Wearing a bathing suit in a sauna is one of those small unsolved mysteries, and there’s definitely room for more clarity. Most sauna facilities provide clear instructions on whether bathing suits are required or absolutely forbidden. Between these two extremes lies a grey zone that sometimes adds a certain thrill to your sauna visit.
It’s that feeling when you haven’t quite figured out the etiquette, and it’s already too late to ask. What you can do is conduct an instant field study and react quickly—but preferably with a low profile, as it’s a personal matter. Don’t worry, things usually become clear. The staff will most likely notice your hesitation and help, or you’ll get a general idea by discreetly observing others from a sufficient distance.
”Wearing a bathing suit in a sauna is one of those small unsolved mysteries, and there’s definitely room for more clarity.”
In the best—or worst—cases, depending on how you see it, the mystery may remain unsolved even after passing reception and the locker room. The reception might be automated, or you might be alone in the locker room. Since the next step is the shower area (yes, you do need to shower before entering the sauna), it would undeniably be more relaxing to know the rules at this point.
When it comes to ice swimming, there are a few winter twists. But let’s not get stuck in the small details. This freezing hobby is by the way booming big globally. Some lucky locations have natural access to cold water, while others offer cold plunge pools or tubs for the same purpose.
The twist is that ice swimming often takes place in locations without showers or even dressing rooms. Washing before the sauna becomes tricky, leaving you with two options: wash yourself directly in the cold water (takes courage), or go old school and mix hot and cold water to make it comfortable. Yes, saunas can do this. Or you could… no, let’s stop right there. It’s getting complicated, and our goal is to help sauna lovers with guidance and conclusions. The question was simple: do people ice swim naked or not?
To find out how things really are, we went to Oulu.
”As luck would have it, the World Championships of the sport were taking place there.”
As luck would have it, the World Championships of the sport were taking place there. Holy crap—there really is a WC for ice swimming, and it’s a truly beautiful sports event. We didn’t have to wander into grey areas or sneak around to figure out the bathing suit situation. It turned out that this was a professionally organized event with important things like actual rules. And the rule is: you must wear a bathing suit.
Mystery solved. We then had time to enjoy ice swimming at the highest level. Can you believe there were athletes from 50 countries and the longest distance was 450 meters? We couldn’t either, but we ended up having to change our minds. They even performed all the Olympic swimming techniques. As for the circumstances, the shower issue had been solved by renting the nearby Sports Center as the athletes’ “base.” Showers, changing rooms, food, drinks—everything. Very impressive.
So here’s our conclusion: you do not ice swim naked at the top level.
And even if you’re not quite at the top yet, you can follow the same principles as with other sauna-related things. It’s about relaxation, not performance. Don’t stare at a timer—listen to your body. Don’t choose hot or mild—choose the temperature you enjoy. By showing basic courtesy and considering others, you’ll enjoy the experience the most.
Related links:
World Ice Swimming Championships 2026 in Oulu from March 2 to 8, 2026.
How a sauna works its magic to produce warm water?
Images: Harriet Kallio