Finnish, bio, steam: the types of sauna

Finnish saunas, bio saunas and steam baths differ in heat and humidity. The property can tell you how hot each one gets and which rules apply.

Finnish sauna: hot and dry

In a Finnish sauna, a stove heats the air and the room with its wooden benches. The air is hot and dry. During a sauna infusion, water is poured onto the hot stones of the stove. It evaporates, the air briefly becomes more humid and the heat feels much stronger. It is less hot on the lower benches than at the top. Hotels also name their Finnish sauna after its location or design, for example panoramic sauna or outdoor sauna.

Bio sauna: milder and a little more humid

The bio sauna is meant as a milder form of sauna: less hot than a Finnish sauna and a little more humid, with the humidity staying even instead of rising only during an infusion. Some properties also call it a Sanarium.

A bio sauna and an herbal sauna are not necessarily the same thing. The name alone does not show whether and how herbs are used. Some properties combine both terms into an herbal bio sauna, others have an herbal sauna next to the bio sauna or list an infusion with herbs in another sauna. There are also combination saunas that can be run as a Finnish sauna or as a bio sauna.

Steam bath: less hot, very humid

In a steam bath, the temperature is lower than in a Finnish sauna, but the air is very humid, to the point of visible steam. Hotels also speak of a steam sauna, aroma steam bath, brine steam bath or Turkish steam bath. The hammam is also a related form of bathing from the Turkish bathing tradition.

What the name does not reveal

The three types do not automatically go together, and the name of a cabin says nothing about who may use it and when. The same type of sauna can appear twice in one property, for example once in an area with swimwear and once in a textile-free adults-only area. Opening hours can also differ from cabin to cabin. If a particular type matters to you, ask before booking whether the property has it, which area it is in and which rules apply there. If temperature matters to you, ask about that too.

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