Travel
Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas
Slide Nr 1The best way to complement the most relaxed method to break a sweat? With an effortless view! In these scenic saunas, all you need to do is strip off, lean back and try to keep your eyes open long enough to drink in as much as you can of the delicious views.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 2To the surprise of absolutely no one, some of the best saunas in the world are in Scandinavia. In fact, we could quite easily fill this entire list exclusively with Scandi saunas, like the delightfully named Löyly (after the steam of water hitting hot sauna stones, because of course there’s a word for that in Finnish). This ultra-modern public sauna is contributing to the reinvention of a former industrial area close to the centre of the Finnish capital. [Photo: Pekka Keränen]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 3For a few hours or an entire day away from the city, hop on a ferry in downtown Helsinki. Minutes later, disembark on Lonna, a former “minesweeper island” turned urban escape. Take in the views of the city across the water before enjoying an “homage to traditional sauna culture,” topped off with an indulgent meal at the island’s restaurant or a snack at the waffle bar.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 4In Lapland, those who prefer ever-changing scenery can take a trip on a sauna boat. Floating down the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers in Rovaniemi, the wooden raft carries up to 12 guests. Those on board take turns heating up in the on-board sauna, cooling off with a quick swim, enjoying the views of the peaceful, wooded surroundings or trying their hand at fishing.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 5Even further north, the mobile sauna doesn’t float on water, but instead through the air. The world’s only sauna gondola is available for hire in the remote Yllas ski resort. After a day of skiing (downhill, but particularly cross-country), hop in with up to three friends, sweat all the way up, then switch to the sauna, jacuzzi and shower facilities at the summit. With a bit of luck, you can even glimpse the Northern Lights from the comfort of your flying sauna.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 6In Norway, saunas are so much a part of everyday culture that even an edgy, innovative “nomadic art project” currently situated in the heart of Oslo encompasses not one, but three saunas. SALT‘s eye-catching architecture is a contemporary interpretation of Viking longhouses. Fronted by a glass wall and furnished by wooden steps spanning the width of the building, sauna-goers currently enjoy a city view. In its previous beach location, the scenery was more serene… and who knows where it will be set up next. [Photo: Baard Henriksen]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 7Hurtigruten literally translates as “fast route”, but the cruise company that arose from the Norwegian postal shipping service is a model of slow travel. On its most famous itinerary, exploring the Fjords of the country’s craggy West Coast, the ships are always within sight (weather permitting) of land. Travellers enjoy ever-changing vistas from the panoramic lounges, observation decks and, of course, the sauna. Four of the company’s 14 ships have top-deck saunas offering views of – depending on timing and itinerary – midnight sun, Northern Lights, icebergs and Arctic wildlife.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 8In keeping with both the Nordic sauna tradition and the Scandinavian reputation for great design, Gothenburg outdid itself with a decidedly urban sauna in the middle of an industrial but rapidly gentrifying part of town. The prize-winning structure, based on a design by Berlin-based Raumlabor, is built from recycled and reclaimed materials – and its raised location offers excellent views across the harbour.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 9Much like Scandinavians, Russians value a trip to the sauna as a great social equaliser. Hardy visitors will brave a visit to a traditional Banya in the depth of winter, with a roll in the snow or a jump into ice cold water directly after. You can do a sauna tour from Irkutsk on Lake Baikal – bonus points for hacking your own plunge hole in the ice before cooling off in the lake. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 10Another slightly different Eastern sauna tradition is the Estonian smoke sauna, recently listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. For the ultimate Baltic experience, try going during the White Nights, when the sun never fully sets. Hit the sauna late at night and, as you cool off, watch the sun hit the horizon after midnight, only to pop right back up again. [Photo: Oliver Moosus]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 11A private sauna. On the grounds of a lighthouse. On an island off the west coast of Ireland. If you can think of any way to make the Sauna Suite at Clare Island Lighthouse sound any more idyllic, we’d love to hear it, because we are right out of words to improve on the simple facts. As for the views, choose between gazing out across the open Atlantic, along the spectacular cliffs; at nearby Achill Island, the starting point for the popular Greenway cycle path; or up at Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s sacred mountain.