If you're planning a trip to Rovaniemi and wondering whether Sauna World at Lapland Winter Park is worth visiting, we tried it during our winter weekend in Finnish Lapland, and it turned out to be one of the most relaxing parts of the trip.
We spent 90 minutes moving between eight different saunas, relaxing in outdoor hot tubs and even trying the icy plunge pool. After spending so much time outdoors in the snow, it was lovely to slow down and enjoy something completely different from the usual husky rides, snowmobiling and Santa attractions.
In this Lapland Winter Park Sauna World review, I'll share what our visit was like, what was included, the things I'd bear in mind before booking and who I think would enjoy it most.
For help with the rest of your trip, our Lapland Travel Guide Hub brings together our DIY itineraries, budgeting advice, Northern Lights tips and reviews of the places we've visited.
Lapland Blogs & Guides
Lapland Hotels
Save 5% on eligible activities in the GetYourGuide app with code BUILDABREAK5
Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products, services and experiences we've used ourselves or believe will help you plan your trip. Thanks for supporting Build a Break.
⭐ Our rating: 5/5
💰 Price quoted in this review: €65 per person
⏱️ Sauna session: 90 minutes
📍 Location: Lapland Winter Park, Rovaniemi
🧖 Best suited to: Teenagers, adults, couples and friends
🚌 Transport: A complimentary shuttle was available from Rovaniemi city centre and Santa Claus Village
🎟️ Booking: Sauna World can be booked separately from the park's other activities
Our ticket included eight saunas, two outdoor jacuzzis, a traditional wood-fired hot tub and an ice plunge pool, plus a bathrobe, towel, sauna shoes, toiletries and a bottle of water. Check the current price, age requirements, inclusions and shuttle timetable for your visit.
We booked Sauna World during our winter weekend in Rovaniemi for my daughter's birthday. Between exploring Santa Claus Village, trying ice karting and spending plenty of time outside, it gave us a lovely chance to slow the pace.
During the session, we worked our way around the eight saunas, tried the icy plunge pool and spent time in the outdoor jacuzzis and wood-fired hot tub. It felt very different from a spa visit back home, particularly when we were sitting in warm water surrounded by snow.
At €65 per person, it was a significant addition to the trip, but I thought the experience offered good value for us. Having a bathrobe, towel, sauna shoes and toiletries provided made it easy, and the complimentary shuttle meant we didn't need to pay for a taxi back into Rovaniemi afterwards.
You also don't need to buy a separate Lapland Winter Park admission ticket just to visit Sauna World. That makes it easier to fit into a short itinerary if the sauna experience is the main reason you want to go.
Sauna World is a dedicated sauna and outdoor bathing experience within Lapland Winter Park, around 20 minutes from Rovaniemi city centre. It can be booked as a standalone activity, separate from the park's other attractions.
Our 90-minute session gave us access to eight different saunas, two outdoor jacuzzis, a traditional wood-fired hot tub and an icy plunge pool. With a bathrobe, towel, croc-style sauna shoes, toiletries and water provided, there was very little to bring apart from our swimwear.
We enjoyed moving between the saunas because they each felt a little different. Some were hotter than others, one had the distinctive scent of tar and another looked out over the snowy surroundings. There was enough variety to keep us happily occupied throughout the session.
If you've never tried a Finnish sauna experience, you don't need to worry about following a particular route. We moved between the saunas and pools at our own pace, taking breaks whenever we wanted to cool down.
We'd spent the morning at Santa Claus Village, and the free shuttle didn't quite fit our plans, so we took a taxi to Lapland Winter Park. That cost around €50 for the three of us. After the sauna session, we used the complimentary shuttle back to Rovaniemi city centre, so we tried both options.
We arrived a little early and checked in at the main reception. The staff told us we had plenty of time before our session, so we had a wander through the park and visited the reindeer before making our way to Sauna World.
The sauna area is in its own enclosed section, which made it feel separate from the busier parts of the park. Once inside, we collected our bathrobes, towels, sauna shoes, toiletries and water before heading into the changing rooms.
The women's changing room was the only downside of our visit. It was much busier than the men's, and because we were among the last to get changed, there wasn't much room around the lockers or benches. My husband said there were only a handful of people in the men's facilities, whereas the women's was almost full.
Fortunately, it didn't spoil the session. We still had time to enjoy the different saunas, outdoor jacuzzis, wood-fired hot tub and plunge pool. We'd booked the final session of the day and didn't feel rushed out, although I'd still plan around the time on your own booking rather than assuming you'll be able to stay longer.
