Loyly

About Loyly

Public saunas declined in Helsinki as private apartments gained their own bathrooms through the mid-twentieth century. Löyly's opening in 2016 was part of a deliberate revival of sauna as a social space; its success has inspired several other public sauna openings in the city.

Overview Löyly is a public sauna and restaurant complex on the Helsinki waterfront in the Hernesaari neighborhood, opened in 2016 in a building designed by the architecture firm Avanto Architects. The name comes from the Finnish word for the steam produced when water is thrown on hot sauna stones — the defining moment of sauna culture — and the building itself won multiple Nordic architecture awards for its timber-clad exterior that appears to grow organically from the rocky shoreline. Löyly offers both wood-burning and electric saunas, outdoor terraces over the water, and cold-water swimming from the dock.

The Story Behind It Public saunas were common in Helsinki through the mid-twentieth century but declined as apartment buildings began including private bathroom facilities. Löyly's opening was part of a broader revival of public sauna culture in Helsinki — several other public saunas have since opened, and the city's relationship with sauna as a social space, rather than just a private hygiene facility, has strengthened significantly. The Hernesaari site, a former industrial waterfront area being redeveloped, gave Avanto Architects a location where the building could engage directly with the sea — allowing the traditional Finnish practice of swimming between sauna sessions to happen in natural water rather than a pool.

What You'll Experience Löyly operates on a ticket-based entry system; the ticket covers unlimited sauna access during the session. Swimwear is worn throughout, and the saunas are mixed-gender. The wood-burning sauna is the more atmospheric of the two — the smell of burning birch, the dry heat, and the rituals of steam and cooling are all present. The outdoor terrace has sea views over the Helsinki archipelago; the restaurant serves Finnish-influenced food at reasonable prices for the waterfront location. On summer evenings, the terrace is one of the most pleasant outdoor spaces in Helsinki.

Getting There Löyly is in Hernesaari, about thirty minutes' walk from Helsinki city center along the waterfront, or reachable by ferry from the Market Square or by the Föli water bus. Tram line 9 stops nearby. Pre-booking entry tickets online is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend evenings.

The Experience

Alternate between the wood-burning sauna and cold sea swimming from the dock, sit on the waterfront terrace with views over the Helsinki archipelago, and eat at the restaurant serving Finnish-influenced food. The entire ritual is mixed-gender and swimwear is worn throughout.

Why It Matters

The catalyst for Helsinki's public sauna revival and one of the most architecturally thoughtful expressions of Finnish sauna culture — a building where the architecture, the water access, and the sauna ritual are genuinely integrated.

Why Visit

Löyly is the most accessible point of entry into Finnish sauna culture for visitors unfamiliar with it. The mixed-gender, swimwear, waterfront format removes the barriers that private saunas can present to non-Finns, while the wood-burning sauna delivers the authentic sensory experience.