Rajaportti sauna — Restaurant in Tampere sub-region

I’ve been to several saunas in Helsinki, up north in Lapland and even one in Tallinn, Estonia - but this particular one does get pretty HOT, even with just a tiny throw of ‘löyly’.

Comparing to those ones, this is definitely more old school, more traditional and undoubtedly more authentic. There are even no lockers, only hooks and benches. Deeper in, you only have a fairly small room with two levels: down is where you bathe and up is where you get steaming. The best part is that everyone gets to experience the same level of heat, with no seating levels like you see in most saunas nowadays.

It would’ve been awesome if there was a pool/ice swimming hole, but the cold water hose and going outside did it just fine for me. I love the cafe next door, when you can get beer, coffee, pastries and best of all, sausages with ketchup and mustard.

The people in there are so, so friendly and welcoming - I had a pleasant chat with some of them in there and they were more than happy to guide you through the process. You get a mix of locals, people from all around Finland and tourists like myself, but we all got along so well, it was just so terrific. Otherwise it’s also completely fine if you just want to sit there in peace to relax and meditate on your own.

If you want an authentic, unique, no-frills sauna, then I urge you to go to Rajaportti sauna. The absolute heart of Finnish culture. Easily accessible by bus from central Tampere. A sausage with plenty of fluids to relax afterwards will complete your day, and you’ll then realise the good decision you’ve made of coming all this way to Finland just to...

I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit one of the most iconic saunas in the world—the oldest existing public sauna in Finland, nestled in the heart of Tampere. As someone who has experienced saunas in many different countries, I was intrigued by its reputation. But nothing could have prepared me for just how special this place truly is.

From the moment I stepped inside, I was immersed in a rich sense of tradition. The atmosphere was warm—both literally and figuratively. The receptionist greeted me with genuine kindness, and despite being (I believe) the only non-local there, I immediately felt welcomed.

What struck me most was the openness of the people. Contrary to the stereotype that Finns are reserved, I found myself engaged in meaningful, heartwarming conversations for nearly two hours. We talked about life, culture, and everything in between. One of the regulars, a kind man named Janne, even offered me a Finnish beer—an unexpected gesture that perfectly captured the spirit of the experience.

It wasn’t just a sauna visit. It was a moment of human connection, tradition, and pure authenticity.

If you’re ever in Tampere and have even the slightest appreciation for sauna culture, this is a must-visit. It’s not just about the heat—it’s about the warmth of the people and the soul of the place. Highly...

38th Finnish sauna review: Rajaportin is a must visit. The oldest public sauna in Finland. It has spiritual patina oozing throughout. This was almost a mystical experience. Sitting on the benches you could feel the history. Many lovely discussions with the locals. As a wood fired sauna the löyly is slow to envelope. It felt like a hug, but at the same time was burning ears level hot. There’s only one bench height there but it’s well above the kiuas. Everyone is equal here. It went from being pleasantly hot to wow hot with the löyly. This one felt special. Lovely cafe here, great vibe with everyone sitting outside chilling. Unique and holds its own. Can imagine at peak time it gets a...