Eva's Sjöbod Sauna at Lagunen

The wind off the Bohuslän coast carried a sharp chill as I pulled up to Lagunen in Strömstad. It was a gray winter afternoon, the kind where the sea blends into the sky, and I had booked Eva's Sjöbod sauna for a two-hour slot at 695 SEK. The address, Skärsbygdsvägen 40, led me right to the water's edge, where traditional boathouses stood like sentinels on the pier.

I arrived early, as advised, since the sauna and hot tub run on wood fire and need time to heat up. No one was there to greet me, just the key in a lockbox and instructions to start the fire myself. The boathouse felt cozy against the cold, built in that classic west coast style with wooden walls that creaked softly in the breeze.

Inside, the changing room was simple, with hooks for clothes and a bench. I stacked the wood in the stove, lit the match, and watched the flames take hold. The panoramic view through the window showed the bay stretching out, dotted with small islands.

The warmth spread slowly at first, then built into a steady glow. I sat on the wooden bench, feeling the heat seep into my bones as the temperature rose. The sauna overlooked the ocean, and through the steam, I could see waves lapping at the jetty below.

After about twenty minutes, sweat started to bead on my skin. I stepped out briefly to check the hot tub, which bubbled gently nearby, also warmed by the fire. The whole setup was private for my booked time, though the pier stayed open to passersby. A couple of locals walked past, bundled in coats, nodding hello without stopping.

Back inside, I let the session stretch, alternating between the dry heat and short breaks by the window. The wood-fired stove gave off a faint smoky scent that mixed with the salt air.

When the heat peaked, I wrapped a towel around me and headed down to the sea access. The water looked icy, even in the fading light, but that's part of the draw here in winter. I eased in, the cold shocking my system, then hurried back up to the hot tub.

Soaking there, with the tub's warmth contrasting the chill, I watched the sun dip lower over the bay. The two-hour window flew by, and soon it was time to douse the fire and lock up.

Walking back along the pier, I felt refreshed, the coastal wind now a welcome coolness rather than a bite. Lagunen sits in a spot perfect for nature lovers, with hiking trails and kayak rentals nearby, though I stuck to the sauna this visit.