I wrote this text to the coming Responsible travel guidebook when asked about one of my favourite places in Helsinki:

For me the Yrjönkatu swimming hall is a unique place to relax in the middle of all the city centre’s hustle. It makes me happy to enter the beatiful hall where time seems to have been stopped. I forget all the worries swimming naked among friends and other Helsinki people.

Once in a while the best thing to do is to take time and go to the second floor where you can imagine to be in a sanatorium back in history. It’s one of the few remaining places in Helsinki to enjoy a public sauna heated by wood. After the sauna and hamam you can sip ”sima”, have lengthy philosophical discussions and watch people swimming downstairs.

Yrjönkatu swimming hall refreshes and makes people happy! Helsinki would not be the same without.