Swimwear in Finnish public saunas is now permitted at municipal swimming pools in five cities in the Tampere region, under a new policy intended to make the facilities accessible to people who feel uncomfortable with nudity.
Swimming pools in Tampere, Nokia, Ylöjärvi, Lempäälä and Valkeakoski have introduced the option as an open-ended trial. Visitors can enter the sauna wearing a swimsuit, while those who prefer the traditional practice of bathing naked can continue to do so.
The change does not impose a new dress code. Instead, it removes a rule that had required most customers to take off their swimwear before entering the sauna.
Why swimwear in Finnish public saunas was restricted
Nudity has traditionally been the norm in the saunas attached to Finnish swimming pools. The practice is partly connected to hygiene rules, as visitors are expected to wash thoroughly before entering the water.
Until now, municipal pools in the Tampere area generally instructed customers to remove their swimsuits both in the shower and in the sauna. Exceptions could be granted through special wristbands or badges.
The new arrangement recognises that compulsory nudity can discourage some people from using public swimming facilities. According to Yle, local authorities described the change as a way to promote equality and accessibility, particularly for customers who avoid communal saunas for cultural, religious or personal reasons.
The policy therefore gives visitors a choice without changing the status of nudity itself. Being naked in the sauna remains permitted and normal.
Hygiene rules will remain in place
Allowing swimwear in the sauna does not remove the other hygiene requirements applied inside the swimming pools.
Customers must still shower carefully before entering the pool. The City of Tampere’s swimming pool guidelines require visitors to wash without swimwear, use clean garments made from suitable swimming material and place a personal towel on the sauna bench.
Authorities have also addressed concerns that chlorine absorbed by swimsuits could evaporate in the heat. They said the quantities involved are not considered a health risk.
During the trial, municipal officials will monitor water quality and the practical effects of the policy on the daily operation of the swimming pools.
The trial will be reviewed in 2027
The experiment has no immediate end date. The participating cities plan to assess it in spring 2027, examining customer feedback, attendance, water quality and the overall experience inside the facilities.
The results will help determine whether the policy should become permanent.
There are already examples elsewhere in Finland. The Neidonkeidas swimming centre in Lohja permits swimwear in its saunas. According to the information reported by Yle, the change improved customer satisfaction and brought new groups of visitors to the facility.
A Finnish tradition adapts to a more diverse society
Sauna remains one of Finland’s most recognisable social and cultural practices. The Tampere-area trial does not abandon its established customs, but makes participation less dependent on accepting communal nudity.
The change is limited and practical: people can still use the sauna naked, but they are no longer required to do so. It shows how a deeply rooted tradition can adapt as Finnish municipalities seek to make public services usable by a more culturally and socially diverse population.
The review scheduled for 2027 will indicate whether greater choice brings more visitors to swimming pools without creating problems for hygiene or water management. If the results are positive, similar policies could be considered by other Finnish municipalities.
