If you want to experience the authentic sauna experience this is your place. One of the last public…read moresaunas in Helsinki that is heated up with wood. It gets really busy so if you want to ensure a place in their heavenly warmth get there early (especially on weekends). You can bring your own drinks (beer is the choice of a true Finn). Towels can be rented from the establishment and non-alcoholic beverages are on sale.

I love this place. Where else you can sit naked downtown on the street after a good sauna? The…read morevisitors are a friendly mix of long time local regulars and foreigners. Towels and sauna seat covers can be rented at location. There's also a fridge for your beers. The place can be very crowded, so if you want a more peaceful experience, come early and avoid Friday and especially Saturday. Note: at the moment they accept cash only - so remember to visit an ATM.

Let me tell you about my visit to this Finnish sauna. But actually, let me explain to you a little…read morebit about the German sauna rituals first: in Germany men and women flock to "sauna landscapes", where they can - co-edly - relax in a succession of Roman steam bath, rainbow-light-sauna (at 60 degrees), Finnish sauna (at 90 degrees) and multiple other saunas. At the top of the hour, a staff of the establishment comes into the sauna, dressed in a colourful towel, and dowses the hot stones with water that is infused with either eucalyptus, honey-ginger, or any other scent-of-the-month oil. The hot steam, that results from this action, is then distributed via propelling the towel above the clerks head...and is greeted by a communal groan of the crowd. Then we have plenty of rules that one ought to obey by in our saunas: there's rules about how long you should be staying in the sauna and also about how you should be relaxing afterwards. There's even guidelines on how to best cool down after visiting a sauna: a slight drizzle of cold water, "evaporating" in the brisk air outside, emptying a bucket of cold water over your head or rolling in the snow. Then there's the rule for quietness. In fact, silence is golden and in order to achieve the utmost relaxation, it is frequently enforced by evil looks, should someone violate this rule. Even when the clerk is distributing the super-hot air throughout the sauna, we Germans only give off suppressed groans...after all, it's all about the relaxing spa-experience. You will now understand my surprise when, during my visit at Arla sauna, the first two sounds that I heard were that of opening beer cans and loud banter by a group of rough-looking men. I found this cultural difference fascinating and it became even more intriguing when I witnessed the usually rather shy Finns, squeezing themselves buttock-to-buttock on the top row of the sauna. The interior of the sauna - and by the way there's only one sauna, not a plethora of different temperature saunas - is also very different to anything I've encountered in Germany before: it's gritty, there's ill-fitted tiles on the wall and the plaster is peeling off the ceiling. Another interesting fact I witnessed is that Finnish men (and women) seem to go to the sauna only in hordes and a single visitor - like myself - seems to be rather the odd ball out. In fact, when I arrived at Arla, a group of men was just departing (beer cans in their hands) but soon afterwards the staircase was again filling up with laughter by another group of young men - I was guessing that this was an entire hockey team that had just finished their match? As you can imagine, the symphony of opening-beer-cans continued... All in all, this was a fun experience and I actually really enjoyed the down-to-earthness of it all. Sauna, for the Finns, seems to be less of a rule-bound-health-conscious-way-of-life, but more of a means to socialise and have fun. In fact, we Germans could actually use a bit of this less-uptight attitude and maybe just let go...

Arla is a proper Finnish sauna situated in a residential neighbourhood. Genders are split with the…read moremen upstairs and the women on the ground floor. It costs €15 to get in and rent a towel and I spent roughly an hour there. Everyone in the sauna was Finnish (a good sign) until a group of Americans arrived as I was leaving. It had a relaxed atmosphere with men swigging from beer cans and then sitting outside when cooling down. The place is a little rough around the edges probably reflecting that it opened in the 1920s but I'm glad that a visited. If you want an authentic Finnish experience then check this place out.

Best about this place: location!…read more This hostel is in centre of town, walkable distance to major sites and good public transport connection to railwaystation/airport. What i liked, apart from what was already mentioned: - rooms very clean (bathrooms not so much) - price - facilities offered (sauna, wifi, kitchen etc) Only 3 stars because the bathrooms and hallway are very smelly.

This youth hostel is located down by the port. Without a car, you will need to grab the tram from…read moreCentral Helsinki or you will have a long walk. The location is a little dull but the hostel is nice. When I stayed there they had a yummy breakfast buffet that was very cheap. The hostel was very quiet when I was there too and there isn't any street noise at all.

