Badstueflåter - Son Spa

The coastal breeze carried a salty tang as I pulled into Son, a quiet artist town just forty minutes south of Oslo. I had heard about the floating saunas at Son Spa and decided to check them out on a crisp autumn afternoon. The place sits right on the water, with views of the fjord stretching out toward the horizon.

After parking near the hotel, I headed to the reception desk. A staff member pointed me toward the guest pier, where the two sauna rafts bobbed gently. I was a day guest, so I arrived around midday when things were open for folks like me. They reminded me to shower first, and I grabbed my swimsuit and towel as suggested.

I chose the Styrbord raft, the one open to multiple people. It could hold up to fifteen, but with spacing rules, they kept it to five that day. The raft had a roomy lounge area where I stowed my things in the open storage spots. No locks, but it felt secure enough out there on the water.

A Bluetooth speaker sat ready for music, and I noticed options to buy mineral water or beer later in the session. I changed in the small cubicle and took a quick shower, skipping soap as they advised. The skin feels clean after anyway, they said. If I needed shampoo, it had to be organic to protect the fjord life.

The setup floated right at the end of the pier, with a clear view of boats coming into Son. I shared the space with a couple of locals who nodded hello.

Inside the sauna room, the heat built fast and strong. It was efficient, pulling sweat from me in minutes. Wooden benches lined the walls, and the air hummed with warmth. We sat for about forty minutes, the typical length, chatting lightly about the town and the sea.

The best part came when someone opened the hatch. It led straight down to the fjord water. I lowered myself in for a dip, the cold shock hitting my skin like a wake-up call. Saltwater chilled me through, but climbing back up into the heat felt perfect. We repeated that a couple times, alternating steam and sea.

No jewelry for me that day, good thing, since it heats up and sticks. Afterward, I rinsed off in the onboard shower and dressed, feeling refreshed.

As I walked back through the outdoor seating area, the sun dipped low over the water. Son has that peaceful vibe, with coastal paths nearby for a stroll if you have time. I grabbed a coffee at the hotel before heading out.

The whole visit left me relaxed, with that fresh sea air still in my lungs. If you're staying at the hotel, you get longer hours, from early morning to night. For day trips like mine, it's weekdays only in the afternoons and evenings.