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 12The thing about scenic spots: building a sauna there will, more often than not, make them less scenic. Enter the mobile sauna, rolling in for the day, then disappearing without a trace. For example Bosca Beatha, popping up at beaches and festivals across Ireland, with an intimate, friendly atmosphere and inviting hospitality tent (read: a place to have a cup of tea and a chat) attached. Most frequently found at beautiful Garrettstown beach, where grateful surfers heat up after a session in the chilly Atlantic waves.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 13Simply jab your finger at any Alpine resort between southern Germany and northern Italy – chances are, you’ll find a host of excellent spa hotels with first-rate sauna landscapes (yes, that’s what they’re referred to around here). Unfortunately, the better and more scenic the sauna, the more expensive the hotel. Not at studiously hip Mama Thresl, an active mountain retreat with options ranging from affordable rooms with access to the public sauna, to a suite with private sauna and hot tub. [Photo: © eye5 // Christoph Schöch]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 14In addition to the rare low-price, high-standard spa hotel, the Alpine region is home to countless state-of-the-art public thermal baths, often complete with spa and sauna offerings worthy of a five-star hotel. At Kärnten Therme in Austria’s Carinthia region, that means two floors of indoor and outdoor saunas, scenically located, architecturally daring and truly offering something for everyone, like a full moon sauna night, as well as fit (workout) and fun (family) packages. [Photo: STO Gmbh, Schellander]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 15The spectacularly situated wooden barrel at Rifugio Lagazuoi claims to house the highest sauna in the Dolomites, but we can’t find any evidence that it isn’t the highest in the world. Located deep in the Ampezzo Dolomites Park, in between and high above Cortina d’Ampezzo and Corvara in Badia, it is reached by cable car. At 2,752 metres, up to 8 people can enjoy unobstructed views across the Italian Alps.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 16Bali has no shortage of amazing spa hotels – and most of them are open to paying non-residents. Go ahead and try a different one every day, but when it comes to incredible views, it’s hard to beat the cliffside spa at Karma Kandara, complete with infrared detox sauna and relaxation areas overlooking the Indian Ocean.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 17A visit to one of Japan’s public bath houses is one of the country’s most unique cultural experiences. Usually, the so-called onsen or sento are associated only with bathing, but they often also feature saunas. The Ooedo-Onsen theme park is a good place to get a handle on the traditions. Even if the Edo-era feel of the place is entirely staged, the landscaped gardens, ornate baths and saunas are a treat. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 18Those looking for a more holistic wellness experience are sure to be bowled over by Aro Hã retreat near Queenstown, New Zealand. At the spacious property overlooking Lake Wakatipu, there is no such thing as THE view, merely endless views extending all around. Visitors can discover new vistas – encompassing the vast lake, islands and surrounding mountains – from their cabins, the community building, the yoga room, and of course from the Finnish sauna.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 19If you want to really feel like you’ve earned your sauna session, try hiking, biking or backcountry skiing between remote mountain huts, for example in Colorado, USA. The 10th Mountain Division Hut Association provides an overview of the available accommodations, some of which, like Francie’s or Janet’s Huts, also have wood-burning saunas for those long, cold winter nights.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 20wa_sauna, built after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2015, can regularly be spotted on Lake Union and Lake Washington, in full view of the Seattle skyline. The supporters who helped turn the design into a real, floating sauna are now reaping the rewards, but occasional events with lakeside restaurant Westward and several local charity auctions have provided public access. Keep an eye on the social accounts of goCstudio, the architecture studio behind the project, for your next chance to get on board. [Architect: goCstudio (Jon Gentry AIA, Aimée O’Carroll ARB), Engineer: Kevin Winner, Swenson Say Faget, Photographer: Kevin Scott ]
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
Slide Nr 21Temazcal, the sweat lodge ritual practiced by many indigenous American cultures, like the Aztecs and Mayans, is a spiritual exercise. Visitors willing to give it a try will usually find themselves partaking in a guided experience, complete with an introduction to the cultural background, accompanied by chanting and perhaps followed by a little bit of a psychedelic trip. Tulum, Mexico, with spas like the one at Azulik Resort, is a good location for tourists interested in trying it for the first time.
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Sweat The Scene: The World’s Most Scenic Saunas.
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