Saunas are found everywhere in Stockholm, in gyms, hotels, swimming facilities, spas, or just stand alone saunas by a lake. Spending some time in a heated room, in combination with cold plunges, is a way to relax, and is also a social activity.
Saunas have been a part of Swedish culture already since the middle ages. It was however during the early 20th century that the sauna culture got more common in Sweden, due to the increasing focus on general health and personal hygiene. The Swedish word for sauna is bastu. The word is an abbreviation of the word badstuga, meaning precisely bathhouse.
Today there are numerous saunas in Sweden, where you can take a mindful break from everyday life and recharge your energy. There are several public saunas available to locals as well as to visitors.
Since there are many saunas that require membership to access, we have compiled a list of our favorite accessible saunas, which are available also for visitors to Stockholm. This is by no means a complete list of all the saunas in Stockholm, there are of course many more saunas than this, in the city and its surroundings. These are however our absolute favorites from the saunas that are easy to get to as a tourist in Stockholm.
In Sweden saunas are traditionally enjoyed nude, though nowadays you will find a variety of sauna etiquettes, both nude and with swimwear. In Sweden there is nothing strange or sexual about bathing nude in a sauna, it’s just more practical and enjoyable than wearing clothes. The visitors typically cover up with a towel, and in general it is advised to always have a towel to sit on to protect the wood of the sauna benches. In the case of mixed female-male saunas there are also the exceptions where swimwear is worn in the sauna.
In general the saunas in Stockholm are dry saunas, either with electrical heating or heated by a fire stove. Since Stockholm has so many locations with proximity to water many of the saunas are built right by the lake, or the ocean, giving visitors the possibility for using the sauna and cooling themselves in the water afterwards. Several of our favorite saunas in Stockholm are in Lake Mälaren, which is the third largest freshwater lake in Sweden, with an area of 1,140 km2. The lake drains into the Baltic Sea,which also has a few hidden gems when it comes to the local and accessible saunas.
We have compiled a list of saunas, in two different categories. The first category is the stand alone saunas, located by a lake or the ocean. The other category of saunas are saunas located inside spa facilities. Both categories are open all around the year, since cold plunges are popular all year round. There are several spa facilities in Stockholm, with a variety of options for saunas and cold plunges. Here we guide you to our favorite spas and stand alone saunas in Stockholm to enjoy the best of Sweden’s sauna and wellness culture.
Saltsjöbadens friluftsbad
Traditional bath house by the ocean
This is a great place in Stockholm for having a relaxing sauna and swimming in the ocean. The bathhouse has a long tradition and was constructed already in 1913. It consists of two separate baths, one for men and one for women, as well as a beach, which is a mixed area.
This being right on the Baltic Sea expect the water temperature to be colder than in the lakes. There is a sauna in the men’s area and one in the women’s area. Both of these areas are clothing optional as the traditional way to take a sauna bath was in the nude. Nowadays it’s perfectly okay to bring your swimming wear as well, and you will see a variety of people both in and without swimwear.
The Saltsjöbadens friluftsbad is operated by an association and is open to the public from late spring to early autumn, May to September. During July the men’s area turns into a family area during the weekends. During those times swimwear is mandatory.
Getting there: 45 min from Slussen. Take the bus 25M from Slussen towards Saltsjöbaden station. The ride is 9 stops and takes approximately 35 minutes. From the station, take a short walk towards the water and you will reach the bathhouse in about 7 min.
Website: https://www.saltisbadet.se/
Sätrabastun
Public sauna for the weekend visitors
The Sätrabastun is a beautiful sauna, which opened in 2022, and is available to the public. This is a drop-in sauna, meaning you cannot book a timeslot, instead just drop by and if the sauna is currently full you will have to stand and wait for some time until you can enter and enjoy the heath. There is room for 10 visitors at a time, so you usually do not have to wait for long.
We love the large windows overlooking the charming lake outside, and the wood burning sauna stove. The atmosphere here is relaxing and gives you access to the lake for swimming and cooling in between the sauna sessions.
The sauna is open Friday to Sunday, with mixed sessions on Fridays, womens’ sauna on Saturdays and mens’ on Sundays. The sauna is closed during the summer (mid-June to mid-August).
