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The Solar Egg sauna set on a scenic hillside overlooking a lake and mountains, under dramatic cloudy skies in Swedish Lapland.
Solar Egg in Swedish Lapland
The Solar Egg is 5 metres high and 4.5 metres wide. It's a work of art with a gold-plated stainless steel shell, designed by Mats Bigert and Lars Bergström. The sauna is heated by a wood-fired unit shaped like a human heart.
Photo credit: Riksbyggen

7 spectacular saunas in Sweden – a hot and cold experience like no other

Imagine stepping out of a steaming hot sauna, your skin tingling with warmth, only to plunge into an ice-cold lake or sea. This contrast of heat and cold is the essence of Swedish sauna culture – a rejuvenating ritual that invigorates both body and mind.

Last updated 24 January 2025

In Sweden, connecting with nature is a way of life – a healthy and rejuvenating tradition rooted in centuries of practice. From the serene art of forest bathing and foraging for wild delicacies to the age-old spa culture, the Swedes have perfected the balance of mind, body and nature. The ritual of sauna bathing combined with cold-water dips isn’t just a pastime – it’s a cornerstone of wellness that offers an exhilarating experience and brings numerous health benefits:

  • Boosts circulation: The rapid shift in temperature stimulates blood flow and strengthens the cardiovascular system.
  • Enhances recovery: The heat relaxes muscles, while the cold reduces inflammation and speeds up recovery.
  • Strengthens immunity: Regular sauna sessions can improve immune function and well-being.
  • Reduces stress and improves sleep: Heat lowers cortisol levels, while cooling promotes deeper sleep.
  • Improves skin health: Sauna heat opens pores and helps flush out toxins, while cold water tightens skin and reduces redness or swelling.

Sweden is home to some of the world’s most spectacular saunas, ranging from floating and underwater designs to those set deep in a mine or overlooking wild rivers. Whether you’re after a luxurious retreat or a rustic, off-grid experience, here are seven of Sweden’s most unique saunas:

Night-time view of an outdoor event in snowy Kiruna, Sweden, with the illuminated golden Solar Egg sauna surrounded by people and colourful lights.
Solar Egg, Kiruna
The Solar Egg was exhibited for the first time in 2017 outside Kiruna. After years of travelling around the world, it has now reached its final destination, in central Kiruna.
Photo: Riksbyggen

Solar Egg in Kiruna

This golden, egg-shaped public sauna and work of art travelled the world for seven years but has recently returned to its original home in Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost town. Designed by Swedish artists Bigert & Bergström, the Solar Egg symbolises rebirth and creativity. It can be booked via Kiruna Bryggeri. While there’s no cold bath nearby, Kiruna offers plenty of snow for a large part of the year, perfect for the classic roll-in-the-snow cool down.

A person stepping into a circular ice pool at Arctic Bath, Sweden, surrounded by wooden structures and snow, photographed at night.
Cold bath at Arctic Bath
Immerse yourself in the Swedish sauna tradition at Arctic Bath, Sweden, where a dip in icy waters meets contemporary design under the starry skies of Swedish Lapland.
Photo: Daniel Holmgren/Arctic Bath

Arctic Bath in Harads

A floating spa hotel with a circular open-air cold pool at its heart, Arctic Bath blends luxury and nature. The spa features two dry saunas and one steam sauna. Located on the Lule River, this striking structure is surrounded by water in summer and ice in winter, offering a one-of-a-kind hot-cold immersion. For an even more extraordinary experience, Arctic Bath hosts a 'Fire and Ice' event, combining sauna sessions, cold baths, and curated culinary delights.

Two woman sitting in a hot sauna.
Kukkolaforsen, Haparanda
At Kukkolaforsen just outside Haparanda, you can try several different types of saunas and cool off with a dip in the passing Torne River.
Photo: Kukkolaforsen

Kukkolaforsen outside Haparanda

Celebrating Sweden and Finland’s shared sauna heritage, Kukkolaforsen offers a collection of 13 saunas, from traditional wood-fired designs to a smoke sauna. Overlooking the mighty Torne River, visitors can quickly cool off with a dip in the lively, fast-flowing waters. The site also features guided sauna experiences where you can learn about sauna traditions and enjoy local culinary specialities.

A wooden sauna by the blue clear water inside a mine.
Adventure Mine Sauna, Dalarna
Experience a unique sauna 80 metres underground and plunge into the crystal clear water inside the Adventure Mine in Dalarna.
Photo: Visit Dalarna

Adventure Mine in Dalarna

Set 80 metres underground in a former mine, this sauna experience is truly one-of-a-kind. The steamy warmth contrasts with the crystal-clear, cool water, which maintains a temperature of around 4–5 degrees Celsius throughout the year, surrounded by natural rock walls. This extraordinary adventure includes local food and beverages and takes about 3.5 hours to complete.

Tall sauna in gray made of recycables, standing on a platform above the water in Frihamnen, Gothenburg.
The sauna in Jubileumsparken, Gothenburg
The public sauna in Jubileumsparken is free to use and has become a landmark in Gothenburg.
Photo: Beatrice Törnros/Göteborg & Co

The sauna in Jubileumsparken, Gothenburg

An architectural gem in Gothenburg’s Frihamnen district, this award-winning public sauna is built from recycled materials, including corrugated steel and colourful glass. Overlooking the Göta River, the sauna reflects Sweden’s commitment to sustainability and innovation. Adjacent to the Harbour Bath with its three floating pools – one open year-round for cold bathing enthusiasts – it offers a unique space for relaxation. The sauna is free to use but requires online booking.

Four persons dressed in bathrobes walking down a jetty to a cold bath house.
Kallbadhuset Varberg
Kallbadhuset Varberg was built in 1903. Here you can take a sauna and a dip in the sea whether it's summer or winter.
Photo: Anna Hållams/imagebank.sweden.se

Kallbadhuset Varberg in Varberg

One of Sweden's most beautiful sea bathhouses, Kallbadhuset Varberg, is a Moorish-style wooden palace perched on the water. Dating back to 1903, this historic site offers traditional sauna bathing combined with refreshing ocean dips. With stunning views of the Kattegat Sea and the nearby Varberg Fortress, it’s an idyllic coastal experience steeped in tradition and charm.

Interior of an underwater sauna at Ästad Vingård, featuring a wood-burning stove, stone walls, and large windows showcasing an underwater view with fish swimming amidst aquatic vegetation.
Underwater sauna, Ästad Vingård
Immerse yourself in tranquillity at the underwater sauna of Sinnenas Spa at Ästad Vingård, where the soothing warmth is complemented by views of life beneath the surface.
Photo: Ästad Vingård

Underwater sauna at Ästad Vingård

Located at one of Sweden’s top vineyards, Ästad Vingård, this wood-fired underwater sauna offers a genuinely unique perspective. Guests can unwind in the heat while observing rainbow trout swim by and crayfish scuttle along the lakebed outside its submerged windows. Follow this with a dip in the spring water pond or relax at the on-site Sinnenas Spa.

In Sweden, saunas are a pathway to well-being and a healthier lifestyle. With their stunning designs and the invigorating contrast of heat and cold, Swedish saunas offer an exceptional way to reconnect with tradition and immerse yourself in nature. Why not take the plunge and experience this time-honoured Swedish tradition for yourself?

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