The Saunas
Sweden, as the other Nordic countries, has a deep-rooted sauna (or "bastu" in Swedish) culture for relaxation, cleansing, and well-being for body and soul. From traditional wood-fired saunas to modern spas, Sweden offers a wide range of sauna experiences. Traditional wood burning stove might provide the best sauna experience.
Below we've listed some saunas for you, press on the photos and you'll be relocated to the external booking (we help you with the booking if you need it). Not listed below are the two saunas on Grinda in the Middle Archipelago. To book, call the reception here.
Sauna "Engarn"
This sauna is located close to the kayak rental base
5 km from the Metz Cottage. It has a traditional wood burning stove and temperature inside varies between 60 to 80 C degrees. The stove is pre-heated for you. There is no shower so you take a dip in the sea all year round. You're able to book this sauna all seasons. (We will test this sauna 2026.)
Sauna "Getfoten"
This sauna has a panoramic window. It is very popular (book it well in advance) and open from the end of April to the end of September. The electric heating of the sauna takes 1 hour if no one is using it before you. There is no shower so you take a dip in the sea. Bring a picknick, or eat at the small restaurant. You need a taxi boat to get here, about 30 minutes from the Metz Cottage and 15 minutes from Vaxholm. We think this sauna has a fantastic view of the Stockholm archipelago and sunsets.
Saltsjöbaden's bathhouse
Saltsjöbaden's open-air bathhouse was built in the end of the 19th century on Badhusholmen, which is a small island southeast of Stockholm. It consists of two parts with a women's section, a men's section, and a common beach between them. Both parts have electric saunas and sweat water showers. It is open during mid-May until end of September. Also, you can eat at the beautiful Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden, or the nice temporary restaurant "Holmen Kök och Bar" (the Islet Kitchen and Bar) on the path to the hotel.
To get here, you must have a car: drive to Vaxholm, take the car-ferry (for free) over to the island Rindö, then the car-ferry (for free) to the island Värmdo (Sweden's sixth largest island). This takes 30–40 min. Continue by car one hour to “Saltsjöbadens friluftsbad”, use Google Maps. We believe you will enjoy the journey between the islands and the landscape – and in the end you’ll come to a beautiful bathhouse with an unique atmosphere.
When you pass Rindö, do visit the cheese- and ice-cream maker lady Anna Kälvebrand at "Ostmakeriet". Several of the cheeses have won awards and received great reviews from both chefs and cheese masters, nationally and internationally. You can also eat dinner at "Syrran och jag" (Sister and I).
For the ferries’ timetables between the islands, go to "Commuting".
Sauna raft
The sauna raft is wood-fired and located next to the island of Rindö outside Vaxholm. It takes about 20 minutes to the sauna from the Metz Cottage by a taxi boat. If you jump on the boat from Vaxholm, it only takes 5 minutes. We think this sauna is wonderful to experience a wood-fired sauna in solitude. Do bring a picknick.
Sauna "Finnhamn"
Finnhamn got a new sauna in 2023 and we’ll test it 2024. We know that the new sauna is located at the same place as the old one. This is a beautiful place next to the beach and close to the shop and restaurant. You take a dip in the sea or use the lake water shower (brackish water). To get to Finnhamn you need to take an archipelago boat from Vaxholm (about 2 hours depending on which boat and season) or rent a taxi boat (very expensive at that distance).
Taxi boat
To get to the Sauna "Getfoten" and the raft, you need to book a taxi boat. It can pick you up either close to the Metz Cottage or in Vaxholm. All taxi boats are expensive (the fuel cost a lot) but you will receive a wonderful boat experience as well.