Getting there: 40 min from Slussen. Take the red subway line form Slussen towards Norsborg, and get of at Skärholmen. The ride is 11 stops and takes 20 min. From there you have a 20 min walk towards the lake, where you will find the sauna by the beach Sätrabadet.
Website: https://xn--strabastun-q5a.se/
Hellasgården bastu
Large sauna in the Hellasgården nature reserve
The area Hellasgården is located just south of central Stockholm and is a large nature resort. At the center of the area is the lake Källtorpssjön and its surrounding forest.
There are several activities available in the area, and one of our favorite activities is taking a hike or a run around the lake and finishing off with a sauna bath.
The saunas for women and for men are separated, and each has a dressing room and showers. No swimwear are allowed in the saunas, but you can cover up with a towel. There is a passage to the lake from the back of the saunas and you must wear your swimwear when going outside. If you wish to skinny dip this is allowed as long as you cover up on your walk to and from the lake, and you will see several of the locals skinny dipping in the lake.
Getting there: 20 min from Slussen. Take bus 401 from Slussen towards Älta. The bus ride is 9 stops and about 15 min. After that there is a short walk towards the lake, where you will find the sauna entrance right by the café.
Website: https://hellasgarden.se/aktiviteter/bastu/
Tanto bastu
Popular lakeside sauna at Södermalm
The Tanto bastu is a cozy sauna in the southern part of central Stockholm. It has a wood heated sauna stove and large windows overlooking the bay and the skyline of southern Stockholm.
This popular sauna was opened in 2015, after a citizen proposal to the municipal council in Stockholm. It is located just by the water, in the bay Årstaviken, in the eastern part of Lake Mälaren.
There are time slots for members, as well as public time slots available for the public.
Getting there: 15 min from Slussen. Take the red subway line from Slussen towards Norsborg or Fruängen. Get off at Hornstull, 3 stops and approximately 5 min. Walk down towards the waterfront, about 10 min and you will see the sauna on a bathing jetty just by the beach.
Website: https://www.tantobastuforening.se/
Isbjörnarnas bastuförening
Sauna for experiencing winter swimming
This is a great place all year round, and especially for trying out winter swimming. During winter when the lake is frozen a hole in the ice is kept open for the sauna visitors to indulge in cold baths combined with the sauna heath. The sauna is open for the public on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. It is recommended to book your time slot in advance on their website, but there are also always drop-in slots for the more spontaneous visitors.
The sauna run by Isbjörnarnas bastuförening, meaning the polar bears, is closed during summer (June-July) and open during Spring, Autumn and Winter.
Getting there: 45 min from the Central Station. Take the green subway line from T-Centralen towards Hässelby. Get off at Blackeberg, which is 15 stops and approximately 25 min. From there there is a 20 min walk (1.7 km) towards the lake.
Website: https://www.isbjornarnabromma.se/
The Nest Wellness
Sauna at a serene spa in central Stockholm
The spa is located at the top of Downtown Camper hotel, just a few minutes walk from the Central Station. This is a serene place to relax for a few hours in the middle of Stockholm. The number of simultaneous guests is limited so it never feels crowded. The view from the outdoor pool is magnificent and you can see several of the tall buildings surrounding the inner city.
The sauna looks like a bird’s nest from the outside, with twigs covering the entire sauna. Inside it is a fairly large sized sauna with electrical heating and a cozy and relaxing wooden interior. Usually there are cold towels by the entrance to the sauna, which is a great way to cool down afterwards. The outdoor pool is also a great place for soaking after the sauna.
This is a relaxing place to spend a few hours in central Stockholm. There is tea and dried fruits for you to enjoy, and you can also buy a drink at the bar just next to the spa.
After having spent a few relaxing hours in the spa you can continue to wind down at the bar just next to the spa. We love that they also offer several mocktails as an alternative to alcoholic beverages.
Getting there: 5 min walk from the Central station.
Website: https://www.scandichotels.com/hotels/sweden/stockholm/downtown-camper-by-scandic/wellness
Centralbadet
Several saunas in a historic bathhouse in central Stockholm
There are several different saunas, with the traditional dry sauna only being one of many. There are also a steam sauna, infrared sauna, a salt sauna and a crystal sauna which is a form of lighter steam sauna.
The building was opened In 1904. It had kept its original architecture in Jugend style, where the architect wanted to connect the bathhouse with the surrounding nature. The whole spa was renovated in 2022.
