Sauna in summer: how to enjoy the sauna in warm weather
Sauna in summer? At 30 degrees outside, that sounds strange to many people at first. Yet plenty of sauna-goers go all year round – and some even find the warm season particularly pleasant: cooling down in the fresh air feels different, you can spend a long time in the sauna garden, and towels dry again quickly. Here you'll find out what is different about the sauna in warm weather, how to adapt your sauna day to hot days and when it's better to take a break.
Contents11
- Sauna in summer: why many people still go
- What is different about the sauna in summer
- The best time of day for the sauna in summer
- How to adapt your sauna rounds to hot days
- Cooling down in summer: cold water instead of just air
- Resting in the sauna garden: shade, towel, head
- Light textiles for the sauna in summer
- Sauna in summer at home
- When it's better to skip the sauna in summer
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Sauna in summer: why many people still go
The appeal of the sauna lies in the alternation of heat, cooling down and rest. This rhythm works in summer too; it just feels different. Many sauna-goers appreciate the warm season for:
- Quiet: Many facilities are less busy in summer than in winter, and loungers are easier to find.
- Being outdoors: You spend the breaks in the sauna garden instead of the relaxation room.
- Pleasant cooling down: Many people find cold water especially refreshing on hot days.
- A familiar routine: If you go regularly, you won't want to give up your fixed slot for three months.
Whether the sauna in summer is good for you is best judged by how you feel. If you have health questions, check with a doctor beforehand.
What is different about the sauna in summer
The cabin is just as hot in summer as in winter. What changes is the time before and after. The table shows the main differences:
| Phase | In winter | In summer |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling down in the air | A few minutes are enough, the air cools you quickly | Hardly cools you, cold water becomes more important |
| Plunge pool and pond | Very cold | Often noticeably warmer, ponds heat up |
| Rest phase | Indoors, with a bathrobe | Outdoors in the shade, a light towel is enough |
| After-sweating | Stops quickly | Can last longer, plan more time |
| Drying towels | Indoors, hammam towel approx. 60 min | In the sun, hammam towel approx. 30 min |
| Clothing during breaks | Bathrobe, often with a hood | Light towel or poncho |
The drying times come from our experience at the Meri Sauna with flat-woven hammam towels.
The best time of day for the sauna in summer
On hot days, the time of day makes a big difference. Most people find it most pleasant early in the day or in the evening, when the air outside cools down. At midday in full sun, the breaks don't offer much recovery because the sauna garden has heated up too.
- Morning: Fresh air for cooling down, often few guests.
- Evening: The heat of the day eases off and resting outdoors becomes pleasant.
- Midday: Only if there is enough shade and cold water.
For many, an after-work sauna in summer is the nicest option. How to divide two hours after work sensibly is explained in After-work sauna.
How to adapt your sauna rounds to hot days
The familiar rules still apply. In warm weather, though, it's worth planning a little more cautiously:
- Stay in for less time: Instead of 12 or 15 minutes, 8 to 10 minutes are often enough in summer. The lower bench is milder. How long a round usually lasts is covered in How long should you stay in the sauna?
- Fewer rounds: Two rounds instead of three are perfectly fine on very hot days.
- Longer breaks: Give your body more time to finish sweating before going back into the cabin.
- Drink more: In warm weather you lose fluid even before the first round. Water or unsweetened tea between rounds is customary. More in Drinking in the sauna.
- Choose your infusions: Intense infusions are more demanding in summer. A mild infusion or a bio sauna may be the better choice.
- Listen to your body: If you feel dizzy or unwell, leave the cabin immediately.
Cooling down in summer: cold water instead of just air
In winter, the outside air alone cools you down. With a sauna in summer that is often not enough, because the air itself is warm. The cold shower, the hose or the plunge pool therefore become more important. In midsummer, however, plunge pools and natural ponds are often much warmer than in winter – a cold shower then remains the most reliable way to cool down.
