The summer in the Jyväskylä Region offers a unique opportunity to dive into the roots of Finnish sauna culture in the Sauna Village in Jämsä – and now the journey is easier than ever with the SaunaBus, operating on Saturday 13 June 2026 as part of Sauna Region Week and the Finnish Sauna Day. The route runs from both Jyväskylä and Jämsä.
“Finnish sauna culture appeals to both domestic and international visitors. Last summer, the open Saturday sauna sessions at the Sauna Village drew an average of 200–250 visitors. Due to growing popularity, the parking area has even had to be expanded,” says Anni Peltonen, Project Coordinator for the KeKaSa project at Visit Jyväskylä Region.
Sauna culture attracts visitors
According to Peltonen, the Sauna Village could welcome even more visitors if the site were more easily accessible by public transport.
“With this pilot, we want to highlight the destination and explore people’s willingness to travel there using public transport. In the future, improved accessibility could be supported, for example, through route development,” Peltonen explains.
On summer Saturdays, several smoke saunas are heated in the Sauna Village, offering visitors traditional sauna experiences, a peaceful atmosphere and the chance to enjoy the beautiful lakeside scenery of Lake Päijänne.
SaunaBus ticket sales now open
The SaunaBus provides convenient transport from Jyväskylä, Jämsä railway station, and also makes a stop in the Himos area. Tickets are sold via the national ticketing service Matkahuolto, and they can easily be combined with train connections to and from Jämsä railway station.
Sauna Region Week launches the Sauna Summer in the Jyväskylä Region
In 2026, the Sauna Region Week will be held for the 11th time from 6–14 June 2026. During the week, the entire region fills with dozens of sauna events – from smokesauna sessions and sauna treatments to themed sauna experiences.
The Sauna Village also celebrates sauna culture during the Jämsä Sauna Day event on Friday 12 June 2026 from 15:00 to 19:00, offering a variety of programmes and several heated smoke saunas.
“We are celebrating Jämsä Sauna Day for the third time. The idea is to encourage as many companies, associations, and private sauna owners as possible to open their doors to enthusiastic sauna-goers and offer diverse sauna experiences to all who love sauna,” says Sanna Leppänen, Tourism Coordinator at Visit HimosJämsä.
About the KeKaSa project
The SaunaBus is part of the project “Sustainable International Accessibility for Tourism in Central Finland (KeKaSa)”, which promotes lowcarbon travel chains and improves access to naturebased tourism. The project is implemented by Visit Jyväskylä Region, the regional tourism organization of Central Finland.
KeKaSa is cofunded by the European Union, with funding granted by the Regional Council of Central Finland.
Project partners include municipalities across the tourism region, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, and the Central Finland Chamber of Commerce.
More information: Sustainable international accessibility for tourism of Jyväskylä Region (KeKaSa) – Visit Jyväskylä Region
Contacts:
Anni Peltonen
Project Coordinator, Sustainable International Accessibility for Tourism in Central Finland (KeKaSa)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +358 40 651 2217
Sanna Leppänen
Tourism Coordinator, Visit HimosJämsä
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +358 50 577 1903
Learn More
SaunaBus service and Sauna Region Week programme
About the Sauna Village
About Jämsä Sauna Day – HimosJämsä
Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1msZ5m_hbYEdgdL4VHozjKyciKJCmKpbY