Getting there: 10 min walk from the Central Station.
Website: https://centralbadet.se/
Yasuragi
Japanese themed spa with a large amount of Japanese styled saunas
Just as Sweden and Japan have many common elements in their interior design, there are also similarities in their bathing traditions. Yasuragi is a great experience, which combines Japanese bathing traditions with Swedish nature. Both the saunas and the baths are blended with the Nordic forest and serene nature.
Two of our favorite saunas here are the wooden dry sauna with a huge window overlooking the archipelago outside, as well as the outdoor sauna with the cold water pool just outside. Other saunas here are the steam-salt sauna, where you scrub your skin with salt inside a steam bath, the sleeping sauna and also the outdoors pools with a view of the archipelago just outside. We love the great shower area, where you can experience Japanese showers and separate saunas and soaking pools inside the womens and mens shower rooms. This is a great way to wind down, relax and get into the calming mood before getting out into the huge bathhouse.
The Yasuragi spa is the largest bathhouse in Stockholm. The buildings were repurposed during the 1990s and opened their bathhouse in 1997. The buildings were originally built as a conference center, and were designed by the Japanese architect Yoji Kasajima. During 2017 the entire bathhouse was rebuilt into specifically a Japanese bathhouse.
Getting there: 1 hour by bus from Slussen. Take bus 471 from Slussen towards Västra Orminge. Get off at Korset, and change bus to bus 417 towards Hasseludden. Get off at the bus stop Hamndalsvägen. From here there is a short walk, approximately 7 min to Yasuragi.
Website: https://www.yasuragi.se/en/
Ellery Beach House
Spa resort with seaside access at the end of the island Lidingö
The hotel is designed inspired by mid-century modern architecture, and the whole hotel gives you the vibes of the aesthetics of the 1960s Palm Springs. The resort opened in 2020 and has several saunas, both indoor and outdoor. Our favorite sauna is the waterfront sauna giving you access to take a cold plunge in the ocean.
The spa area is located in a serene and remote area at the far end of Lidingö Island. Though being close to the city center it feels more like staying at a countryside getaway in the archipelago. Between the saunas visits make sure to take a nature walk around the island, or enjoy one of the pools. The pool area and nearby bar often gets a party vibe in the evening with music, drinks and food.
Getting there: 50 min from T-centralen by subway and bus. Take the red subway line from T-Centralen towards the end stop Ropsten, which is 4 stops and about 7 min. In Ropsten change to bus 211 towards Bosön Fågelöuddebadet, which is 20 stops and about 25 min. From there take a hike for about 25 min (2.1 km) to the very tip of the island.
Website: https://www.ellerybeachhouse.com/en/
Sturebadet
Historic bathhouse in central Stockholm
There are a variety of saunas at the spa. The spa is located inside the shopping mall Sturegallerian, which is located in the posh area of Stockholm.
Sturebadet opened in 1855, and with the purpose of giving the citizens access to baths and exercise, to improve their health. During a fire in 1985 the entire bath was burnt to the ground. It was however rebuilt in 1989 and was in fact the first spa in Sweden.
Getting there: 10 min from the Central Station. Take the red subway line from T-Centralen towards Mörby or Ropsten, just 1 stop and a 2 min ride. Get off at Östermalmstorg and walk towards the mall Sturegalelrian. The entrance to the spa is inside the Sturegallerian mall.
Website: https://www.sturebadet.se/
Sthlm Sauna Vinterviken
Wood-heated sauna with a great view
Though this sauna requires a membership, this is one of our favourite saunas in Stockholm and we therefore wanted to include this sauna in the list. If you are coming to Stockholm to visit friends, chances are they might have access to the sauna and can then bring you along. This is a wood heated sauna, by the nature area Vinterviken in southern Stockholm.
The sauna opened in 2022 and is located on a pontoon bridge in Vinterviken, which is a bay in Lake Mälaren.
The facilities include the sauna by the lake. One changing room outdoors and a changing room indoors, in the sauna building, outdoor shower, no toilets available.
Getting there: Take the subway to Örnsberg metro station (red line towards Norsborg), then a 7 min walk (approximately 600 m). Adress: Instrumentvägen 30, 126 37 Hägersten.
Website: https://www.sthlmsauna.se/