For the eighth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world by the annual ‘United Nations World Happiness Report’, holding the top title since 2018. Fresh insights from the World Happiness Report 2025 highlight the importance of social connections as well as caring and sharing.
While many speculate about Finland’s secret to happiness, one key factor stands out: the sauna. While sauna is not the sole contributor to Finns’ continuous happiness, it is one of the most essential and unifying factors, with 90% of Finns bathing in a sauna at least once a week.
Visit Finland explores this connection through the Finnish Sauna Happiness Hierarchy.
Health & Wellbeing:
Sauna plays a significant role in the well-being of Finns, offering benefits like muscle relaxation, improved sleep, and better circulation. Sauna isn’t just a pastime; it’s a national treasure. Even Finland’s ancient epic, the Kalevala, references a God of Sauna, called upon to steam away sickness. As Finns like to say, “The sauna is the poor man’s pharmacy.” No prescription needed—just heat, steam, and a little Finnish magic.
Tip: Experience traditional sauna treatments at Sipoonjoki Sauna, which includes a smoke sauna just outside Helsinki.
Safe space:
Throughout history, the sauna has served as Finland’s trusted place of comfort and safety. Historically, significant life events such as childbirth and important decisions have taken place within its warmth. In the sauna, everyone is equal. Shared sauna experiences encourage deep conversations, social connections, and a sense of community. Ultimately, the sauna remains a vital cultural institution, offering solace and security, and anchoring the collective spirit of Finland.
Tip: Visit Rajaportin sauna in Tampere, Finland’s oldest operating public sauna.
Connection & Community:
Finnish saunas are communal spaces where families and friends gather, reinforcing social bonds and a sense of belonging. Sharing a sauna promotes openness, equality, and connection with others. Public saunas provide a space for people of all ages to meet and chat about any contemporary topic. Public saunas can be found in every city, public pool, gym, and even some workplaces and restaurants.
Tip: Check out Sompasauna in Helsinki, a popular spot for both local sauna enthusiasts and visitors alike.
Mental Resilience & Finnish ‘Sisu’:
Sauna rituals, often paired with ice dips or birch whisking, enhance emotional well-being and resilience. The sauna fosters self-confidence and resilience, embodying the Finnish concept of “sisu,” representing inner strength and grit.
Tip: Find your inner “sisu” by taking a dip in the refreshing water of Lake Littoinen in Turku’s Archipelago and enjoy the heat of the saunas in Järvelä.
Creativity & Innovation:
With approximately 3 million saunas for a population of 5.5 million, Finland is home to some of the world’s most contemporary, innovative, and quirky saunas.
Tip: Try the Arctic Sauna Experience at Rovaniemi’s Apukka Resort featuring a a sauna made from ice.
The Finnish sauna has a vital connection with many of the key reasons behind the nation’s happiness – from physiological benefits to psychological needs related to social connection, esteem, and self-actualization.
“Finnish sauna is a sanctuary of happiness: it is good for your health, it is a safe space to relax and wash off the stress, it is taking care of social needs and feeling of belonging to community, it is an integral part of national character and a source of creativity,” Heli Jimenez, Senior Director, International Marketing at Visit Finland, sums up.