In summer too: shower off the sweat before the pool, guide the cold water from the bottom up and don't lie down on the lounger wet. The usual order and typical mistakes are explained in Cooling down after a sauna session.
Resting in the sauna garden: shade, towel, head
In summer you usually spend the rest phase outdoors. To make it truly restful:
- Look for shade: After a sauna round, blazing sun is no relief. You'll rest more comfortably under a tree or a parasol.
- Protect your head: A light hat or a towel laid over your head helps in the midday sun.
- Think about sun protection: Long breaks in the sun can lead to sunburn. Sunscreen doesn't belong in the cabin, though – shower it off before the next round.
- Towel on the lounger: The towel rule applies outdoors too. A lounger towel that doesn't slip or blow away in the wind is especially practical here.
The Ocean StayOn hammam towel (200 × 70 cm) has a sewn-in pocket that you pull over the backrest of the lounger. That way it stays put, even when you get up or a gust of wind comes.
Light textiles for the sauna in summer
A thick terry bathrobe is usually too warm in summer. Lighter textiles are more pleasant and dry faster:
- Hammam towel instead of terry towel: A flat-woven towel such as the Hammam Towel Ocean (approx. 180 × 100 cm, approx. 400 g, 100 % cotton) is enough for the bench and for drying off, and in our experience it dries in the sun in about 30 minutes.
- A light bathrobe or none at all: A towel to wrap yourself in is often enough for walking around. If you want a bathrobe, choose a light cotton quality such as the Trimita Barok Bathrobe (not terry, quick-drying).
- Poncho: A bath poncho is an alternative for the way to the sauna garden. You'll find models among our ponchos.
- Two towels are enough: Because towels dry quickly in the sun, you rarely need more than two in summer.
Sauna in summer at home
If you have your own sauna, you can use it in summer just as well. A few points make it more pleasant: use the sauna in the evening when it has cooled down outside, and ventilate the room with the cabin well. A cold shower, a garden shower or a garden hose are good for cooling down. A shady spot on the balcony or in the garden is enough for the rest phase. What is different about towels in a home sauna is covered in Sauna towel for the home sauna.
When it's better to skip the sauna in summer
There are days when a sauna in summer is not a good idea:
- With sunburn: Irritated skin and extra heat don't go together.
- If you already feel drained: Hot days can be exhausting. Then a break makes more sense.
- After lots of sun and too little to drink: Replenish fluids first, then go to the sauna – or postpone to a cooler day.
- If you have health questions: Check with a doctor beforehand whether the sauna in hot weather is right for you.
Related reading: Cooling down after a sauna session: fresh air, shower, plunge pool · Drinking in the sauna: before, during the breaks and afterwards · How long should you stay in the sauna? Rounds, breaks and the whole visit
Conclusion
The sauna in summer works if you adapt it to the heat: preferably in the morning or evening, shorter rounds, longer breaks in the shade, more to drink and consistent cooling down with cold water. Light hammam towels instead of thick terry towels make the sauna day more pleasant and dry quickly in the sun. And on days when you don't feel fit, taking a break is the best decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does the sauna make sense in summer?
Many sauna-goers go all year round and particularly enjoy the sauna garden in summer. What matters is how you feel. If you have health questions, check with a doctor beforehand.
How long should a sauna round last in summer?
On hot days, 8 to 10 minutes are often enough. You can also sit on the lower bench, where it is milder.
How do I cool down after the sauna in summer?
Air alone is often not enough in summer. A cold shower or the hose are the most reliable; plunge pools are often warmer in midsummer.
Do I need a bathrobe in summer?
Not necessarily. A light hammam towel to wrap yourself in or a poncho is usually enough. If you want a bathrobe, a light cotton quality is more pleasant than thick terry.
Can I go into the sauna with sunscreen on?
No. Shower off sunscreen before every sauna round; it has no place in the cabin.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.