Oslo Fjord Sauna: Which One to Pick & Full Review

If you’re looking for an Oslo Fjord sauna, then this guide is for you.

On my recent trip to Norway, my #1 goal in Oslo was to experience the urban sauna culture, and I did just that. I started my day with a community sauna directly across from the iconic Oslo Opera House, and I even got up the nerve to jump into the chilly Oslo harbor to cool off.

It’s totally possible to experience Oslo’s urban sauna scene as a tourist, even if you only have one day in Oslo. Here’s how.

Oslo Fjord Sauna: 3 Saunas to Pick From

Oslo Fjord is a 100 kilometer (km) long inlet dotted with islands and, of course, Norway’s capital city itself. Chances are, if you’re looking for an Oslo Fjord sauna, you want one that’s actually in Oslo city, and convenient to get to.

The following are the three main waterfront saunas in Oslo, perfect for visitors.

Badstuforening

Oslo Badstuforening is my top recommendation for an Oslo Fjord sauna — I personally did the sauna here and have an in-depth review further down this article! But here’s a quick primer on what you need to know.

Oslo Badstuforening stands for “Oslo sauna association.” This organization runs several saunas around Oslo and on Oslo Fjord (their current count is seven floating saunas!).

KOK

KOK is another floating sauna on Oslo Fjord. You can book either a private or shared sauna, or “KOKCRUISE” which is a floating sauna that travels out into the fjord.

There are two locations. One is in Langkaia harbor across from the Oslo Opera House (next to Badstuforening). The other is in Aker Brygge, which is close by and will also suit tourists well.

Kongen Marina Sauna

Kongen Marina Sauna is a glass igloo-shaped dome sauna! It’s located near Frogner, so further out than the other two saunas. To reach it from central Oslo you can walk, bike, take bus 81, or tram 13.

An Honest Review of Oslo Badstuforening

As I mentioned above, we chose to book a sauna session at Oslo Badstuforening after doing our pre-trip research. It was affordable, authentic, and conveniently located, which checked all my boxes.

Actually, I booked the floating sauna fjord cruise, but when we arrived they told us the boat captain didn’t show up so this was canceled! However, we could get a small refund and use their shared floating sauna instead, which we opted to do.

At first, I was a bit bummed. Especially because we saw the nearby KOK sauna boat cruise off into the fjord a few minutes later! Alas!

In the end, I loved the shared sauna session and I actually think I would prefer this over the sauna boat, anyway. There is a lot more freedom to leave the sauna, walk around and try other sauna rooms, and of course jump into the harbor for a refreshingly cold dip! On the sauna boat, you’re more limited on when you can jump into the sea.

If you’ve also booked a sauna session at Badstuforening, here’s what you can expect.

Note that there are NO towels for rent, so be sure to come prepared.

Your first stop is to change into your swimsuit and shower off. There are two very small locker rooms at Badstuforening, and they are both all-gender. I’m not going to lie, this made me uncomfortable as a woman (even though people were very respectful during my visit). There are also no bathrooms on site at Langkaia, so no option to change privately.

I’m adding this as a heads up in case you want to arrive already wearing your swimsuit. Ultimately, it wasn’t a huge deal and I used my towel and my husband for modesty LOL, but I just kept thinking that if I was a solo female traveler I would’ve been pretty uncomfy with this situation.

Once you’re changed, you get an hour and a half to enjoy the shared saunas! There are multiple shared saunas throughout the dock complex, and we pretty much had the saunas to ourselves the whole time (we went at 9am on a Saturday).

The saunas are super clean and well-maintained. I loved them!

There are also multiple spots with ladders off the dock, where you can take a cold dip into the Oslo harbor. This was so invigorating! I know it’s intimidating, but you have to try it. You’ll feel so much better (and braver) for it, and it’s part of the authentic experience.

Oslo Fjord Saunas: Final Thoughts

Oslo is fast becoming the urban sauna capital of Europe. With three main sauna companies located along the waterfront, and 10 locations across those three companies, I’m sure you can see why!

Our hot sauna session combined with chilly sea dips was truly one of the most memorable parts of my most recent visit to Oslo. I couldn’t recommend this more as a MUST DO activity in Oslo, even if you only have one day!

Any questions, comments, or updates? Just leave me a note in the comments below.