We finished at a relaxed pace and waited until the changing rooms had quietened down before getting ready. Afterwards, we stopped at the on-site café for a drink and something to eat, then caught the shuttle back into Rovaniemi.
It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon, and having time for a café stop afterwards made the visit feel less hurried than squeezing it straight between two other activities.
Our booking included bathrobes, towels, sauna shoes, toiletries and a bottle of water, so swimwear was the main thing we needed to bring. The changing rooms were separate, but the saunas and pools were shared by men and women.
The sauna session lasted 90 minutes, but we allowed longer for the whole visit. Around 2.5–3 hours gave us time to arrive, get changed and enjoy a café stop afterwards, with transport time to consider as well.
We were able to have a look around and visit the reindeer before our session. That shouldn't be taken to mean all park activities are included, so check what your ticket allows if you want to do more than visit Sauna World.
You don't need to buy a general Lapland Winter Park admission ticket just to book the sauna experience. If you're interested in the other attractions as well, compare the available tickets and packages before deciding.
A free shuttle was available from Rovaniemi city centre and Santa Claus Village when we visited. We used it for the return journey, but took a taxi there because that worked better with our morning plans.
Look at the current timetable before choosing your session so you know how long you'll have to wait before and after the experience.
The women's changing room was crowded at the start of our visit. Allow yourself enough time to get ready, and bear in mind that the changing facilities may feel busier than the sauna area itself.
The age information in our original booking allowed children aged three and over, and we saw younger children there during our visit. Personally, I think tweens, teenagers and adults are more likely to appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and variety of saunas.
We visited for my daughter's 14th birthday, and it felt like a lovely choice for that age. Check the current minimum age and any restrictions for the individual facilities before booking for children.
We tried the icy plunge pool as part of our visit, but you don't have to use it to enjoy Sauna World. There was plenty to do without it, and you can choose the facilities and temperatures you're comfortable with.
The price quoted for our review was €65 per person for a 90-minute session. That included access to the eight saunas, two outdoor jacuzzis, traditional wood-fired hot tub and ice plunge pool.
A bathrobe, towel, croc-style sauna shoes, toiletries and a bottle of water were also included. Combined with the complimentary shuttle, that made it a straightforward activity to arrange without lots of extras to organise.
I thought it was worth the money for our visit, particularly as we all enjoyed the experience. Check the current rate and inclusions for your dates, as the price in this review isn't a live booking quote.
I'd recommend Sauna World to teenagers, adults, couples and friends who want something more relaxed alongside the outdoor adventures. My daughter enjoyed trying the different saunas and spending time in the hot tubs, and it made a lovely birthday activity.
Although younger children were allowed when we visited, I suspect many would get more enjoyment from sledging, mini snowmobiles, ice skating and playing in the snow. You know your own children best, but I'd think about whether they'll enjoy a quieter session before booking.
It also worked well as a change of pace after a busy couple of days. If your itinerary is full of husky rides, snowmobiling and sightseeing, having an afternoon where you aren't rushing around can be very welcome.
If you want to make a longer visit of it, Lapland Winter Park has other winter attractions alongside Sauna World. These aren't automatically included with a sauna-only booking, so check the current activity packages and individual charges.
The activities listed when we planned our visit included:
We enjoyed seeing the reindeer before our session and stopping at the café afterwards. If you're planning a full day, look at how the activity times fit together and check which experiences need a separate booking.
We also tried ice karting during our Rovaniemi trip, although ours was at Santa's Motor Park rather than Lapland Winter Park. That was another highlight and is covered separately in our review.
I'd happily book it again. Across three Lapland trips we've tried everything from husky sledding and snowmobiling to the Arctic SnowHotel, reindeer rides and ice karting, and Sauna World gave us a different kind of afternoon.
What I enjoyed most was having time to move between the saunas and hot tubs without rushing, with the snow and cold air around us. It was a lovely introduction to Finnish sauna culture and a welcome break from a fairly full itinerary.
For our family, it was money well spent. If you're travelling with teenagers, visiting as a couple or simply fancy something more relaxing during your Rovaniemi trip, it's an experience I'd consider adding to your plans.
Whenever I spot great-value DIY Lapland flights and accommodation from UK airports, I share them with members of the Build a Break Travel Club. If you'd like to experience Lapland without paying package holiday prices, it's a useful place to find ideas for putting your own trip together.
Get free destination guides, travel inspiration and helpful tips for planning your next adventure, straight to your inbox.
Copyright © Build a Break | Website by Furness Media