2026 *Winter Spring The Foodie Trail (May) - Northern Star : Authentic and unique Finnish sauna experiences

Day 01 - Island sauna and gourmet retro classics

Arrival in Helsinki and check-in at Klaus K hotel. In the afternoon you sail to Lonna Island. On tiny Lonna, a few minutes by ferry, Lonna Sauna sits in untreated timber with a zinc roof and wide panoramic windows to the Baltic Sea.
Inside are 2 wood-fired loft saunas run as mixed sessions with separate changing rooms; entry is in calm two-hour blocks.
Between rounds you step onto the large terrace, rinse under outdoor showers and swim from the rocks.
A measured, well-run setting where design and simple bathing set the pace.

Back in town you dine at Sea Horse in Ullanlinna. The place dates back to 1933/34 and is known for its unpretentious atmosphere, large sea frieze painting and a diverse audience. The menu is classic Finnish: crispy fried Baltic herring, cabbage rolls, vorschmack and the famous onion steak. The portions are generous, the service is old school, and the space feels authentically Helsinki.

Day 02 Sauna cruise & Cooking workshop

The morning offers a different sauna experience: This time again we set off from the shore, to enjoy a quiet two-hour sauna cruise through Helsinki’s harbor, where deep plunges in the Baltic Bay and views of Helsinki’s skyline from the water complete the experience.

This session is followed by lunch on your own and the afternoon open for private planning.

In the evening we meet for a communal cooking session at Flavour Studio in the old butcher’s district of Teurastamo – Here a local chef will guide us through a rustic, personal cooking workshop focusing on Finnish dishes. The finished meal is enjoyed at the communal table.

Day 03 - Design sauna, Food Tour & Finnish Devil

Breakfast at the hotel. At 11 am we settle into Löyly Sauna - Helsinki’s timber-clad landmark on the shoreline, with broad terraces and steps leading straight to the sea. Move between 3 distinct saunas: the smoke sauna—soft yet intense, fired for hours and then allowed to breathe; the continuously heated wood-fired sauna for steady, social heat; and a spacious electric sauna for balance.

Between rounds, take the ladders down for a winter dip; when the Baltic freezes, a hole is kept in the ice. The house is both public social hub and meeting place and architectural icon at the same time. With public sessions and a restaurant/bar if you wish to pause briefly before travel.

Lunch is taken by the water, with a view of Helsinki Harbor.

The afternoon is spent with the Helsinki Food Tour city walk. A 2-hour guided tour with local tastings (reindeer, fish, bear, classic soups and desserts). Insights into food culture and history, starting and ending in the Old Market Hall.

In the evening, dinner at Finnjävel (Finnish Devil) in central Helsinki, a two-part house: Salonki (one Michelin star) and Sali.
The kitchen renews Finnish classics with precise technique - curing, fermenting and smoking—guided by the season.
Calm, intimate room with Finnish-crafted tableware and thoughtful design that gives a distinctly local feel.

Day 04 - Food workshop, scrub-woman & Alvar Aalto dining.

The day starts with breakfast at the hotel.

The morning starts with Lilli & Viivi who welcome us inside Pidot Productions, a bright studio kitchen, where we will make lunch together. The menu is Nordic and seasonal, typically three courses: local fish or a green main focus, seasonal root vegetables and cabbage, mushrooms and berries in a simple dessert. Our guides tell and instruct, and finally we collect the dishes and eat at the long table.

Later, we will visit Kotiharjun Sauna in Kallio—Helsinki’s oldest wood-fired public sauna (1928), with separate men’s and women’s sections. Expect a steady, traditional löyly; if you wish, add a pesijä - a traditional wash and scrub-woman, and experience Finnish sauna culture at its absolute core.
When the heat peaks, step outside for a simple cool-down on the bench, and have a chat with the local population.

The evening ends with dinner at Restaurant Savoy, an Alvar Aalto-designed institution with a view and finesse, where Finnish food and design culture meet in the most excellent way.

Day 05 - A castle, a rock sauna & Porvoo city

Today we leave the city. First stop is Malmgård Castle, where the owner himself shows us around. A breathtaking tour where we go inside the castle, and the owner will shows us around, and we experience the local castle brewery which ends with tastings.

From here on to a local licorice producer in Porvoo, which is known for its high quality.

Early afternoon we reach the fantastic Sauna Kannonnokka.
A sauna out in the middle of nature, carved into a rock on the banks of the Porvoo River in beautiful natural surroundings.
Lunch is arranged in advance as catering from their own kitchen.

In the evening, accommodation is provided at Onni Hotel, which is an intimate, elegant hotel located right opposite the Porvoo Cathedral in the heart of the old town.

Dinner will be enjoyed in the evening at the hotel´s respected Restaurant Sicapelle OR.