What a Finnish sauna visit is like

A Finnish sauna is a wood-lined room with a stove full of stones. You throw water on the stones. The burst of steam is löyly. It is brief, sharp, and then gone. The air goes back to dry. That cycle is the whole point.

Temperatures on the upper bench are often 80–100°C. The lower bench is the beginner seat. Sit there until the heat makes sense. A hat is common and not a costume.

A round is about ten to fifteen minutes, then a cool shower, a plunge, or simply the outside air. Then you sit. Then you go back. Two or three rounds is a full visit. Staying until you are dizzy is not a badge.

Talk is fine in American public rooms. In a traditional round, the person who throws the water sets the pace. Ask before you empty the ladle.

In Finland the room is often nude and separated, or mixed with a towel. In the United States a swimsuit is the default unless the house says otherwise. Read the listing and the venue’s own rules. We do not guess nudity policy from a review.

Bring sandals for the floor, a towel to sit on, and water you will actually drink. Leave lotions and oils outside. They cook.