Hot Take on Cold Topics | A Perfect Sauna Ritual

2026-02-19 - 18:05

Winter in Reykjavík has a way of narrowing the world. The light thins, the wind sharpens, and daily life contracts into warm interiors and brief, purposeful walks between them. In that season especially, sauna culture feels less like a lifestyle accessory and more like quiet infrastructure — something that helps people endure, and even enjoy, the long dark. On a personal note, this author can hardly imagine surviving an Icelandic winter without the refuge of a thermal pool and sauna. Fortunately, Reykjavík is blessed with exceptional facilities. Take, for example, the recently renovated sauna at Vesturbæjarlaug—a perfect haven of warmth and calm against the North Atlantic chill. Recently, the sauna culture has infiltrated some remote gentrified spaces. Located on the outer edge of the city, Gufunes, once defined by its fertiliser factory and heavy industry, now carries a different kind of energy. Warehouses have given way to studios; the shoreline, facing Faxaflói Bay, draws walkers, sea swimmers, and filmmakers chasing winter light. It’s a place where Reykjavík feels both exposed and intimate — all sky, sea, and wind. And this is exactly where Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir decided to “park” her mobile sauna. Eureka Moment A view from the Kría Mobile Sauna in Gufunes. Photo Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir. Kría Fargufa The idea to start the mobile sauna (fargufa) project was born when Brynja was living abroad. Feeling somewhat homesick, she missed the cold swimming and hot tub routine. An accidental discovery of the mobile sauna trend in the UK brought an eureka moment. ​ “I came across an article in The Times about the best mobile saunas in the UK, where mobile sauna culture is booming,” Brynja recalls. “Two of the ten companies listed had bought a sauna from Scandinavian Sauna, a truly well-designed mobile sauna with a big window.” Kría Mobile Sauna in Gufunes. Photo Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir. Kría Fargufa. “At the time, no mobile sauna in Iceland had this kind of a big window, and I started thinking how amazing it would be to have a sauna like this in Iceland.” “Also, it seemed that the mobile sauna culture in the UK was different in the sense that the sauna itself and the community aspect of it seemed to be the focus, and only a few UK companies offered Aufguss, which is the dominant form for mobile saunas in Iceland.” In a couple of months, the future owner of Kría ordered her first Scandinavian Sauna. The project commenced on 19 June 2025. Young Culture A swimming pool in Hólmavík in the Westfjords. Photo: Golli. Iceland Review. While Icelandic sauna culture seems to have a long history, it’s still young comparing to countries like Finland and Russia. Quite often, Icelandic saunas are just an additional element to the more extensive spa experience or outdoor facilities, such as swimming pools. Most local pools have a steam bath with the temperature around 50°c. However, in recent years, new variations emerged. Some swimming centres include dry room saunas (75-90°c) as well as infrared saunas. “I think the popularity of saunas has risen simply because people feel the benefits of the sauna, just as they feel the benefits of a swim or use of a cold or hot pot. As for the mobile sauna culture in Iceland, it is truly booming and blooming.” Tips For a Perfect Sauna Experience Kría Mobile Sauna in Gufunes. Photo Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir. Kría Fargufa. Mind you, this author is a true sauna enthusiast who loves exploring different heated spaces. So far, however, I’ve never stepped into a mobile sauna. Is the experience very different from a traditional one? Brynja shares her tips on how to make the most of your mobile sauna visit. Perfect Kría Sauna Ritual First off, invite your partner, friend or family member to come along. When you arrive you need two towels, one to sit on and another one to dry off with after the sauna. Use a special hat when you enter the sauna, which not only protects your skin and hair from the heat, but also acts as an insulation for your head. Sauna temperature is usually between 75-95°c. It's generally recommended to have 1-4 pours of water on the stones in each 15 minute session. Kría guests get premixed aromatherapy oils in water such as lemongrass, bergamot or mint, to pour on the stones. After the first fifteen minutes it's good to cool off in the sea, but one can also just chill outside the sauna for a short time before doing two more 15-minute sessions. In Kría fargufa, guests are allowed to talk but first and foremost, it's important to be considerate of other guests when sharing the sauna with someone else. When groups or couples book the sauna for a private session, they are welcome to borrow a speaker from me to play their own music. It's important to listen to your body and how you feel inside the sauna, as one's tolerance for the heat can simply vary between days, especially for women during the menstruation cycle. One should not feel dizzy or physically uncomfortable inside the sauna. Drink plenty of water both during and after the sauna Last but not least, take a breather, enjoy the scenery and the good company. Be in the moment and enjoy your sauna experience! A view over the Faxaflói bay. Photo Brynja Dögg Friðriksdóttir. Kría Fargufa. Find Kría Fargufa here. More information about the mobile sauna on the website and Instagram .