I recently traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, and decided to visit Havn Saunas, a popular public sauna. Their spa is built into a converted boat, which is parked permanently in Victoria harbour. They boast three sauna rooms of different types, hot tubs, a cold plunge, and all the amenities you can expect from a public bathhouse. I wanted to write about my experience and provide a review for those interested in sauna tourism.
What is Havn Saunas?
From their website, Havn Saunas is “a floating park-like environment on the edge of Victoria’s inner harbour. Lush green spaces, cold pools, hot tubs, and hand-built saunas bring us together for a vibrant self-care experience.” The description could not be more apt. You can see views of downtown Victoria from their dock, including the legislature building, the nearby seaplane port, and the Empress Hotel.
What is included with admission?
Havn boasts three public dry saunas, each with its own unique feel and amenities. Two are quiet saunas, and the third is a social sauna, where talking is encouraged. Admission is typically for a 3-hour window to ensure the place never feels crowded. Sauna bathers can enjoy inclusions like towels, bathrobes, lockers, and access to the entire facility. Not only is water provided along with fresh tea, but there is also a café available for beverages and snacks. The lounge area is a comfortable place to unwind, socialize, or enjoy a good book.
What do the experts think about the sauna itself?
The Havn Sauna experience was a true traditional sauna session with buckets available for steam. They had the Harvia Legend heater, a model boasting a deep sauna rock feature, with rock going down to the floor. The tower-style sauna heater solves the age-old saying of ‘feet above the rocks’ by providing lots of surface area to splash water off and allowing heat to radiate in all directions.
Among the various sauna types, this one provided an especially rejuvenating experience with its heat and blast of loyly, showcasing the many sauna benefits, such as stress relief and improved circulation. The only criticism I could find is that the exhaust vents were screwed shut, and one board in sauna #2 was crowning and in need of replacing.
Sauna #1
The first sauna room was large, approximately 8x12x8. The high ceilings and the 3-tier bench were a welcome feature in all sauna rooms. This room had a pail of water available and a long ladle to pour over the rocks. The top bench was extra wide and 36” deep. The bench tops were made from 1×6, which is typically not recommended as a frame is required every foot to support the weight of the bathers.
The walls were made of 1×6 pieces, with shorter planks leading to many finger joints along the 12’ length. This is acceptable in a larger commercial sauna, whereas a residential indoor sauna would have full-length cedar boards. The ends of the room were lined with vertical T&G.
Sauna #2
The second sauna room was called the “Eucalyptus room.” The main difference was that the bucket of water had eucalyptus essential oils added to it. The benches were made from full-thickness bench tops. This room was similar in design and faced the downtown core. This sauna had a unique window, incorporating the corner of three walls. The design gave a unique view of downtown Victoria for those looking to relax while enjoying sauna benefits like weight loss and the like.
The T&G pattern on all three rooms was not your usual V-joint boards. Instead, it was a flush joint board with a ¼” offset, which looked suitable for a commercial sauna. Conveniently located outside were cold showers, which I used to cool down between each sauna session.
Sauna #3
The third sauna was a social sauna that encouraged bathers to talk. This room comes with a salt shower, but no bucket is available for Loyly. The large top bench afforded beautiful views of the legislature building. The salt shower was in the same building and included a large bucket of sea salt to exfoliate your skin. After enjoying the health benefits of sauna bathing, your pores will open up, and the salt rub is great for removing the top layer of the skin. There was a pleasant rinse after this experience.
The cold water plunge was a nice addition to the sauna routine. One was kept near freezing, and the other was at ambient temperature. The hot tubs were also a nice way to relax while enjoying the ocean scenery and the Olympic mountains in the distance. I enjoyed the home-brewed tea that was available on the dock. The staff was courteous and friendly, and the facilities were very clean and presentable. You can read more and book your visit on their website, www.havnsaunas.com.
Overall, my experience at Havn Saunas was a refreshing break, and I will be visiting again next time I am in town!
