Your first winter swim, step by step
Winter swimming can look dramatic from the outside. There is ice, steam and a surprising number of people who seem completely relaxed about walking into freezing water.
Your first visit does not need to feel dramatic at all. In practice, it can be wonderfully straightforward: find a place that welcomes visitors, check how it works, pack a few essentials and take things one step at a time.
Hot sauna.
Cold water.
Quiet winter air.
That is the idea.
1. Choose your place
Start somewhere that makes the first experience easy. A maintained swimming place with clear access to the water, changing facilities and up-to-date visitor information removes a lot of unnecessary guesswork.
Use our main map to search by name or town, or browse the regional pages for the part of Finland you are visiting.
Winter-swimming places come in many forms. Some are very simple local spots with a changing room, steps into the water and a regular group of swimmers. Others offer a full sauna experience with showers, towels, food, guided sessions or online booking.
Think about what kind of visit you want. Would a hot sauna make the first dip more appealing, or are you simply looking for a quick visit to the water? Check the facilities, opening hours and booking details before you go.
For a first visit, a hosted or clearly organised session can be especially welcoming. Someone can show you where to change, explain the route to the water and help you understand the local routine, which leaves you free to enjoy the experience rather than wondering what you are supposed to do next.
City sauna or quiet lake?
Baltic Sea or forest shore?
Finland gives you plenty to choose from.
2. What to bring for a winter swim
Your first dip might give you butterflies, but packing for it should not. You probably already own most of what you need.
The main idea is simple: make changing easy, keep your feet comfortable and have something warm and dry waiting for you afterwards.
The essentials
- Swimwear and a towel. Your usual swimming kit is perfectly fine.
- Swimming shoes or suitable sandals. These can be useful on cold, wet or slippery paths. Check what the venue recommends.
- A beanie and gloves. A warm head and dry hands make winter feel much friendlier. Keep your ordinary gloves dry for before and after the dip.
- A water bottle. Especially useful if there is a sauna, as heat and sweating make it worth remembering to drink.
If there’s a sauna
- A small sauna seat towel or cover. In Finnish, this is often called a pefletti. Many venues provide one, but not all.
- Shampoo and toiletries if showers are available and you want to wash afterwards.
- A bathrobe if you like having something warm to put on between the changing room, sauna and water.
For afterwards
Pack warm, dry clothes, socks and a hat, and keep them somewhere easy to reach. Once you are out of the water, dry off and put on your warm layers promptly. Then get comfortable and give yourself a little time to warm up.
That is also the moment when you get to enjoy the fact that you just walked into Finnish winter water on purpose.
You do not need much.
A towel. Warm clothes.
And perhaps a little curiosity.
3. Winter swimming, sauna & local customs
The sauna is often what turns a quick cold dip into a distinctly Finnish experience. It gives the visit its own rhythm: warm up, step outside, cool down and return when you feel ready.
Finnish sauna culture is usually more relaxed than visitors expect. You do not need to arrive knowing a complicated set of rules. Take a shower, bring a small seat towel and find a comfortable place on the bench.
Sooner or later, someone will pour water onto the hot stones. The wave of steam that rises is called löyly. Stay as long as it feels comfortable, and step outside whenever you want a break.
Some venues have mixed sessions, while others have separate saunas. Swimwear customs also vary. If you are unsure, check the venue’s instructions or simply ask. That is completely normal.
And remember: winter swimming and sauna often go together, but they do not have to. You are perfectly welcome to enjoy the sauna without entering the water.
The setting can make a difference too. A busy public sauna in Helsinki has a very different atmosphere from a wooden lakeside sauna surrounded by snow, but both offer a glimpse into everyday Finnish sauna culture.
Warm wood. Steam in the air. Snow outside.
Then, if you feel like it, the water.
A moment to feel good
Why do people keep coming back to winter swimming?
There is no single answer. For some, it is the lift they feel afterwards. For others, it is the quiet, the time spent outdoors or the ritual of returning to the same sauna and the same swimming place week after week.
Many winter swimmers describe feeling refreshed, energised or calmer after a dip. Others are less interested in the cold itself and more drawn to everything around it: the walk to the water, the warmth of the sauna, the winter landscape or the conversation afterwards.
Your own favourite part might be something completely different, and that is part of the appeal. There is no timer to beat, no perfect number of seconds and no particular feeling you are supposed to achieve.
Sometimes the best part is simply that the cold leaves very little room to think about anything else for a moment.
You step in.
You breathe.
You step out.
And somehow the world feels a little quieter.
These stories explore wellbeing from different angles: through swimmers’ own experiences, the idea of slowing down and the Finnish habit of making time for nature.
Curious about the research?
Cold water attracts plenty of claims, especially online. Better mood, faster recovery, improved sleep and more energy are all commonly mentioned.
Some findings are promising, while others are still being studied. The science is interesting, but not always as simple as social media makes it sound.
Research into cold-water immersion is still developing, and experiences of wellbeing are highly individual. Some studies report encouraging findings related to stress and sleep, but these should not be treated as guaranteed benefits of winter swimming.
WinterSwim.fi takes a simple approach:
Interesting science, without the hype.
If you want to explore the evidence in more detail, the sources below provide a useful starting point.
A few things to remember
Winter swimming does not need to be heroic. In fact, it probably should not be.
Choose a maintained swimming spot, follow the local instructions and go with someone, especially for your first visit. Before entering the water, take a moment to look at the route in and out so you know where the steps, handrails or ladders are.
Cold water can cause an involuntary gasp and rapid breathing, even in confident swimmers. Enter slowly and stay close to the exit; leave the water if you feel unwell. Keep your first dip brief and follow the guidance at your chosen swimming place.
There is no prize for staying in longer, and there is nothing wrong with deciding that the sauna, the scenery or the company is enough for that day.
If you are unsure whether winter swimming is suitable for your health, speak with a healthcare professional before trying it.
Curiosity before courage.
Experience before endurance.