The most beautiful natural saunas in Switzerland

It’s not only winter swimming that is currently enjoying a surge in popularity in Switzerland—natural sauna bathing is also on the rise. Urban facilities are particularly appealing, allowing for spontaneous escapes with a few sauna sessions during a lunch break or after work.

Beyond convenience, sauna bathing is widely regarded as beneficial to health: regular visits are said to support cardiovascular and respiratory well-being. This is hardly a new insight, as Finland’s long-standing sauna tradition—recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018—attests. And, of course, a sauna session also offers moments of deep calm and contentment, pure bliss included. Many natural saunas can be easily booked online; access is provided via a code, and the sauna is often already warm and waiting.

RhySauna, Schaffhausen

The city on the Rhine is often regarded as Switzerland’s sauna capital—and not only because of the popular RhySauna, with its yurt village right on the water. In 2023, a group of sauna enthusiasts organized the country’s first sauna marathon here, an event that proved an immediate success. The next event will take place on February 20 and 21, 2026, offering extensive sauna experiences at 25 locations: in the old town, along the Rhine, at Munot Fortress, in the steel foundry—and, for the first time, at the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen.

www.saunamarathon.ch, www.rhysauna.ch, open Wed-Sun, until March 29th, admission per person CHF 25.-.

Limmat Promenade, Baden

Where Café Kajüte stands in the summer, you can now enjoy a sauna for the first time during the winter months on Baden's Limmat Promenade at the Tränenbrünneli (Tears Fountain). The mobile sauna trailer from Saunaare accommodates four to six people and is heated by a wood-burning stove that you light yourself, giving you full control over the temperature. The location is ideal, as you can cool off in the refreshing Limmat waters at the new beach area after your sauna.

www.saunaare.ch – New beach in Baden, open daily until the end of May, admission to the entire sauna is CHF 40 per hour. Further locations in Bern, Biel, Burgdorf and on Lake Thun.

Sauna by the lake, Uster

While the Uster lido bustles with life in summer, winter brings a calmer mood, but not total silence. A small sauna complex is set up right on the shores of Lake Greifen. Visitors can sweat it out in three heated wooden barrels and cool off with a dip in the lake. The comfortably furnished relaxation yurt offers further respite. Those who visit in the evening are treated to a view of the starry sky. Hot tea or soup is available in the reception yurt.

www.sauna-am-see.ch, open daily until March 31st, admission per person CHF 35.-

Sauna am Rhy, Basel

While the city pulsates in the background, the sauna on the Rhine offers a true oasis of calm. The view of the Rhine and Basel Minster alone is worth the visit. Located in the historic Rhybadhysli, you can choose between the large sauna (90°C) with regular steam infusions and the smaller sauna (70°C). A refreshing dip in the Rhine is the perfect way to cool off. Relax in a yurt or outside by the fire pit, and enjoy hot and cold drinks and snacks in the bistro yurt.

www.sauna-am-rhy.ch – open daily until March 22nd, admission per person from CHF 30.- for three hours.

Weiere Sauna, St. Gallen

Arguably the most beautiful sauna in Switzerland is located in St. Gallen. Perched high above the city, the old bathhouse sits by the Chrüzweier pond. Part of the group known as the Three Ponds—despite there being five in total—this body of water is also called the Women’s Pond. Once reserved exclusively for girls and women, it is now open to all. Since the bathhouse was renovated and expanded to include a sauna, changing rooms, and showers at the initiative of the St. Gallen Women's Swimming Club, it has become a wonderful place to relax.

www.weieresauna.ch, open Tue-Sun, until the end of April, admission per person Fr. 30.- for three hours.

Marzili, Bern

Bern now offers several options for enjoying a natural sauna directly on the banks of the Aare River. For example, the sauna provided by Saunakiste in Marzili offers an unobstructed view of the Federal Parliament Building and Bern's Old Town. It’s the perfect place to listen to the rushing water, breathe in the fresh Aare air, and unwind in the heart of Bern. The sauna accommodates up to four people and is heated by a wood-burning stove to a temperature of around 80–90 degrees Celsius.

www.saunakiste.ch – Marzili Bern, open daily until March 31st, admission for 1-2 people from CHF 35.-. Various other locations in Bern, Biel, Hurden, Leissigen, Sierre and Solothurn.

Sauna boat on Lake Thun

A trip on the sauna boat is almost an adventure: it glides silently across the idyllic Lake Thun, powered by electricity. On board, there are three comfortable areas: a sauna area, a relaxation and lounge area, and an open platform to enjoy the fresh air and the view of the lake. To cool off, you can step directly into the refreshing waters of Lake Thun via a boat ladder.

www.saunaboot.ch – located at the Deltapark Vitalresort boat dock, open daily, costs for 2-6 people from CHF 350 for the entire sauna boat. Further locations in Geneva, Lucerne and Zurich.

Urban Oasis, Zurich

This park on the Zürichberg, owned by the Zurich Public Health Association, has existed since 1891. Zurich’s first sunbathing area was established on Tobelhofstrasse in the early 20th century, while the sauna was added later and remains something of a hidden gem. Nestled in lush greenery and far removed from the city’s hustle and bustle, this oasis offers a range of sauna experiences—from a Finnish sauna heated to 89–95 °C to a gentler bio sauna at 45–60 °C. A cold plunge pool provides the perfect way to cool off afterward.

www.stadtoase.ch – open Wed-Sun, all year round, admission per person from CHF 25.-.

Lake Zug, Zug

Missing the experience of sauna bathing in nature in Switzerland, Adrian Neininger teamed up with two friends and founded the sauna start-up Löyly two years ago. Löyly – the Finnish term for the soothing steam during a sauna infusion – now operates its mobile saunas at various locations, including the Siehbach men's bathing area in Zug. The Löyly sauna wagon stands just a few meters from the lakeshore under the sprawling linden trees. A few drops of Lapland Dry Wood in the sauna infusion water and you almost feel like you're in Finland.

www.löyly.ch – Zug Seebad Siehbach, open daily until the end of April, from CHF 25 per hour for the entire sauna. Other locations include Lucerne, Rapperswil-Jona, Rorschacherberg, Weesen and Zurich-Käferberg.