The European city named sauna capital of the world – and it's not in Finland
Saunas have been well and truly having a moment over the last couple of years, with a culture that originated in ancient Finland morphing into a worldwide wellness trend. Britain has seen its sauna numbers double, and going to a sauna is fast becoming the new night out in London.
But which cities are the best for sweating it out? SpaSeekers.com has conducted some research into the planet's sauna capitals by analysing online reviews for 172 different cities, and granting each one a 'sauna core' out of 100 based on the percentage of reviews which mention 'sauna' weighted alongside the average rating.
Recommended: The Spanish city named Europe's health and wellness capital.
So, where is the world's number one sauna hotspot? While Helsinki and Budapest might spring to mind – and both claim a spot in the top 10 – the city with the highest 'sauna score' based on this study is Riga, the Latvian capital, which got an impressive 90 out of 100.
Across the Baltics there's a historic and well-established bathhouse culture, which has been resurging in popularity in recent years. Neighbouring Lithuania was recently named the world's best wellness destination in the IBT Health Tourism Awards 2025. As for Riga, it's a champion of Latvian wellness techniques, including gradually increasing heat, cold plunges and massages with branches.
Kosice in Slovakia claimed second place with a score of 83, and Helsinki claimed third with a score of 79. Keen to find out the top 10? Don your banya hat and read on.
The 10 'sauna capitals' of the world
Riga, Latvia
Kosice, Slovakia
Helsinki, Finland
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Saint Helier, Jersey
Pristina, Kosovo
Leeds, United Kingdom
Podgorica, Montenegro
Budapest, Hungary
Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
What's the deal with saunas?
Saunas are thought to have originated in Finland around 2,000 years ago, when people dug pits into the ground, lined them with stones and lit a fire to create heat. Today, Finland is apparently home to so many saunas that its 5.5 million population could all take one at the same time.
But, why are they suddenly such a big deal? Well, they're great for our wellness – there are benefits for our cardiovascular health, our stress levels and even simple pain relief.
In an era when more and more people are reducing their alcohol consumption, they also offer a wholesome, sociable alternative to a big night out. You can read about how saunas are heating up nightlife in cities such as London here.
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