When we booked a night at the Arctic SnowHotel, there was one experience I knew I didn't want to miss: the famous Snow Sauna.
After spending the night sleeping on a bed made of ice, the thought of warming up in a traditional Finnish sauna, followed by a unique snow sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, sounded like the perfect way to end our stay.
We booked the 10:30am session the morning after our overnight stay and, looking back, it was one of the highlights of our three-day Rovaniemi trip. That said, if I were booking again, I'd probably choose one of the evening sessions instead. Not only would it have warmed us up before sleeping in the SnowHotel, but it would also have given us the chance of enjoying the experience beneath the Northern Lights.
In this review, I'll share exactly what the Snow Sauna experience involves, what I loved, what surprised me, and whether I think it's worth adding to your Lapland itinerary.
If you're looking for one of the most unique sauna experiences in Finland, the Arctic SnowHotel's Snow Sauna is believed to be the only one of its kind in the world, combining a traditional Finnish sauna, a snow-built sauna and a private outdoor jacuzzi into one experience.
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⭐ Overall rating: 9/10
💙 Best for: Couples, adults and older children
🕒 Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
📍 Location: Arctic SnowHotel, around 30 minutes from Rovaniemi
🗓 Season: Mid-December to late March (dates vary each winter)
✔ Completely private experience for your group
Package includes:
• Private Finnish sauna
• Private Snow Sauna
• Private outdoor jacuzzi
• Entrance ticket and introduction to the Arctic SnowHotel
• Return transfers from Rovaniemi (when booked as the visiting package)
• Access to the kick sledding and tobogganing hill
• Towels, bathrobe and slippers
💰 Price: €149 per adult | €89 per child (ages 2–12)
🎟 Booking tip: Book through GetYourGuide, where you can save an extra 5% using code BUILDABREAK5.
After an incredible breakfast in the Arctic SnowHotel's warm restaurant (which had one of the best breakfast spreads we've had anywhere), we spent a little time exploring the snowy grounds before making our way to the Snow Sauna reception.
On arrival, we were each given a bathrobe, slippers and a towel before being allocated a numbered changing room. That same number also became our private sauna number, meaning nobody else would be sharing the experience with us.
I really liked how private everything felt. Unlike many spa experiences, you aren't moving around with other guests. Instead, your group has exclusive use of the Finnish sauna, Snow Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi throughout the 90-minute session.
The experience begins in your own private Finnish sauna.
Each room includes a changing area, shower and lockable door, allowing you to move between the different experiences at your own pace.
You're responsible for managing your own time during the 90-minute session, so there's no guide moving you along. We chose to spend around 20 minutes here, allowing ourselves plenty of time to enjoy everything else.
After spending the previous night sleeping in a room made entirely of ice, this first blast of warmth felt absolutely incredible.
This is the experience everyone comes to try. Unlike a traditional sauna, the Snow Sauna is built entirely from compacted snow and heated using a real wood-burning stove. Throwing water onto the hot stones creates an incredibly humid cloud of steam that fills the room while a thin layer of ice forms naturally on the snowy walls.
The Arctic SnowHotel describes it as a gentler, more humid sauna than a traditional Finnish sauna and, as far as they're aware, it's the only experience of its kind in the world.
We spent around 15 minutes inside. I'll be completely honest though. Surprisingly, this wasn't actually my favourite part of the experience.
That's not because there was anything wrong with the Snow Sauna itself, it was entirely down to me.
Once the water hit the stove, the whole room filled with thick steam to the point where I could barely see anything. Combined with the narrow icy steps leading in and out (while wearing fairly flimsy spa slippers!) I started to feel a little claustrophobic.
To make matters worse, I could hear the snow and ice naturally expanding and cracking around us. I know that's completely normal, but my imagination definitely got the better of me.
My friend, on the other hand, absolutely loved it.
So I think this is one of those experiences that's incredibly personal. If you enjoy traditional saunas, you'll probably find it fascinating. I just preferred the Finnish sauna and jacuzzi.
If I had to pick one part of the whole experience, it would be the outdoor jacuzzi.
After leaving the Snow Sauna, we climbed the steps to our private outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the SnowHotel and surrounding snowy landscape.
Sitting in wonderfully warm bubbling water while surrounded by snow was one of those classic Lapland moments I'll never forget.
We probably spent around 30 minutes here simply relaxing and taking in the views.
Looking back, I do wish we'd booked one of the evening sessions instead. I can only imagine how magical this would feel if the Northern Lights happened to appear overhead.
For me, yes.
Not necessarily because of the Snow Sauna itself, but because of the experience as a whole.
The combination of a traditional Finnish sauna, the unique Snow Sauna and the outdoor jacuzzi creates something you simply won't find anywhere else.
The fact that everything is completely private also makes it feel much more luxurious than many hotel spa experiences.
Compared with many private spa experiences in the UK, I actually thought the pricing was reasonable considering you have exclusive use of three different experiences.
If you're already staying at the Arctic SnowHotel, I'd say it's one of the best additions you can make to your visit.
• Book an evening session if you can. You'll have the chance of relaxing beneath the Northern Lights and warming up before spending the night in the SnowHotel.
• Allow plenty of time. Although the experience lasts 90 minutes, you'll want to leave enough time for showering and changing.
• Bring your own swimwear.
• Don't rush between the different saunas. We found spending around 15–20 minutes in each worked well.
• If you're staying overnight, I'd definitely recommend doing the Snow Sauna either before bed or the following morning, just as we did.
Yes. Your booking includes private use of the Finnish sauna, Snow Sauna and outdoor jacuzzi for your group.
Around 90 minutes.
Yes. According to the Arctic SnowHotel, the experience is suitable for children of all ages.
Just your swimwear. Towels, slippers, bathrobes and a hairdryer are all provided.
Although the Snow Sauna itself wasn't my favourite part of the experience, I'd still absolutely recommend booking it.
For me, the real highlight was the combination of warming up in a traditional Finnish sauna before relaxing in the outdoor jacuzzi surrounded by snow-covered forests. It's peaceful, completely private and unlike any spa experience I've had before.
If you're already visiting the Arctic SnowHotel, especially if you're staying overnight as we did, I think it's a fantastic addition to your trip.
My rating: 9/10.
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 great place to start.
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