Scenic Saunas Around the World With A View

A recent report states that the US sauna market is expected to increase to $161.3m by 2030, and The British Sauna Society listed 640 saunas in the UK as of earlier this year.

The health benefits are more widely known — regular use can help lower systemic inflammation markers, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce hypertension risks, and alleviate pain from chronic conditions.

But saunas are increasingly becoming ‘third spaces’ for booze-free socializing and to instill a sense of community (there’s even a few sauna raves out there for those who have perhaps outgrown the traditional club scene and are looking for something more health-centric). A boiler room indeed.

If you want a serene view while you sweat, these are the best saunas to book.

Best saunas with scenic views

• 

  Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomites

  Italy

  Lefay Resort & Spa in the Dolomites cuts a memorable silhouette with its gothic, church-esque architecture. The spa is a solid USP and one of the best I’ve visited. It’s a big one at 53,800-sq-ft and has tens of treatment rooms, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool that you’ve no doubt seen on your feed, salt pools, steam rooms, and plunge pools.

  The hottest sauna is part of The Red Phoenix energy circuit — the spa has five of these circuits to follow; each one uses the facilities to rebalance energies. The Red Phoenix is for those who are feeling anxious, and has a Finnish sauna at a very toasty 194°F. Inside, there’s floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the mountainous surroundings.

  book here

• 

  Octola Lodge II

  Finland

  Finland is considered to be the birthplace of the sauna as we know it (the term ‘sauna’ is of Finnish origin), so, as you can imagine, it’s a daily ritual here for some. At the invite-only Octola Lodge, there’s a sauna, steam room and outdoor Jacuzzi. 

  If you’ve got dibs on the master suite, you’ve got your very own sauna with a window looking out into the snow-blanketed forest. There’s no cold plunge, though — but you can just nip out onto the suite’s terrace and stand in the snow for a minute or two (I lasted a solid 45 seconds in the below-freezing temperatures.) Less scenic but still worth a sweat is the traditional Finnish smoke sauna (savusauna), a short drive away in the forest, as well as a frozen-over pond for a bracing dip.

  book here

• 

  Frandy Water at Gleneagles

  Scotland

  A new addition to Gleneagles arsenal, Frandy Water is an off-grid ‘retreat’ that is a short Defender drive away from the main hotel. Frandy Water, also known as Frandy Fishery, is an upland reservoir famed for fly fishing where anglers seek rainbow and wild brown trout. The shingle-covered sauna is perched on the shores of the reservoir; there’s a jetty ready for a bracing cold plunge.

  book here

• 

  Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne

  Switzerland

  Sitting about 2,000 ft above Lake Lucerne, Burgenstock Resort in Switzerland has some hard-to-beat views. The spa is huge — over 100,000 sq ft over three stories — and is exceptional with a heated indoor/outdoor infinity pool, steam room, salt grotto and salt pool, cold plunge, and 13 treatment rooms. There are four saunas, each one of which is remarkably spacious and glass-fronted. There’s also a women-only area with its own sauna.

  book here

• 

  Scribner’s Catskill Lodge

  Hunter, New York

  Roughly a two-hour drive from New York City will land you in Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter, Greene County. As its name suggests, the lodge is surrounded by the Catskill Mountains. As such, it’s a popular stay for hikers as there’s tons of trails, and the nearby two-tiered Kaaterskill Falls is about 15 minutes away from the lodge. The new 12-person sauna is custom-made by Harbor Saunas (who construct all saunas by hand) and has views of the mountain range.

  book here

• 

  Fjord

  Sausalito, California

  A champion of the community element of sauna, Fjord is aiming to build ‘a new outdoor thermal culture,’ according to its social media accounts. The sauna floats on San Francisco Bay on a repurposed breakwater barge that was originally used in the 2013 America’s Cup. The sauna room is made from former shipping containers – these and the surrounding deck are clad in Californian redwood. Private sessions for two hours for up to six guests are available, or you can reserve the full platform for 16 guests. Alternatively, join one of the sunrise sessions — announced on the brand’s Instagram — when the sauna is around 190°F and the Bay a cool 60°.

  book here

• 

  Nimmo Bay

  Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

  Most floating saunas are accessible by land. Not at Nimmo Bay — the floating sauna is anchored in a private inlet along the Mackenzie Sound within the Great Bear Rainforest, and it can only be reached by boat, kayak, or paddleboard. Handbuilt from western yellow cedar, the sauna is powered by a wood-burning stove. Spend the recommended 15 minutes inside and then plunge into the bracing waters of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll be left to your own devices — contact the main lodge via a walkie talkie when you’re ready to return.

  book here