Best 7 Amusement Parks in Finland

         

Somewhere between “let’s try new things” and “I wasn’t ready,” there is a story. Mine begins in the peaceful town of Nurmes, Finland — surrounded by lakes, forests, and a silence so deep it feels like therapy.

I had just checked into Sokos Hotel, a cozy escape nestled in nature. At the front desk, the receptionist smiled and said casually:
“The sauna opens at 6pm. It is unisex today.”
I smiled back and nodded. “Perfect.”
Inside? Panic. “Unisex what?!” 

 

When culture meets culture — in a cloud of steam.

I had read about the sauna being a national treasure in Finland. It is where people relax, reconnect, and release stress — naked. But I also learned that in unisex saunas, wearing a swimsuit or towel is allowed (and often expected for foreigners). So, I did what I thought was right — I wrapped myself in my trusty little towel, with a modest swimsuit underneath, and headed bravely to the sauna floor.

Cue: Operation Find an Empty Room.

First door, I peeked was occupied. Second door also same. Then the third door also taken. By the time I found an unoccupied sauna room, I whispered, “Thank you, Lord” and tiptoed inside like I had just found a holy sanctuary.

I perched delicately on the bench, unwrapped my towel slightly, and tried to soak in the silence and heat.

Then, it happened.

 

The tight-trunk trauma

Not even a minute had passed when the door creaked open…Two men walked in. Young, fit, Finnish men wearing tight swim trunks; Meanwhile, my brain was yelling: “Abort mission! Abort!”

I think I lasted 25 seconds in there, I froze. My towel turned into a security blanket; clutching my towel like it held my entire dignity. My eyes darted to the sauna rocks, silently praying they would explode and create a dramatic smoke screen for my escape. Then I got up and did the most respectful, panicked exit you have ever seen. Let us just say I moved quickly, but with “dignity” (or so I tell myself). And thus ended my very first Finnish sauna experience with a sprint.

Meanwhile, these guys? Calm as cucumbers. They just said “Moi” and took a seat, totally unbothered. Their swim trunks, the kind that left nothing to the imagination.
Suddenly, the room was not hot from the steam, but it was hot from my panic.

Take two: Ladies only, full nudity required.

But I was not ready to give up on the experience. Few weeks later, I tried again, this time in a women-only sauna. I thought I was finally safe. No surprise men. No tight trunks. I could breathe, right?

Wrong.

In female-only saunas, the expectation flips. No swimsuits. No towels around the body. Just pure, natural nudity.

As someone raised in Nigeria, where modesty is built into our bones this felt… extreme. We cover up in gym changing rooms, change clothes behind curtains and twist ourselves like pretzels to hide during wardrobe changes where there are no curtains; We shower in secrecy and now; here I was, surrounded by confident, bare-skinned women of all ages, moving about like it was the most normal thing in the world.

There were women of all ages and shapes, comfortable, confident, and completely at ease. Stretch marks, scars, tattoos, bellies, bodies… all just there. And no one was hiding. No one was judging. No one cared.

At first, I clung to my towel like a lifeline. But slowly… something shifted. I let it go literally and emotionally. I realized no one was looking. No one was judging. And somehow, that made me stop judging myself.

I realized this was not about looking good. It was not even about being naked. It was about being real. Being human. Letting go.

And it was. For them.

By the end of the session, I was not just sweating out toxins. I was releasing shame. I left that sauna taller, lighter, and just a little more Finnish in spirit.

Cultural quick tips: What to know before your sauna in Finland

• Unisex saunas: Swimsuits or towels are allowed (and advisable), but many locals may wear minimal clothing or go nude. Brace yourself.
• Same-gender saunas: Nudity is expected. Do not be shy, just go with the flow.
•  Hygiene is key: Always shower before entering and bring a small towel to sit on even when nude.

Concluding thoughts

These sauna sessions were not just hot rooms with steam. They were real lessons in body acceptance, confidence, and cultural openness. They showed me how deeply we carry our upbringing and how freeing it can be to let some of it go.

So, if you are new in Finland and someone invites you to a sauna, do not panic. Pack your swimsuit, carry your small towel or better yet a big one and do not forget your big-girl confidence.

I am still not tossing my towel like a local, but I have stopped running. And that’s growth.

So next time you hear “unisex sauna,” do not just think “fun adventure.”
Think: small towel, big confidence… and maybe a backup plan.

And if two toned men walk in wearing tiny tight swim trunks — stay calm. Just smile
Or do what I did: RUN.