Looking for the hottest and most relaxing way to start your adventure in Helsinki? Then look no further than a typical Finnish sauna! As winter approaches and it starts to snow, what better way to embrace the cold days and keep toasty than by hitting the sauna? With about three million saunas in Finland, the sauna is not a luxury, but an everyday necessity and an essential part of Finnish culture. Saunas are so popular in their native country of Finland that there is one in every public swimming pool, hotel, and fitness centre.

Many Finnish homes, factories, bars and restaurants have their own saunas, as well. The sauna is a dimly lit wood-panelled room where you can relax, sweat and be bare in all senses of the word. And no, it is not about sex or flirtation, but a place of meditative refreshment - a divine delight dating back to the Viking age. There are three different types of saunas in the city that you can choose from: wood-burning, smoke and electric saunas - all varying in heat and intensity.

For a traditional wood-burning sauna experience, walk into the gentle warm darkness of Kotiharjun sauna. But if you are looking for the trendiest place to try both smoke and wood-burning sauna, then Löyly is the place to go. And remember that you should behave in a sauna as you would in a church since it is almost a holy place! Take a quick shower prior to using the sauna and enter it without clothes (yes, you read it right - for most Finns, going to the sauna in the nude is not a "thing", but if you feel uncomfortable, you can wear a towel or swimsuit.) Whether you are nude or not, do not sit directly on the bench, but bring a towel you can sit on! Drink plenty of water and socialise without being noisy. Just relax and do as the locals do!