Seattle is in the middle of a full-blown sauna boom. A city that once had Banya 5 and not much else now has floating saunas on two different lakes, mobile barrel saunas parked at beaches, and new wellness studios opening faster than you can say löyly. The climate helps—when it’s 45 and drizzling for six months, the appeal of a 190°F room followed by a plunge into Puget Sound isn’t hard to explain. Here’s where to go.
Banya 5 South Lake Union · banya5.com
What they’ve got: Traditional dry sauna (parilka), eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge pool, saltwater tepid pool (87°F), hot tub (103°F)
The details: The OG. Banya 5 has been anchoring Seattle’s thermal scene for over 16 years, and it still sets the standard for a complete hot-cold circuit. The dry sauna runs hot—the top bench pushes 240°F if you’re brave—and the cold plunge is genuinely frigid. It’s coed, social, and unapologetically no-frills in the best way. This is a bathhouse, not a spa. Bring a friend, wear a swimsuit, and plan to stay a while. Day admission gets you unlimited access to everything.
Temps & Pricing: Dry sauna tops out around 240°F (top bench). Cold plunge is cold—they don’t publish a number, but regulars will tell you it earns the name. General admission is $40, $32 for students/military, $20 on your birthday. Open Tuesday–Sunday.
Bywater Sauna Golden Gardens, Alki Beach & Leschi · bywatersauna.com
What they’ve got: Wood-fired barrel sauna, natural cold plunge (Puget Sound or Lake Washington depending on location)
The details: Two massive barrel saunas on wheels that show up at Seattle’s best beaches. Twin wood fires inside mean one end runs scorching hot while the door side stays milder—you pick your intensity. The cold plunge is the real thing: you walk out of the barrel and into the Sound. Golden Gardens gives you Olympic Mountain views while you shiver. Alki gives you the skyline. The Leschi location puts you on Lake Washington with Mount Rainier in the background. Sessions are communal (up to 16 people) and the vibe is social without being overwhelming. Born out of the Coldwater Collective community, Bywater is where Seattle’s cold plunge culture started.
Temps & Pricing: Sauna temperature varies by where you sit—the hot end is serious, easily 180°F+. Cold plunge is whatever Puget Sound or Lake Washington is serving that day (typically 45-55°F in winter, warmer in summer). Sessions are 60 or 75 minutes. Weekdays $35, weekends $40. Book online—they fill up.
Wild Haus Floating Saunas Lake Union · thewildhaus.com
What they’ve got: Wood-fired dry sauna on a boat, cold plunge into Lake Union, rooftop deck, warming room
The details: A wood-fired sauna on a 30-foot boat that actually cruises around Lake Union. A captain drives while you cycle between the hot room and jumping into the lake. The sauna fits about six people comfortably with big windows that give you rotating views of the Seattle skyline, Gas Works Park, and the houseboats. The rooftop deck is perfect for the cool-down between rounds. This is the most unique sauna experience in the city—maybe the most unique in the country. It’s social, a little adventurous, and genuinely fun. Built by a crew of seven friends who were inspired by Scandinavian floating sauna culture and constructed the boats by hand in Ballard.
Temps & Pricing: Sauna ranges from 104-200°F depending on how the stove is running. Cold plunge is Lake Union—roughly 45-55°F in the colder months. Communal voyages are 90 minutes at $150/person. Private voyages (up to 6 people) start at $900 for 2.5 hours. Year-round operation.
Von Sauna Kirkland (Lake Washington) · vonsauna.co
What they’ve got: Wood-fired floating sauna, cold plunge into Lake Washington, bucket dousing option
The details: One of the first public floating saunas in the country, moored on a dock at Carillon Point in Kirkland. It doesn’t cruise like Wild Haus—it stays put—but the stationary setup has its own appeal: big glass windows looking out at sailboats, a gentle bobbing sensation, and the quiet of the marina. Two saunas now with 18 bookable seats between them. The cold plunge options include a ladder down to the lake, a self-dousing bucket on a rope, or a wade from the beach nearby. Inspired by the floating sauna culture in Oslo, built by founder David Jones who designed the vessels himself. Open October through May (closed in summer).
Temps & Pricing: Wood-fired dry sauna, temperature varies but runs hot. Lake Washington for the plunge. 75-minute sessions run $32-40. Private bookings available.