DO NOT MISS IF YOU ARE IN HELSINKI. IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING WHILE HERE, LET THIS BE IT…read more I had never been to a Finnish sauna but it was my goal to do so while in Helsinki. My waitress from Vinkkeli (another don't miss) told me about this place and it was full of locals, one of whom told me it was the best in the city. Given that he goes to the sauna four times a week, I think his judgment should be trusted. :-) Don't worry if you don't know the first thing about doing a sauna "right." The Finns will assure you that there is no "right" way to do things, but there are accepted protocols which the front desk staff can walk you through. Be prepared to not pay a lot for possibly the most relaxing thing you're going to do in a very long time. And be willing to engage with the locals who may chat you up, curious as to what a foreigner is doing at the most local of spots.

What a fabulous spot!…read more I didn't know exactly what to expect from Helsinki, nor from the Finnish saunas, but I was very pleasantly surprised to take up a tour guide's advice to try out this (brand new) sauna very close to the city center. However, it doesn't feel like it! The building is a big "U" shape with females on the right and males on the left, connected via the main lounge area where you check in/out. The building is on the waterfront and has very beautiful views - available from inside the sauna from pretty big windows. You can see ships parked across the way, a bit of an industrial landscape, and lots of sun. Don't worry - everything is too far away to actually see any other people. "Inside" the U section is a grassy area with a tree for sitting, cooling off, cooking up a sausage on the open fire (available to purchase there), and swimming in the Baltic Sea! It's really a fabulous set-up. The entry fee is 15 euro which includes a seat-cover for the sauna. Be sure to bring your own towel and water bottle to stay hydrated. If I remember correctly, it's about on par with the prices of other saunas (perhaps a bit more spendy), but the cool, Ikea-like modern, new atmosphere is definitely worth it. Personally, I chose to wear my swimsuit inside the sauna (not "traditional", I know) and felt completely at ease. I noticed a few other ladies did the same. Overall, it is a very open and welcoming environment, no need to worry about any self-perceived 'body-related issues'. The locals simply don't care - and neither should you! It's about the experience and the memories, and I can't recommend a better spot to get both!

Amazing experience. Everyone should spend time taking a sauna and swimming in the Baltic…read more The place organized, spotless worth the price. Be sure to eat in the cafe afterwards.

This is a review for the restaurant/bar and not the sauna area. Loyly is mentioned in basically…read moreevery recent article on places to visit in Finland. The photos of Loyly from a NYT travel article were part of what prompted me to include Finland on a recent trip around Scandanavia. We went on a grey, early Fall day, so I can't speak to what it's like in the summer, but I thought it was over-hyped. From the moment you enter it is very chaotic, probably because it is on every traveler "must visit" list. The bar area is right at the entrance and it is loud and crowded. It would probably be better on a warm summer day when everyone is outside instead of in the doorway. Loyly has three separate areas: the sauna area, the bar/casual outdoor dining, and the restaurant. We opted for the outdoor dining because we did not make reservations and the restaurant was already full very early in the evening. I didn't realize in advance that there are a few items on the restaurant menu that are not on the outdoor dining menu, namely the reindeer, which is what we were mainly interested in trying. We ended up with the elk meatballs and the salmon soup, which were both delicious and probably worth the high-ish price. I can't say I would be running back, but it's worth trying once. I would opt against the sauna area though, as it looked just as crowded as the restaurant and not at all relaxing.

A new experience as an American. A lovely location, everyone friendly. Nice sauna. Pool a bit…read morechilly but an enjoyable experience. Beautiful, historic hall.

I've rarely seen a place with such an unfriendly staff! That being said, the place looks nice with…read morea typically Art Deco architecture, so I guess that one had rather go there for the sake of its architecture than for swimming.

Big place. They…read morehave a decent down stairs with big screen TV for watching hockey and what not. Probably the most interesting feature is the sauna. It can hold probably 8 or 10 people and you can rent it out for something like 300 euro for three hours, and with that you get 100 or 150 euro worth of food and booze. They make their own beer ....ask for a pint of the "happiness", it's like an IPA that comes in two different strengths. Something like 4.5% and 9% maybe. Also they have a few pricey/small food items like reindeer jerky, cheese cubes, a couple things. The patio is excellent but usually a bit crowded.

The main floor of Villi Wäinö is more of a bar, the ground floor is more of a club and the top…read morefloor is more of a lounge. The place got a cozy atmosphere and a good selection of local beers.

Lovely small coffee place and restaurant in Uunisaari. Went there for dinner and later on for…read moreSunday morning coffee . The food is ok but the munkkis are excellent, super soft and fresh. Good slightly serious service, fabulous atmosphere.

From the owner: Uunisaari is a stunning seaside destination located just a stone’s throw from the heart of…read moreHelsinki. This lush and atmospheric island offers visitors a beautiful sandy beach and the perfect setting for relaxation. In the summer, a short boat ride takes you to this charming getaway. The island attracts visitors with its idyllic summer terrace and sauna. Uunisaari is an ideal excursion spot for nature lovers, food enthusiasts, and city dwellers alike who are looking for a brief escape from everyday life.