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.
Winter swimming in Stockholm: where to cold-water swim and sauna
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Winter swimming in Stockholm
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1Vår Gård Warming sauna package
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2Hellasgården A dip in the nature reserve
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3Tanto Bastu Extremely popular
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4Saltsjöbadens Friluftsbad Historic
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5Smådalarö Gård Archipelago experience
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6Skepparholmen Nacka Health boost by the sea
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7Kanaanbadet Bathe like a polar bear
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8Sthlm Sauna Winter dip in Vinterviken
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9Sätrabastun Open to the public
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10Engsholms Slott Icy dips in the southern archipelago
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11Häringe Slott Lively archipelago sauna
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12Ellery Beach House Beach club with jetty
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13Fredhällsbadet Popular members club
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14Swimming Swimming spots in Stockholm
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Winter swimming in Stockholm
Where to cold-water swim and sauna
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.
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Ringvägen 6, Nacka
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Website
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Vår Gård
08-748 77 00 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Ältavägen 101, Nacka
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Website
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Hellasgården
08-716 39 61 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Tantolunden, Södermalm/Hornstull
- Website
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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.
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Torben Gruts väg 8, The Archipelago/Nacka
- Website
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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.
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Smådalarö Gård, Haninge
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Website
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Smådalarö Gård Hotell & Spa
08-501 551 00 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Franckes väg, Nacka
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Website
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Skepparholmen Nacka
08-747 65 00 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Kanaanbadet
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- Website
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.
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Instrumentvägen 30, Hägersten-Liljeholmen
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Alsätravägen 250, Skärholmen
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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.
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Ängsholm 11, Södertälje
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Website
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Engsholms Slott
08-551 551 00 - Read more on Thatsup
- Hemsida
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.
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Häringeslottsväg, Haninge
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Website
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Häringe Slott
08-504 204 40 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Elfviks Udde, Lidingö
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Website
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Ellery Beach House
077-555 35 53 - Read more on Thatsup
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.
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Snoilskyvägen 34, Kungsholmen
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- Hemsida
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.