A sauna uses dry heat, usually between 70 and 100°C with low humidity. A steam room uses wet heat, usually 40 to 50°C with the air close to fully saturated. The sauna feels hotter on your skin; the steam room feels heavier to breathe. Choose the sauna if you like intense, dry heat, and the steam room if you prefer lower temperatures.
How they feel
In a sauna, heat comes from a stove with stones. The air is dry, so sweat evaporates and you can sit at high temperatures. Pouring water on the stones creates löyly (the burst of steam when water hits hot stones) and raises the humidity for a moment.
A steam room is tiled and filled by a steam generator. Because the air is saturated, sweat cannot evaporate, so 45°C feels far warmer than it sounds. Condensation runs down the walls and benches.
Side by side
| Sauna | Steam room | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical temperature | 70-100°C | 40-50°C |
| Humidity | Low, rising briefly with löyly | Close to 100% |
| Surfaces | Wooden benches | Tiled benches and walls |
| Heat source | Electric or wood-fired stove, or infrared panels | Steam generator |
| Swimwear in UK hotels | Usually required | Usually required |
Using both in one visit
There is no fixed order. Many people start in the steam room, which feels gentler, then move to the dry sauna, with a cool shower and a rest between rounds. Drink water between sessions and leave when you have had enough.
Hotels with both
We list more than 40 places to stay with both a sauna and a steam room. Steam rooms are often missing from listing summaries, so this list grows as we check hotel spas. See stays with a sauna and steam room and spa hotels judged on the sauna.