Helsinki. Marina Cafe in Katajanokka Guest Harbour, one of the private clubs where a sauna next to the Gulf of Finland. An authentic Finnish sauna experience is mandatory, and not hard to find: there are 1.6 million saunas in this country of just over 5 million people, including parliament has its own sauna. The sauna, which is traditional Finnish relax on wooden benches, pouring water over hot coals, and smashing his neighbor's back with birch branches, is an integral part of the life of the car and now the life of the city, as the apartments are equipped with small saunas in their bathrooms. Most hotels have at least one sauna available for free, usually at fixed times in the morning or evening for men and women to use separate. Larger hotels offer a private sauna rooms and suites superior class. Public saunas (with bathing suits required) are becoming increasingly popular, even in winter, when attendees leave momentarily sauna sauna to jump into the sea through a large hole in the ice (called avantouinti). Public pools are also equipped with saunas that can be used free of charge extra.Sociedad Finnish Sauna. For information about saunas and sauna tradition, contact the Finnish Sauna Society. Vaskiniementie 10, Helsinki, 00200. 10/439-5600. www.sauna.fi.