3 Wild Ways to Enjoy Sauna Around the World
Sauna in the sky, sauna on the bus; sauna and do breathwork for an even bigger rush
I was inspired to write this quick piece while researching my latest deep dive, For the Love of the Heat: The History, Science, and Social Impact of Sauna. Read it here.
One of the most beautiful things about sauna is how simple it is: spend some time in a small wooden structure heated with hot rocks and a few well-timed waves of steam—preferably in the presence of others—and reap the benefits. It doesn’t have to be fancy or over-the-top to achieve the desired effect.
But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a market for upscale heat therapy. Sauna enthusiasts in Finland and beyond have taken the humble wooden structure and modified it (in some cases, in unthinkable ways) to adapt to our insatiable need for more: more sensation, more social connection, and a deeply altered state induced by more than just heat.
Don’t get me wrong—I prefer rustic over regal—but if there’s one thing I enjoy doing, it’s “stacking” my altered states. (The heat of the sauna takes me to a magical place all on its own, but there’s nothing like a good ol’ Hawaiian hotbox. I swear, on one occasion, the combination led to a chance encounter with the ghost of Janis Joplin.) While the sauna is still the main character, it’s become increasingly popular for facilities offering heat exposure to couple it with something else.
Helsinki, Finland: Sweat on the World’s First Sauna Ferris Wheel
If the rush of the sauna isn’t enough, one way to send your body into a state of shock is by triggering your fear of heights. In Helsinki, sauna enthusiasts looking for an added thrill can visit the Skysauna and indulge in a one-hour sweat session—130 feet above the ground. A sauna gondola built into the SkyWheel near Helsinki’s Market Square, the Skysauna is the world’s first sauna in a Ferris wheel (yes, really), offering views of the city and the Gulf of Finland. A quick 12-minute ride on the SkyWheel sans sauna is about €13, while customizable hour-long packages in the heated sauna gondola start at €240, or $345 CAD for groups of up to 15, and include beverages, towels, and access to a lounge, terrace, and hot tub big enough for 10. The sauna cabin fits a maximum of four people and must be reserved in advance. Reviewers on Google say everything necessary for a visit can be rented on-site, making it convenient for tourists. Just be sure to visit between April and November, as the Skysauna closes for the winter.
Japan: The Transit Bus Turned Mobile Sauna
A start-up company in Japan promoting saunas has taken a creative approach, repurposing buses once used for public transit into mobile saunas to bring the practice to people in cities and towns without access. The Sabus, launched by Sauna Ikitai, is a transit bus that has been retrofitted into a sauna, complete with a wood-burning stove, wooden benches, and a dressing area. According to architects who helped build it, the structure of the vehicle is conducive to a sauna, as the narrow space heats up quickly, while the steps near the rear of the bus allow for staggered seating at different heights. It was built in 2020, and since 2022 has toured several cities in Japan. (The bus’s front display reads, “Mushi 37 Sauna,” meaning it visits multiple locations.) The Sabus has a capacity of eight bathers at a time and costs about ¥4,000, or $37 CAD for two hours. The mobile sauna remains parked during operation, of course.
Toronto, Canada: Bridging Breathwork and the Bathhouse
If you live in Toronto, you’ve probably heard of it, and if you haven’t, I fear you may be living under a rock: Othership is the modern bathhouse offering breathwork classes in tandem with sauna and cold plunges, and it’s taken the wellness world by storm since it opened in early 2022. I’ll admit, of the three saunas in this article, this is the only one I’ve actually been to, and if I hadn’t already written about it for Forbes, I’d say that it’s so good, it deserves its own story. When I interviewed Othership’s founder, Robbie Bent, he told me that he and his team visited hundreds of saunas around the world before settling on the design for their stunning flagship facility. Guests have the option of signing up for a guided breathwork class, attending a late-night evening social, or taking the unguided free-flow route, each ranging from 75 to 120 minutes in length. Single classes start at $55 each, with various membership packages that lower the price per visit. If you’re not in Toronto and you still want a taste, I highly recommend giving Othership’s breathwork app a try.
I NEED to go to the Sabus, obviously. It's orange.