There is a reason sauna and winter bathing belong together. The colder the water, the greater the contrast with the hot sauna, and the stronger the feeling afterwards. In winter the experience is at its most intense, and for many people that is when it is at its best.
Why winter is best
In summer the lake water is lukewarm and the cold plunge becomes more of a refreshing dip. In winter, when the water sits close to zero degrees, your whole body is reminded of what cold really is. The step from the sauna heat out into the cold water gives an energy kick and a calm that is hard to describe before you have tried it. Afterwards the feeling lingers for a long time.
How to dress and prepare
- Bring swimwear, a towel and ideally a hat for the walk to and from the water.
- Neoprene or water shoes make it more comfortable to walk on a cold dock and ice.
- Warm up properly in the sauna before your first dip, so the cold feels more manageable.
- Have dry, warm clothes ready for when you are done.
Where you can winter bathe
All Saunify saunas in Stockholm sit right by the water and are open year round. In Åkersberga you dip into the archipelago water, in Ekerö into Lake Mälaren. Because you book online and unlock with a personal code, there are no staff and no fixed sessions — you come and go as you like. Read more about how the cold plunge with us works.
Winter bathing is not for everyone, and if you have heart or circulatory issues you should check with a doctor first. But for anyone who wants to experience the sauna when it is at its most striking, a cold winter day is hard to beat.