Soak & Sage Renton (Lake Washington Blvd) · soakandsagespa.com
What they’ve got: Finnish sauna, adobe clay sauna (Temazcal), steam room, cold plunge (40°F), thermal hot soak (104°F)
The details: The most complete modality lineup in the area. A Finnish sauna, a Mesoamerican-inspired Temazcal clay sauna, a steam room, a proper cold plunge, and a 104°F hot soak—all in one facility. The vibe is social bathhouse, not hushed spa. Owner Leslie Goeres built it around her own contrast therapy recovery practice from Ironman training, which means this place was designed by someone who actually does this stuff. Overlooks Gene Coulon Park on Lake Washington. They even have aromatherapy snowballs you can take into the sauna.
Temps & Pricing: Cold plunge sits at 40°F. Hot soak at 104°F. Bathhouse access starts around $45. Spa services (massage, facials, body scrubs) available as add-ons. Open daily.
Space B.A.R. Wellness West Seattle · spacebarwellness.com
What they’ve got: Traditional sauna, infrared sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy, guided breathwork
The details: A dedicated wellness studio built around contrast therapy with guided programming. What sets Space B.A.R. apart is the coaching—they offer breathwork-focused cold plunge sessions and guided contrast therapy, not just facilities to use on your own. If you’re new to cold exposure and want someone to walk you through the nervous system regulation piece, this is your spot. Also offers red light therapy and massage for the full recovery stack.
Temps & Pricing: Contact for current pricing. Memberships available for regulars. Private and group sessions.
Fyre Sauna Woodinville · fyresauna.com
What they’ve got: Wood-fired cedar sauna, multiple outdoor cold plunge tubs (37-55°F)
The details: Thirty minutes east of Seattle in Woodinville wine country, Fyre Sauna is an outdoor Nordic-style experience set on an orchard property called The Homestead. A cedar-lined dry sauna heated by an American-made Kuuma wood stove, plus a variety of cold plunge tubs at different temperatures so you can pick your intensity. The outdoor setting—surrounded by trees and sky—makes the whole thing feel like a Scandinavian retreat without the plane ticket. More intimate and nature-focused than the urban options.
Temps & Pricing: Cold plunge tubs range from 37°F to 55°F. Sauna runs hot on the wood stove. Check their site for current session pricing—they book online and weekends fill up.
Honorable Mentions
Seattle Bouldering Project (Fremont)—Their new UW-adjacent location has an infrared sauna built inside a converted bank vault. Day climbing passes ($30) include sauna access. Not a destination for thermal therapy, but a solid bonus if you climb.
Suncadia Resort & Spa (Cle Elum)—About 80 miles east of Seattle, but worth knowing about if you’re heading over the pass. Full spa circuit with sauna, steam, hot and cold tubs. Pro tip: book a manicure or pedicure and you get access to the entire hydrotherapy circuit without paying for a full massage. A sneaky good move for a weekend trip.
City Sweats—Multiple locations (Madison Park, Wallingford, West Seattle, Bellevue). Private infrared sauna rooms and cold plunge. Black woman-owned. Good for a solo session when you don’t want the bathhouse scene.
Hothouse Spa (Capitol Hill)—Cedar sauna, herbal steam room, hot tub. Private rental only (90 min to 3 hours). Good for small groups who want the place to themselves.
PNW Mobile Spa—Mobile sauna events around Seattle, including Sauna Socials at Yonder Cider in Ballard and annual polar plunge events at Alki. Follow them for pop-up schedules.
Tuli Lodge—A new outdoor sauna concept launching in Seattle with beer-garden energy. On the waitlist? Keep an eye on this one.
Q Sauna & Spa (Lynnwood)—Korean-inspired jjimjilbang with mineral-themed saunas and full-body scrubs. A bit north of the city but worth the trip if you want the Korean bathhouse experience.
Dial In Your Session
Every spot on this list runs at different temperatures, different humidity levels, and different modalities. That means the dose is different everywhere you go.
Before your next session, run your setup through the TempRx calculator to see what you’re actually getting. A 240°F dry sauna at Banya 5 and a 155°F infrared at City Sweats are not the same prescription—and now you can see exactly how they compare.
Know a Seattle-area sauna or cold plunge spot we missed? Drop it in the comments and we’ll check it out.