"Helsinki hipsters are ruining the cosiness of Kuusijärvi."
That was the sensational headline the local newspaper Vantaan Sanomat ran in spring 2024 on the crowds flocking to our neighbouring smoke sauna. Clickbait aside, the article contained plenty of genuinely good reflection on the downsides of public saunas becoming so popular. It got us thinking, too, about what a public smoke sauna is like when everyone wants to be on the benches at the same time.
The popularity of public saunas shows here in Sipoo as well. Weekend sessions in particular are sometimes fully booked weeks ahead, and we are quite often asked whether we could squeeze in one more couple or a small group. The temptation to let a few more people in is of course great. Still, we want to stick to our principled decision to keep the number of guests per session moderate. Saying no is never nice. If the weekend is full, it is worth looking at weekday evenings too. Thanks to the moderate number of guests, everyone who comes to a session fits on the benches and has time to cool off in peace.
What makes a good public smoke sauna
The benches can be full here too. In our experience, though, a sauna packed to the brim and an uncontrolled flow of visitors can make the sauna experience restless. In many public saunas this is less of a drawback. The sauna side is as lively as any pub, and the evening can flow naturally from the steam room to the restaurant. That is a fine way to spend an evening as well. It is great that public smoke saunas attract so much interest, including at our neighbour in Kuusijärvi.
At Sipoonjoen perinnesauna we want to offer the chance to enjoy the nature around the sauna and, when you need to, to withdraw for a cooling-off break in complete peace. The sauna is in Hindsby, on the edge of Sipoonkorpi, and during your cooling-off break you are surrounded by the river and the forest. The drive here from the Helsinki region is just long enough for the bustle of the city to be left behind before you turn into the yard.
Sauna etiquette in a public sauna
A public sauna is a shared space, and at its heart is respect for your fellow sauna bathers. We all have our own sauna habits. It is perfectly fine, for example, to ask the others before throwing löyly (sauna steam). One person wants hotter löyly and another lighter, and by asking, both get what they want. In the same way, you can offer your place in the hot tub to the next person once you have been sitting there for a while. When someone comes onto the benches, you can shift over a little so there is room for everyone. You can also pass the löyly ladle to the person next to you.
It is always worth booking your place in advance. That way you avoid a wasted trip if the session turns out to be full. Booking also helps us, as we know how many sauna bathers are coming that evening. It would be a shame to drive all the way to Sipoonjoki only to turn back in the yard.
Silent sauna session
Alongside conversation, the warmth of the earth sauna (maasauna) is also a fitting place to make room for silence. That is why on Wednesdays we have a silent sauna session, where we bathe in silence. A silent session may sound serious, but in practice it is a fairly everyday thing. Talking is set aside for a while, and on the benches you listen to the löyly. You can still smile at someone or nod when the löyly comes. When the talking stops, the hiss of löyly on the stones is surprisingly clear.
Everyone is still welcome here, perhaps even especially all the hipsters from Helsinki and beyond. As long as you have booked your place.
You can bathe together in silence too.
Read also: When time disappears during a sauna session and What does a man look like? Sauna bathing and self-esteem
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book a place at a public smoke sauna?
Yes. At Sipoonjoen perinnesauna it is always worth booking your place in a sauna session in advance, as weekend sessions in particular often fill up. Bookings are made at saunotus.fi.
What is a silent sauna session?
A silent sauna session is a public sauna session (yleinen vuoro) where people bathe in silence. At Sipoonjoen perinnesauna the silent session is on Wednesdays.
How should you behave in a public sauna?
Respect your fellow sauna bathers. It is good manners to ask the others before throwing löyly, and to give your place in the hot tub to the next person once you have been sitting there for a while.
