Public saunas thrive as Tampere earns title of sauna capital in Finland

Public saunas are more popular in Tampere than anywhere else in Finland, with 18 currently operating in the city and a total of 67 across the Pirkanmaa region, the highest in the country. The title of “Sauna Capital” is a key attraction for Tampere, according to Visit Tampere’s PR and media expert, Tuomas Paloniemi. He noted that many public saunas have broken visitor records in recent years.

The variety of saunas in the region is unmatched elsewhere in Finland, featuring both traditional and modern options, such as an art sauna, a sauna restaurant, a smoke sauna, and the oldest sauna still in use in Finland. Risto Elomaa, the President of Finland’s Sauna Association, praised Tampere as an exceptional sauna city. He explained that public saunas largely disappeared in Finland during the 1950s and 1960s, but have remained prevalent in Tampere.

Tampere attracts numerous tourists keen to experience Finnish sauna culture. Paloniemi highlighted a strong wellness trend that has made the health benefits of saunas well known globally, with international media covering Tampere’s saunas extensively this year. The popularity of public saunas has also surged among locals, with a more diverse crowd visiting, including families, young people, and tourists from Europe and East Asia.

Residents such as Kati Pitkänen from Kaukajärvi shared that visitors now include newcomers and sauna enthusiasts. Mark Bell, originally from the UK, expressed that sauna culture has become a lifestyle for him, providing relaxation and good conversations. Meanwhile, Kari Kähäri, who has been frequenting public saunas for over 15 years, noted the remarkable expansion of sauna culture in Tampere compared to other parts of Finland.