The sauna has few rules, but the ones it has run deep. Here are the unwritten rules of a Swedish sauna – so you feel at home the first time, whether you sauna with strangers or with your own group.
Naked or swimwear?
In Sweden and Finland it's common to sauna naked, especially in saunas split by gender. In mixed and public saunas, swimwear is often the rule. Check what applies where you are.
In a private sauna, your group decides. Nobody minds – do what feels comfortable.
Always sit on a towel
Bring a small towel to sit on, and put it under your feet too if you sit up high. It's hygienic and kind to the wood.
Ask before you throw water
Throwing water on the stones – löyly – raises the heat fast. Ask the others first, and pour one ladle at a time. Whoever sits closest to the bucket usually takes on the role of "sauna master".
Talk or silence?
Chat by all means, but keep it calm. Many people use the sauna to wind down, so respect anyone who wants to sit in silence. In a public sauna, keep conversations low.
More unwritten rules
- Rinse off before you go in the first time.
- Close the door quickly to keep the heat in.
- No phones in the sauna – they don't like the heat and others don't want to be photographed.
- Wipe sweat with your towel, not on the benches.
- Step out if you feel unwell – there's nothing to prove.
- Never swim alone in the lake, and save the alcohol until you're done with the dips.
Sauna etiquette at Sjöbastun
The raft is private, so your group sets the rules. What we ask: sit on towels, avoid red wine as it stains the wood, take your rubbish home and keep the noise down as you pass the houses on the way to the water.
