Sauna on the shore of Lake Saimaa and a dip in the clean lake water – what could be better?
There are millions of saunas in Finland and the Lake Saimaa region is a sauna lover’s dream destination, both in summer and in winter. You can access the sauna in the region’s spas and indoor swimming pools, but if you want a sauna for your own group, renting a sauna or a sauna space is a great solution.
Photo: Inkeritalo’s sauna in Punkaharju
Long before the modern bathroom, the sauna was a warm, quiet refuge at the heart of Finnish life. Its exact beginnings are lost in time, but early sauna-like shelters were heated with stones, and the traditional smoke sauna, savusauna, became one of the oldest forms of Finnish sauna. Over generations, the sauna has been a place to wash, rest and gather. And a comforting part of life’s important moments.
Today, the setting may have changed, but the feeling is familiar: the warmth of the room, the gentle hiss of water on hot stones and a moment when there is nowhere else you need to be.
In Finland, a sauna visit is not something to rush. You settle into the warmth, listen to the löyly—the soft wave of steam that rises when water meets the hot stones—and step outside when it is time to cool off or take a dip on refreshing lake Saimaa. Perhaps you return to the heat; perhaps you reach for a leafy birch whisk, known as a vihta or vasta.
And keep an eye out for the saunatonttu. Finnish folklore tells of this little sauna elf, the guardian of the sauna, who appreciates a peaceful, tidy and respectful place. Whether you believe in the elf or not, the story carries a lovely reminder: leave the day’s hurry at the door, and let the sauna be a place of calm.
Around Lake Saimaa, sauna and nature go hand in hand in every season. Step from the warmth into the fresh lakeside air, take a refreshing swim or simply pause to watch the light on the water. In winter, some Finns cool off with a dip in an ice hole or a playful roll in the snow before returning to the sauna. You can also place snow or ice on the kiuas stones and let it melt slowly, creating a softer, gentler löyly than when water is thrown onto the stones. These bracing contrasts bring a special kind of winter energy—while the lake, forest and changing seasons make every sauna visit its own experience.
Discover your own sauna moment in the Savonlinna region. Come for the warmth, stay for the lake, and take your time.
If you’re looking for a sauna to rent, why not rent a holiday home at the same time? The rental cottages located by the lake have their own sauna and the possibility to take a dip in the lake. Check out our rental cottages and holiday villages.
