One of Finland’s most famous public saunas opens for final weekend before year-long renovation

Tampere’s historic Rauhaniemi public sauna will welcome visitors for the last time this weekend before closing for a major overhaul, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle. The facility, operated by swimming club TaTu Tampere, will shut its doors after Sunday as a year-long renovation begins.

“The mood is quite nostalgic. One era is ending,” said Niina Kuhlman, executive director of TaTu Tampere. She expects many regulars to visit over the weekend to bid farewell before the closure, though some have already found alternative saunas during the renovation.

The renovation will update changing rooms, washing areas, and sauna spaces, as well as the building’s roof, facade, and wooden structures. The protected exterior will remain unchanged. With Rauhaniemi closed, Tampere’s remaining public saunas are expected to face heavy demand.

Temporary saunas planned during construction

TaTu Tampere has proposed setting up three temporary, relocatable saunas near the site to maintain some capacity—about one-third of current levels—during the work. The club is awaiting city approval and hopes the temporary facilities could remain beyond the renovation period.

“It’s not worth investing for just a year,” Kuhlman noted.

Rauhaniemi’s public sauna has operated since 1929 and remains one of Tampere’s most popular. Many visitors traditionally combine their sauna session with a dip in nearby Lake Näsijärvi.