Etiquette of Finnish Saunas. Called a vihta, you might be wondering what to do with it. If it is a mixed sauna and you feel uncomfortable being in nude, cover yourself with a towel. Just a small piece of advice! So far, so peculiar.
#b, The autumn foliage will soon be as bright as this, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAqPJu42-Pg.
Throw into the mix the Saariselka’s toboggan run, reputed to be the longest in Europe, an Angry Birds-themed activity park, and a Santa Claus industry that sees families descending on the town in their thousands during the festive season, and Moomins – the elf/troll beasts invented by Finnish literary hero Tove Jansson – start looking like an eminently reasonable idea. We went to Lapland for Father Christmas – but what unfolded proved even more magical, How to stay alive in Europe's wildest corner, Why this Nordic gem should be your next city break, A freezing swim across the 'world's most peaceful border', Peace, solitude and sauna in the world's happiest country. Nearly all Finns have a sauna in their home or apartment building and they also visit public saunas.
Cool Facts About Sauna Etiquette in Finland.
I personally wear glasses, which get super fogged up in the sauna, and I wish I had worn contacts that day. In traditional saunas, you may be offered a bunch of birch leaves. Getting steamy in a Finnish sauna is a must-do activity on any trip to Finland and I absolutely loved my experience at the public sauna in Helsinki. Spas and swimming pools have separate saunas for men and women. All Rights Reserved, The Jyväskylä Region is a true treasury for a, Preparing and enjoying an outdoor meal is an essen, This view! I work as a full-time program manager for Greenheart Travel, but I am also committed to integrating the travel lifestyle into my every day routines. But, I asked, what do the Finns call this rolling around in the snow thing? Here Alister Dunlop, a Scot, keeps 100 or so frantically yapping Alaskan huskies, ready to race or ferry tourists around the place.
Mixed saunas are common among some Finnish families.
Note: Saunas in Austria, Luxembourg, and German-speaking regions in Europe are similar to German saunas. The sauna tradition is so strong that even the Finnish soldiers on different peace-keeping missions still practice it even under the circumstances.
On my visit to Loyly in Helsinki, I got to try a smoke sauna and a traditional wood sauna. Dehydration and lightheadedness are common side effects that newbies can experience. Try to stay approximately 10-15 min so the body starts to sweat. There aren’t many rules you need to know for the sauna itself but one informal rule that Finns joke about is that you can’t heat and run. Don’t splash! (It helps circulation, apparently.). Back in Saariselka, I warmed up in the Kammi restaurant, a log tepee that served up reindeer meat (smoked, salted or air-dried) while a local Sami “joiked” to the assembled diners – a singing style that welds chant to yodel in strange non-verbal sagas of love lost and reindeers herded. 2. Firstly, not all the Finnish saunas are mixed saunas. Alister was big on the relationship between man and dog. ... best hotels in finland view all. According to the Finnish Sauna Society, there are now up to three million saunas in Finland, which sounds like a lot even before you discover that there are only 5.5 million Finns available to sit in them. 6.
If you throw water onto the stove, you should stay in the sauna for at least a few minutes to enjoy the heat you just created. There will be a wood burning stove inside that you feed with wood and steam to get the right temperature. They tend to be small saunas intended for 2-4 people. Enjoy some light food and drinks after the sauna.
The first sign that your body has definitely warmed up is the fact that the contrast shower does not feel that cold but rather pleasant and refreshing. Before you could say sausage, I was back in my towel. While these are nice for locals who want quick access to the heat and steam, I would not recommend one of these for your first sauna experience.
The higher benches involve more intense heat. The best things to do in Helsinki, from saunas and swimming to modern art, The best nightlife in Helsinki, from karaoke bars to clubs with a view, Five dream trips to Scandinavia, including a journey through Sweden's beautiful south, What happened when Kay Burley dragged her beach-loving friend to Lapland's frozen wilderness, The Northern Lights: Everything you need to know about seeing the sky's greatest spectacle, How a 46-day hike across Finland changed my life, How to find the best trip to see Father Christmas in Lapland. He was giving it a good old try, though. 7. Some public saunas are well known and quite popular, requiring you to make a reservation in advance. Upon entering, choose a seat. If you feel you have received excellent service or someone really has gone out of their way to help you in a taxi or in a restaurant, feel free to tip - the recipient is normally pleased.
Take a contrast shower, or if you dare, a dip in an ice hole.
, we made a reservation a few weeks ahead of time. Wood Burning Sauna: The most traditional sauna in Finland is a wood burning sauna. Eventually – inevitably?