Public Sauna vs Private Sauna: Which One Is Right for You?
Both have their place, and the choice is more interesting than it might seem. Here is how public and private saunas compare on experience, cost, health benefits, and when each makes sense.
The distinction between public and private sauna is more culturally loaded than it might initially appear. In Finland, the public sauna is a democratic institution — a place where social hierarchies dissolve and community is built. In the private sauna world, exclusivity and personal control are the draws. Both have genuine merit, and the right choice depends on what you are actually looking for.
What Is a Public Sauna?
A public sauna is a communal facility open to any paying visitor. This includes:
- Traditional public bathhouses (the Finnish yleinen sauna, Oslo's floating saunas, London's sauna clubs)
- Hotel saunas open to non-guests
- Spa complexes with sauna areas open to day visitors
- Municipal leisure centre saunas
The defining characteristic is that you share the space with strangers — and that this sharing is part of the experience rather than a compromise.
What Is a Private Sauna?
A private sauna gives you exclusive access to the space for a defined period. This includes:
- Home saunas (barrel saunas, cabin saunas, infrared cabins)
- Private hire of a sauna at a public venue (many offer private booking options)
- Hotel sauna suites (private sauna within a room or suite)
- Rental accommodation with dedicated sauna access (a Finnish cottage, an Airbnb with sauna)
The Case for Public Sauna
It is usually better quality. Commercial public saunas — particularly dedicated sauna venues rather than hotel afterthoughts — typically have better equipment, better maintenance, better heat management, and better cooling facilities than private alternatives at the same price point. A good public sauna run by people who care about the craft delivers a superior experience to most private hire options.
The social dimension is irreplaceable. The Finnish sauna tradition is built on communal use. The conversations that happen in a shared sauna — quiet, personal, unhurried — are a distinctive kind of human connection. Private sauna with close friends is wonderful; the shared space of a communal sauna with strangers is something else entirely, and something many people find unexpectedly meaningful.
It forces commitment. Booking a session at a public sauna creates an appointment. You are more likely to go, stay for a full session, and follow the ritual properly when you have committed to a specific time at a specific venue.
