Nine Pines does not have a sauna, and on Christmas Eve that matters, because the Christmas sauna is one of the most Finnish things a family can do. The honest answer is this: if a sauna in your own apartment is non-negotiable, this is not the right flat; if you are happy to take your Christmas sauna outside the building, there are two realistic routes, and both need booking early. Check live dates for Christmas 2026 on Airbnb or Booking.com, then read on so that the sauna question does not surprise you in December.

What is the Christmas sauna?

In many Finnish families, *joulusauna* is a fixed part of Christmas Eve. People go to the sauna in the afternoon before the evening meal, often as a family, and then put on clean clothes for Christmas. It is a ritual of rest and cleanliness more than of heat. If you arrive in Rovaniemi for Christmas, you may well want to join in.

Most Finnish homes have a sauna, either in the apartment or in a shared building facility. That is why visitors often assume an apartment in Finland has one. Ours does not, and our listing does not claim otherwise.

Option 1: a public sauna at the swimming hall

The nearest public saunas are at the swimming hall in the city centre. This is the simplest option and the cheapest. The catch on Christmas Eve is opening hours. Public facilities in Finland often close or run reduced hours on 24, 25 and 26 December, and the pattern changes from year to year. We will not promise a specific time. Check the swimming hall’s own page for 2026 as soon as the holiday hours are published, and plan an alternative day if Christmas Eve is closed.

Public saunas also work differently from a private one. Many have separate times for men and women, and swimwear rules vary. If you are new to the culture, our guide to public sauna etiquette for first-timers explains what to expect.

Option 2: a private wood-heated sauna

For a family that wants the full Christmas feeling, with a private, wood-heated sauna and no strangers, guests of Nine Pines get 5 % off a private wood-heated sauna tour through our guest activities page, using the guest code on that page. These are run by local operators, not by us, and they need to be booked well in advance, especially around Christmas. Availability on 24 December specifically is something to ask the operator, not us.

If Christmas Eve itself is unavailable, consider moving the sauna to 22 or 23 December or to Christmas Day. The ritual matters less than the family being together and warm. Our wider guide to staying near Christmas Eve covers shops and food on the day.

Why we still think the flat works for a Christmas stay

A flat without a sauna can still be the best Christmas base for a large family, because Christmas Eve is mostly about food, space and being together:

• A kitchen for nine. Dishwasher, oven, microwave, coffee machine and kettle, with a dining table for six.
• Space. 103 m² on one floor with three bedrooms, which sleeps up to nine.
• Laundry. A washing machine and a tumble dryer in the flat.
• Quiet. A family building with quiet hours from 22:00 to 07:00.
• A calm neighbourhood. Korkalovaara is a residential hill 3.5 km west of the centre, darker than downtown.

If a sauna in the apartment is a must for your family, look at places that list one. We would rather you chose the right place than discover the gap on arrival. Our post on no sauna in the apartment and public sauna options sets out the practical alternatives in more detail.

Planning the day: a simple Christmas Eve timeline

A relaxed Christmas Eve for a family at Nine Pines might look like this. Treat the times as a sketch, not a promise.

1. Morning: a late breakfast at the dining table, a short walk on the forest trails, the last shopping done the day before.

2. Early afternoon: the sauna, either at a public hall or at a private booking you have arranged.

3. Late afternoon: back to the flat, clean clothes, the oven on.

4. Evening: dinner, presents, and quiet. Remember the quiet hours from 22:00.

Most shops are closed or closing early on Christmas Eve, so do your main shop on 22 or 23 December. The two grocery stores near the flat, K-Market and Sale, are close; check their opening hours for those days. For the rest of the Christmas week, see Rovaniemi 20–26 December: buses, shops and the apartment.

Getting to and from a sauna

If you go to a public sauna in the centre, the centre is 8 minutes by car and about 15 minutes on the direct bus from the stop 150 m from our door. Public transport may run on a holiday timetable on 24 December, so check it. A taxi is the sensible alternative, though taxis are in demand around Christmas; book ahead where you can. A private sauna tour usually involves pick-up or an arranged meeting point, which the operator will tell you.

There is one free parking space in the yard if you drive, with room for a car with a roof box and an ice scraper and snow brush provided.

Beds and layout

Nine Pines has three bedrooms: a 160 cm double, two rooms with two 90 cm single beds each, plus a sofa bed sized for two children and an armchair bed in the living room. The maximum is nine guests. Linen and towels are provided, and a baby cot is free on request. There is one bathroom with a shower and a separate second toilet. The apartment is on the second floor; there is no lift.

FAQ: Christmas sauna in Rovaniemi

Does Nine Pines have a sauna?

No. The nearest public saunas are at the swimming hall in the centre, and guests get 5 % off a private wood-heated sauna tour via our activities page.

Is the public sauna open on Christmas Eve?

Hours vary and are often reduced. Check the swimming hall’s own page for 2026.

Is the private sauna tour run by you?

No. It is run by a local operator on our activities page; we pass on the 5 % guest discount.

Should I book a private sauna early?

Yes. Christmas is the most popular time, so book well in advance.