Budapest revealed among world’s sauna hotspots!
A new study has revealed which cities are home to the best saunas, with Budapest in Hungary ranking as the ninth best in the world!
Stepping into a sauna can be a highly effective way to disconnect from daily life and recharge in a calm, restorative space. Whether it’s a morning ritual or a post-work wind down, saunas have been proven to help alleviate stress, improve circulation and promote deep relaxation.
In 2025, saunas are having more than a moment. Their popularity is booming as more people realise their wellbeing benefits and use them as ways to socialise that do away with alcohol or the need to get dressed up. Plus, you’ll find saunas in some beautiful spas and stunning locations, meaning that planning a visit can add some much-needed downtime to a holiday.
The best saunas: a study
With sauna use increasing in popularity around the world, the study by SpaSeekers.com analysed review numbers and ratings, to give each city a ‘sauna score’ out of 100: in turn creating a must-visit list of sauna hotspots, for anyone that wants to add a detoxifying dose of relaxation to their holidays.
From traditional saunas that incorporate aromatherapy to outdoor saunas with breathtaking views, the list features many great options, but it’s Riga, the capital of Latvia, that ranks as the best sauna hotspot for 2025 with a sauna score of 90 out of 100. Kosice in Slovakia places second, with Helsinki in Finland completing the top three.
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, ranks among the top 10 best sauna destinations, taking ninth place with a score of 56/100.
The capital of Latvia, Riga, is revealed as the best sauna hotspot in 2025 with a sauna score of 90 out of 100. Out of the top 10, six of the destinations are located in Europe (excluding the UK), with Slovakia, Finland and Romania following respectively.
Riga in Latvia named ‘sauna capital’ of the world
With a rich history of sauna and bathhouse tradition that is making a big comeback across the Baltic countries, Latvia’s capital city of Riga takes the crown as offering the ultimate sauna experience, gaining a sauna score of 90 out of 100. A traditional Latvian sauna experience combines ever-increasing heat with cold, aromatherapy and ‘massage’ with branches, that can last for hours. Travellers seem to love it, with an average review rating of 4.1/5 across all sauna reviews in the city.
Beyond Riga, Europe stands out as a mecca for sauna fans, with the top ten dominated by European cities. Namely, central European locations such as Kosice in Slovakia and Budapest in Hungary feature, both of which have renowned sauna and thermal bath cultures. Helsinki in Finland also ranks as the third best city for a rejuvenating sauna trip, which should be no surprise, as Finland is heralded as the birthplace of the sauna.
The world’s top 10 sauna cities
The World’s Best Sauna Hotspots
| Rank | Country | City | Sauna score /100 |
| 1 | Latvia | Riga | 90 |
| 2 | Slovakia | Kosice | 83 |
| 3 | Finland | Helsinki | 79 |
| 4 | Romania | Cluj-Napoca | 69 |
| 5 | Jersey | Saint Helier | 67 |
| 6 | Kosovo | Pristina | 64 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | Leeds | 63 |
| 8 | Montenegro | Podgorica | 57 |
| 9 | Hungary | Budapest | 56 |
| 10 | Bosnia & Herzegovina | Sarajevo | 51 |
Outside of Europe, both Christchurch and Wellington in New Zealand featured in the top 20.
For the full rankings and advice on setting up a home sauna, visit: https://www.spaseekers.com/spa-insider/worlds-top-sauna-destinations
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