Your First Public Sauna: What Actually Happens Inside

The first time at a public sauna, most people feel a version of the same anxiety: What do I wear? What do I bring? Will I be stared at? What are the rules? Will I last five minutes before having to run out?

All of these concerns are understandable and none of them will matter once you are inside. Here is a complete walkthrough of what to expect at a well-run public sauna.

Arrival and Entry

At most public saunas, you pay admission at the front desk and are given access to changing facilities and the sauna area. Some venues — particularly in Finland and Norway — offer unlimited time for a flat entry fee. Others sell timed sessions of two to three hours.

You will typically be given a towel, or asked to bring or rent one. Some venues provide a small waterproof bag for your valuables. Secure lockers for your belongings are standard at any reputable venue.

The Changing Room

The changing area at a public sauna is often where first-timers feel most uncertain. In Nordic-tradition venues, nudity is standard and unremarkable — you undress, store your clothes, wrap a towel around you, and head to the sauna. In UK and many Central European venues, changing into swimwear is the norm.

The key thing to understand: everyone is focused on their own experience, not on you. Regular sauna users have been through this hundreds of times. They are not examining newcomers.

The Sauna Room

When you enter the sauna, you will typically find wooden benches at different heights. The higher benches are hotter — hot air rises, so temperatures near the ceiling can be 15–20°C higher than near the floor. First-timers should start on the lower benches and work their way up as they become more comfortable.

Spread your towel on the bench before sitting. This is both hygiene practice and consideration for fellow users.

The kiuas (stove) will be in the centre or corner of the room. In a good sauna, there will be a wooden ladle and a bucket of water nearby. The act of ladling water onto the stones — löyly — produces a burst of steam. In a public sauna, you should check whether this is your role or the sauna master's. In self-service venues, it is usually communal — anyone may ladle. In larger venues with staff, a sauna master manages the steam.

The Heat

Your first reaction to proper sauna heat (80–100°C) will likely be: "This is extremely hot." It is. The key is breathing slowly through your nose, which naturally filters and slightly cools the air before it reaches your lungs. Breathing through your mouth, particularly immediately after a löyly, can feel uncomfortable.