It was a cold morning when I made my way to the Allas Sea Pool in the heart of Helsinki harbour. I had only ever visited to sit on the upper decks with friends for a drink and to catch the last of the evening sun. On this morning I was going to experience all that the sea pool complex had to offer. As it turned out, quite a lot.
Allas Sea Pool is right next to Helsinki’s famous Market Square, on the Katajanokka peninsula near Uspenski Cathedral. This outdoor sea pool complex features three pools, several saunas, a restaurant and a café, and multiple stepped platforms and decks where locals and tourists alike meet and chill out.
New Guided Sauna Experiences and Swimming Outdoors
The swimming pools are quite noticeably located right in the Baltic Sea! The main pool is filled with fresh water heated to a balmy 28°C all year round, and is ideal for both exercise swimmers and the more leisurely swimmers. The sea water pool next to it is filled with water pumped from much further out in the Baltic Sea, then filtered and treated using UV technologies, and is kept at exactly the same temperature as the surrounding sea. In winter you can have an authentic Finnish winter swimming experience – seriously, a lot of Finns swear by it. The third pool is the children’s pool, a shallow version of the main heated pool, open only for summer season. There are five saunas here; three on the pool level and two in the main building.
Allas Restaurants
The Allas Pool complex features several stylish dining options. The modern Allas Café & Terrace serves breakfast and lunch, while SEAGRILL is a beach house–style à la carte restaurant and cocktail bar located on the second floor. The Sky Bar offers one of Helsinki’s most unique meeting spots, with panoramic views you can enjoy from early morning until late at night. All of these venues are open to everyone, whether or not they’re using the pools or saunas.
It was still dark when I arrived, and a light snow had just begun to fall as I met up with others to try out the amazing sauna experiences.
The Winter Sauna Experience
Sitting comfortably in the spacious sauna, I gazed out the window over Helsinki harbour and watched the Suomenlinna ferry gliding in and out. Our instructor explained much to us, including how to throw “löyly” like a true Finn. The three Finns with me listened politely, nodding at key points, alarmingly so when the guide explained the health benefits of leaving the sauna to take a dip in an ice-hole! Fortunately there wasn’t any ice, but I remembered the sea pool I’d passed on my way in, and that it was snowing.
The Seawater Pool – An Authentic Ice Swimming Experience
After we had absorbed the health benefits of the hot and cold temperatures we had the opportunity to dip into the chilly seawater pool. It was still snowing when we strolled down to the sea-pool, where we climbed in, some with more trepidation than others. My skin still hot from the sauna, the cold water was instantly soothing, setting off a chain of tingling all over. It was the first time I’d ever done the icy dip, and I was amazed to discover that I liked the sensation, that I felt instantly alive, and I’m sure the experience will live long in my memory. That said, I was still first out and back into the sauna!
The others returned shortly after, with the lads taking one more cold dip before we showered off and gathered around a table to chat and enjoy some Finnish treats – smoked salmon and cream cheese with herbs on rye bread, a warm berry juice, and korvapuusti (traditional Finnish cinnamon buns).
Sauna Yoga for Members
As part of the members’ weekly class offering, I decided to try the monthly sauna yoga session—something I’d never done before and found intriguing, especially since I’d only tried yoga once. Guided by our instructor, we went through a series of poses from different yoga styles, all while seated on the sauna bench in a +50°C sauna. Some movements focused on easing neck and shoulder tension, others helped release strain in the spine and back, and some worked to gently strengthen the legs and core. The stretches were simple and manageable, even for a beginner like me, and the overall experience was calming and restorative.
After Yoga we took another dip in the pools, and I didn’t think twice before dropping back into the heated pool for a quick swim. It was deliciously warm despite the freezing air, and we wore hats to keep our heads warm. We swam for a while before returning to the showers to change. Feeling positively glowing from the previous pampering, we once again gathered around our table in the lounge. There was a final round of treats to be savoured, this time the snacks included delicious nettle pancakes with caramel cranberries and crisp cucumber water.
An amazing start to the day
We said our goodbyes and I began my journey home, feeling greatly refreshed and invigorated, knowing that I would be recommending this great experience to all my friends. For those with little or no experience of sauna, or yoga, I can’t think of a better introduction to these ancient practices. You also get a bracelet that allows you to use the saunas and pools for 10 hours. I was delighted that I’d tried the icy dip, I would never have expected that immersion into freezing water immediately after a steamy sauna would feel so good! I’d also learned much from our instructor, it was nice to be getting healthier while simply sitting and sweating.
All in all, the Allas Sea Pool is a fantastic addition to all the amenities in Helsinki, and it will become a true tourist attraction as its reputation spreads. Apart from the excellent sauna, swimming, and dining on offer in this distinctive building, it is one of the most striking meeting points in the city, and very centrally located. The views are wonderful, whether looking towards the Presidential Palace and Market Square or out to sea towards the islands of the inner archipelago. On warmer, sunnier days and evenings, the terraces and platforms are perfect for enjoying a drink in company as DJs play great music.
If you’re new to Helsinki getting there is easy. The Allas Sea Pool is located right next to Helsinki Market Square in the south harbour
