5 x public saunas in Finland for design lovers

Heat and steam are only part of what makes a Finnish sauna. Around the country, a number of public saunas take the building as seriously as the bathing. Some were designed by the same architects behind Finland's museums and sustainable resorts, others sit beside major art collections or occupy buildings with a past life entirely removed from sauna culture.

Here's a look at some of the most interesting saunas where heat meets design.

Article last updated: July 2026

At the port of Jyväskylä, a famous Alvar Aalto destination in Lakeland, you’ll find the hotspot of the town: the sleek and modern sauna-restaurant Viilu. In this wooden building by Lake Jyväsjärvi, you can visit three different, unisex saunas year-round. Cool off by taking a dip in the fresh water or relax by watching the lakeside horizon in the jacuzzi. After bathing, enjoy a relaxed meal made of high-quality, seasonal ingredients at Viilu’s restaurant. Alternatively, continue a fun night over drinks with friends – the old and the new!

Lehmonkärki, a Sustainable Travel Finland label holder on the shores of Lake Päijänne near Päijänne National Park, is home to AISTI Sauna & Spa, an adults-only sauna world built around water, rock and Finnish sauna tradition. Its saunas range from gentle steam to a traditional smoke sauna. Afterwards, cool off in the heated infinity pool overlooking the lake, or relax in one of the outdoor hot tubs. 

For a design-forward stay to match, Lehmonkärki's own Haasi Mirror Houses are worth a mention. These mirror-glass suites are set along the shoreline, each with its own private outdoor hot tub and a great lakeside view.

Design fans with time to spare can continue the theme in nearby Lahti, about 30 minutes' drive away, home to the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva. Housed in a converted early-20th-century brewery building, Malva brings together art, design and poster collections under one roof.

In the exquisite hotel and restaurant hub of the Kakolanmäki district in Turku, you’ll find the hidden oasis of Kakola Spa. Here, in the depths of a former prison building, you get to escape the ordinary and indulge in the spa's various wellness services. Breathe in the soothing scent of spruce in the Havusauna or find delight in the surprising, multi-sensory experience of a stone sauna. Apart from five saunas, four pools, and special effect showers, Kakola Spa offers a selection of luxurious treatments.

The design story here isn't a named architect but the building itself: Kakola operated as one of Finland's toughest prisons from 1853 until 2007, and its granite cellblocks have since been reimagined into one of Turku's most distinctive neighbourhoods – complete with apartments, restaurants and a spa built into the old inner courtyard.

Nestled in the picturesque harbour of Kuopio in Lakeland, sauna restaurant Luoto offers a unique holistic wellbeing experience. Here, you can unwind with a perfect blend of sauna sessions, delightful food and drinks, and engaging activities. Surrounded by the serene beauty of Lake Kallavesi, the stylish cubic wooden architecture features two saunas: one wood-burning and the other electric. Both saunas provide a tranquil retreat with stunning, unobstructed views of the lake, encouraging you to relax and maybe even take a refreshing dip. After your sauna session, treat yourself to a delicious meal at Luoto’s restaurant, crafted from locally sourced ingredients.

Luoto comes from Studio Puisto, the Helsinki architects also behind Pistohiekka Resort and a string of sustainability-focused resorts across Finland and beyond. The same rhythmic, repeated timber structure that defines their other projects gives Luoto its calm, Nordic and harmonious feel.

Here's more sauna inspiration for your visit to Finland.