Whether you just got home from a trip to Norway or still think about that trip to Denmark years ago, I’m sure you remember one activity fondly: the sauna.
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Most of us Americans are a little shy about checking out public saunas in central Europe and Scandinavia because they’re fully nude. That makes visiting a sauna memorable, to say the least. In my opinion, it’s one of the coolest cultural experiences you can have in Europe. You get out of your comfort zone, get to veg out for a while, and also get to take care of your body.
Even if you don’t buck up and go buck naked at a public sauna, many hotels and resorts in the region offer small saunas on the grounds. Some fit up to five, while others might fit two people.
If you enjoyed your sauna time on your last trip to Europe, you aren’t alone. Hotels and residences across the United States have more home saunas than ever before. Last year, my brother purchased a personal home sauna that you can set up and take down right in your living room.
It’s one of the best ways to bring a little piece of your European trip back home with you—at least, if you live in a climate zone that goes through a proper winter.
If that’s the case, here’s your reminder: home saunas are more accessible than you think. And many of them have that classic Scandi style that you enjoyed across the pond.If you’re looking for a little piece of European wellness, start with a home sauna.
9 home saunas that let you unwind in Scandinavian style
- Sun Home Solstice 1-Person Infrared Sauna
- Duo Outdoor Sauna
- Haven Indoor Sauna – 3-Person
- The Sauna Pod 2.0
- The Sauna Mini
- Titan – Dual Heat
- BeautyBox Infrared Sauna
- SaunaBox SmartSteam Pro
9 home saunas that let you unwind in Scandinavian style
Sun Home Solstice 1-Person Infrared Sauna
- Fits: 1 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: Yes
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Eco-certified Kiln-dried Eucalyptus
Sun Home specializes in its high-powered heaters, letting you get up to double the wattage of some competitor home saunas. Units also come with EMF shielding, which protects you against electromagnetic fields during your sessions, and medical-grade chromotherapy lighting that gives you the power of the sun in the depths of winter. According to some reviews, this bad boy also heats up in under five minutes.
Duo Outdoor Sauna
- Fits: 2 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: No
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Hemlock thermowood
Easy to assemble and available for monthly financing, this two-person outdoor sauna is a gorgeous callback to your European sauna adventures. In fact, all of Redwood Outdoor’s saunas come with heaters that are manufactured in Finland by the renowned sauna company Harvia.
Haven Indoor Sauna – 3-Person
- Fits: 3 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: No
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Not specified by FSC® Certified
This indoor sauna is made by Redwood Outdoors, the same company behind the Duo Outdoor Sauna (above). Once again, you get the benefit of that Finnish Harvia heater, which is an industry leader in the at-home sauna industry. Plus, it’s design and finish just as stylish, letting you bring a piece of Scandinavia to your home sauna experience.
The Sauna Pod 2.0
- Fits: 1 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: No
- Self-assembly: yes
- Wood type: Fabric pop-up made with 100% natural cotton
If you want an easy, more affordable home sauna that comes with financing options, look no further. The Sauna Pod is the second iteration of a 100% cotton-fabric pop-up sauna, which heats to 185 degrees Fahrenheit and is coated with natural wax for added insulation. I also think it’s a great option for those who aren’t sure how often they’d use their home sauna; you can use this bad boy for a few years before opting for one of the other options on this list.
The Sauna Mini
- Fits: 1 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: No
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Waterproof cedar
The Sauna Mini immediately stands out to me (a fan and amateur purveyor of saunas) thanks to its cedar wood. Cedar smells heavenly when heated up—and traditional saunas are usually built of select woods that are partly chosen for their fragrance. On top of that tantalizing cedar, this sauna comes with an ergonomic backrest, a unique HUUM heater, and an app that lets you heat up your sauna remotely.
Titan – Dual Heat
- Fits: 2 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: Yes
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Canadian hemlock
Aren’t sure whether you want to enjoy your sauna indoors or outdoors? Go for the Titan – Dual Heat. Not only can you choose where it goes, but it also comes with full-spectrum infrared therapy and one of those world-famous Harvia heaters that Redwood Outdoors home saunas also use. But the real selling point here is the sauna’s glass walls. They let you enjoy the view of the outdoors while you unwind.
BeautyBox Infrared Sauna
- Fits: 1 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: Yes
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Hemlock
This indoor sauna lets you get the best of both worlds: infrared light technology and high sauna heats. Its red-light therapy is medical grade, delivering rejuvenation and detoxification, while its EMF panels are designed for low emissions. If you’re interested in red-light therapy benefits in addition to a traditional home sauna experience, go with BeautyBox.
SaunaBox SmartSteam Pro
- Fits: 1 pax
- Bluetooth hookup: No
- Self-assembly: Yes
- Wood type: Fabric pop-up made from non-toxic materials
Here’s my second recommendation for a pop-up sauna (in addition to the Pop-Up Sauna 2.0): SaunaBox SmartSteam Pro. It uses a V2 heat-insulated ThermoShield cover that is micro-plastics and BPA-free for added heat. Just know that this sauna doesn’t heat up as much as the others, maxing out at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. That being said, you’re paying a much, much lower price, letting you sample the potential of a sauna without forking over thousands.
