Winter swimming in Stockholm: where to cold-water swim and sauna

Winter swimming in Stockholm: where to cold-water swim and sauna

Stockholm is the perfect summer city for anyone who loves to swim, but don't let the fact that the temperature's dipped below zero stop you from taking a dip during the winter months. Diving into ice-cold water before warming up in a steaming sauna is a hard-to-beat Nordic experience. Cold-water swimming is also said to be very beneficial for your health, so grab your towelling robe and take the plunge - follow our guide to the best places to swim and take a sauna in Stockholm in the winter.

Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup
Tatty Good
  1. Winter swimming in Stockholm
    1. 1
      Vår Gård Warming sauna package
    2. 2
      Hellasgården A dip in the nature reserve
    3. 3
      Tanto Bastu Extremely popular
    4. 4
      Saltsjöbadens Friluftsbad Historic
    5. 5
      Smådalarö Gård Archipelago experience
    6. 6
      Skepparholmen Nacka Health boost by the sea
    7. 7
      Kanaanbadet Bathe like a polar bear
    8. 8
      Sthlm Sauna Winter dip in Vinterviken
    9. 9
      Sätrabastun Open to the public
    10. 10
      Engsholms Slott Icy dips in the southern archipelago
    11. 11
      Häringe Slott Lively archipelago sauna
    12. 12
      Ellery Beach House Beach club with jetty
    13. 13
      Fredhällsbadet Popular members club
    14. 14
      Swimming Swimming spots in Stockholm

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Winter swimming in Stockholm

Where to cold-water swim and sauna

Vinterbad · Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vinterbad · Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vår Gård
Vinterbad · Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vinterbad · Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Winter swimming
Vår Gård

Vår Gård

Warming sauna package

The sauna package at Vår Gård includes cold baths from the jetty in picturesque surroundings, access to the sauna, and loan of bathrobes and towels. During the visit, one can also enjoy lunch or a snack at Vincaféet, or savour a dinner in the restaurant. If you're looking to splurge, the cold bath package can be booked, which in addition to the bath and sauna includes overnight accommodation, a two-course dinner, and hotel breakfast.

Hellasgården

A dip in the nature reserve

Hellasgården in beautiful Nacka nature reserve has a sauna and bathing platform on Lake Källtorp. Take a refreshing dip all year round, with access to their gym. On certain days they offer an “aufguss” aroma sauna with essential oils and on those days everyone shares the same sauna. Otherwise, men's and women's saunas are kept separate. Book your visit in advance.

Tanto Bastu

Extremely popular

The famous floating sauna at Tantolundens badplats in Hornstull has been around since 2016 and it's a cool option that draws in many winter bathers. Memberships are extremely desirable (every now and then they allocate new memberships), but at certain times non-members can also enjoy the benefits of a fun, health-giving sauna and swim.

Saltsjöbadens Friluftsbad

Historic

The classic wooden bathhouse in Saltsjöbaden is open to the public in the summer, but you can also book a winter swim and sauna for larger pre-booked groups during the rest of the year. Just gather together a gang of hardy pals and book in a regular time each week.

Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa – Winter swimming
Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa

Smådalarö Gård

Archipelago experience

If you want to enjoy the delights of the Stockholm archipelago during the winter months, make your way to Smådalarö Gård and book the hotel's wood-fired sauna. They have a smaller and larger sauna with a relaxation area, wood-fired sauna, shower and jetty. Smådalarö Gård is 40 minutes from central Stockholm, perfect for a day trip or weekend.

Skepparholmen Nacka

Health boost by the sea

At Skepparholmen Nacka you'll find a relaxing spa, with a large dry sauna with views over the sea. Walk down to their bathing ladder for a refreshing cold dip before warming up and relaxing in the sauna. Reap the health benefits and enjoy various different spa experiences.

Kanaanbadet

Bathe like a polar bear

Alongside Kanaanbadet outdoor baths on Lake Mälaren in Bromma you'll find Isbjörnarnas Bastuförening (The Polar Bears Sauna Society) which is available to everyone who loves to sauna. Anyone can enjoy the sauna, both members and non-members, and it doesn't cost much. They keep an ice hole open all winter to dip yourself in after your sauna.

Sthlm Sauna

Winter dip in Vinterviken

For some time, Vinterviken has been drawing in dyed-in-the-wool winter swimmers happy to take a dip without access to a sauna, but in the summer of 2022 they finally opened a bungalow-style members' sauna with its own floating jetty and cosy lanterns. There are women's, men's and mixed times for up to ten people.

Sätrabastun

Open to the public

You'll find Sätra sauna, which has been around since autumn 2022 and is open to the public, by Sätrastrandsbadet in Skärholmen. Take an envigorating winter dip for a small fee, but check availability in advance to ensure a spot. The sauna is open for all, just men and just women at different times.

Engsholms Slott

Icy dips in the southern archipelago

At Engsholms Slott, an hour south of the city, you can book a session in a wood-fired sauna and take a cold-water plunge every Saturday. They serve a warming lunch in the castle gardens and you can combine your visit with a walk in the park or along the Sörmlandsleden walking path.

Häringe Slott

Lively archipelago sauna

Glamorous party hotel Häringe Slott in Haninge has a popular archipelago sauna for anyone who wants to take a cold-water dip in historic surroundings. The sauna is mainly for hotel guests, but on certain days it's also open to the public.

Ellery Beach House

Beach club with jetty

This trendy beach hotel is right at the end of the Elfvik promontory in Lidingö. As well as accommodation, Ellery Beach House has a restaurant, bar, pool, spa and conference area. Come for the day or stay overnight. As well as swimming in the outdoor pool you can also walk down to their jetty, where there's also a sauna.

Fredhällsbadet

Popular members club

Fredhälls Bathing Club has a member's only sauna at Fredhällsbadet open-air bathing spot on Kungsholmen. You may need to queue for some time to become a member, but it's well worth it if you're a dyed-in-the-wool open-air swimming enthusiast. Their famous bathing cliffs are perfect for a refreshing winter dip.

Swimming

Swimming spots in Stockholm

Our guide to swimming spots in Stockholm provides masses of tips for beaches, jetties and rocks to swim from all around the city.

Winter swimming – About the guide

The guide to winter swimming in Stockholm - The guide to where to swim and sauna in Stockholm during the winter is updated regularly. Please get in touch if you know of any really great places for winter swimming and taking a sauna that we've missed. Please also let us know if you spot any errors. Have you visited any of the places in the guide? Don't forget to review your visit on Thatsup.

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