea, with the sun still continuing to gradually set in the background.

Continuing a couple more cycles of sauna and dip in the freezing sea, we began to feel completely revitalised. I wish Löyly was a little closer to the UK so that I could take regular trips to the sauna. I really liked how Löyly monitors its number of visitors by requesting bookings too. It means the sauna isn’t too busy to ensure you have a relaxing experience.

With the outside temperature slowly continuing to dip as the day went on, there’s more of a need to defrost. While enjoying the sunset view outside, the floor began to freeze. Thank goodness for the fire and saunas inside to warm you up.

We completed one last cycle of saunas and the Baltic Sea. Overall, Löyly was an incredibly relaxing experience, and one I won’t forget in a hurry. How often do you get to swim in the Baltic!? Until next time, I have a good feeling I’ll be back.

We said bid the sea and sauna farewell and went to shower and get changed, ready for the next part of our evening. I’d definitely reserve a table at the Löyly restaurant next time. It looked beautifully aesthetic, smelt delicious, and I’ve heard the food is great there too. If we didn’t have dinner plans elsewhere in Helsinki, we’d have definitely eaten there.

Helsinki sunsets

With clothes and coat firmly on and wrapped up warm again, we went to explore more of Löyly. Heading out onto Löyly’s deck, I found it pretty astounding that the sunset was continuing to set. Following our two hour slot in the sauna, the sky was still turning beautiful shades of orange and pink.

One of the great things about Löyly’s impressive architecture is that it’s split across three levels. This allows for wonderful views across the Baltic Sea, and was the perfect spot to catch the sunset. We climbed up onto the roof of Löyly for unspoilt views across the sea. Enjoying a slow walk back into the city, we planned to get some food and have a fun evening in Helsinki on our last night.

Löyly, Helsinki: FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about visiting Löyly. I answer them as best as I can so you can be as prepared as possible for your visit:

How hot is the sauna at Löyly Helsinki?

Löyly in Helsinki has a few different sauna experiences, and the temperatures vary based on the type of sauna. Traditional Finnish saunas typically vary in temperature, and at Löyly, you’ll find a range of heat intensities:

• Wood burning saunas: these can reach temperatures between 80°C to 100°C (176°F to 212°F). They tend to have higher temperatures due to the intense heat generated by burning wood.
• Smoke saunas: these generally have a milder heat compared to wood-burning saunas. Temperatures might range from 60°C to 80°C (140°F to 176°F). These saunas have a slower heating process and a more gentle, aromatic heat due to the wood-smoking method.

You can choose what works best for you based on your own personal preferences for heat intensity. It’s a good idea to start with shorter sessions, especially if you’re new to sauna bathing or if the heat is intense for you. Remember, it’s essential to listen to your body and take breaks as needed to stay comfortable and hydrated.

What should I bring to Löyly?

When heading to Löyly, I recommend bringing a few different essentials with you:

• A swimsuit – if you don’t fancy going au natural like the Finnish, make sure you bring a swimsuit with you during your sauna session, and for the communal areas.
• A towel – this towel was a godsend for me in Helsinki. It’s super lightweight so you can shove it into a backpack and still be Ryanair friendly. It also dries super quickly making it handy for travelling, and I love the design. It also comes in a bunch of different colours.
• Flip flops or sandals – these are an essential for walking around the sauna and relaxation areas. I always bring these Havaianas as they’re cheap, cheerful, and have lasted me for lots of different trips.
• A reusable travel water bottle – I don’t go anywhere without one of these any more. It’s super cheap and is easy to just refill. It’s so important to stay hydrated while using the saunas, and this water bottle helps you to avoid buying single use plastics.
• Travel bottles for toiletries – these travel sized containers are so helpful for the 100ml flying restriction and helpful for filling with products you might need for your post-sauna shower. I use the colour coded bottles for my different products – shampoo, conditioner, etc as I hate using cheap toiletries on my hair.

By packing these items, you’ll ensure a more comfortable and enjoyable time at Löyly, making the most of your sauna experience while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

What do you wear to a Finnish sauna?

In Finnish saunas, there’s a tradition of nudity, but it’s entirely based on personal comfort and preferences. Here are some common options:

• Au naturel. Many Finns traditionally sauna naked. It’s seen as a way to experience the sauna in its purest form and allows for better heat regulation and relaxation. Towels are often used for sitting on the benches.
• Swimsuit or towel. If you’re not comfortable being nude, wearing a swimsuit or wrapping yourself in a large towel is perfectly acceptable in most public saunas in Finland.

Finnish sauna culture is about relaxation, unwinding, and enjoying the experience. The dress code is flexible, allowing individuals to choose what aligns best with their comfort level and preferences.

Do Finns drink in the sauna?

In Finnish sauna culture, it’s common for people to drink water or non-alcoholic beverages while in the sauna. However, the tradition doesn’t usually involve consuming alcoholic drinks inside the sauna itself. Sauna sessions can cause sweating and increased body temperatures, so staying hydrated is crucial. Many people bring water bottles or have access to water within the sauna area to drink during breaks. While alcohol is a significant part of Finnish culture, it’s typically consumed before or after the sauna experience, not during. Enjoying a beer or other alcoholic beverages might take place in the relaxation areas or in designated spaces outside the sauna. Alcohol consumption in a sauna can intensify the effects of heat on the body and might lead to dehydration or other health risks.

Tips for visiting Löyly

Here are some of my tips and recommendations for making the most of your visit to Löyly in Helsinki:

• Book your visit in advance. Especially during peak seasons or weekends, securing a reservation ensures you get the sauna session or restaurant table at your preferred time.
• Visit during sunset or sunrise. Visiting during these times offers stunning views over the Baltic Sea, enhancing the overall experience.
• Drink water. Saunas can be dehydrating so ensure you drink plenty of water before, during, and after your session.
• Take breaks. Listen to your body – if it gets too hot, take breaks outside the sauna.
• Sauna etiquette. Respect the sauna culture and the comfort of others during your visit.
• Take toiletries. I recommend bringing face and body moisturisers for after your post-sauna shower as the dry climate can dry out your skin.

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll have a more enjoyable and comfortable visit to Löyly, making the most of the sauna experience while enjoying the beauty of the surroundings and Finnish culture.

Are you considering heading to Löyly while visiting Helsinki? I hope you found my guide helpful. If you have any questions about visiting, let me know in the comments below and I’ll do my best to help.