Floating Sauna Pop-Up. A brand new sauna experience comes to Bristol’s Harbourside

Creators of the UK’s first sauna boats, Skuna Boats, is set to make waves in Bristol this winter, as it brings its unique wellness experience of water-based activities to the South West. The Bristol pop-up will run for just four weeks, from Friday 21st November to Sunday 14th December. Inspired by Scandinavian traditions, visitors will have the chance to unwind in an electric stoved sauna while gliding along the city’s iconic harbourside.

Taking place across two sauna boats, both beautifully crafted, featuring spacious wood-clad interiors, panoramic harbour views, and soothing ambient heat. One of these boats will be open as a community sauna permanently docked at the iconic Bristol Amphitheatre, while the other will be available for public and exclusive hire to sail up and down the harbourside.

These all-electric sauna boats offer a truly unique way to unwind on the water, blending the restorative power of heat and cold-plunge therapy with the tranquillity of Bristol’s waterways. Complete with comfortable changing areas, towels available to purchase, and the option to enjoy the experience solo or socially, they provide an accessible, year-round wellness escape perfect for a private reset with friends, a group wellness session, or a midweek lunchtime detox, all just before Christmas.

The boats will be open Thursday to Sunday each week from 12:00 to 20:30 with each session lasting approximately 75 minutes, including time for registration, changing, refreshments, and the sauna experience itself. Visitors are encouraged to bring swimwear and a towel to sit on in the sauna. Each Sauna Boat can host up to 6 guests at a time.

Having made a splash in London with its flagship site at Canary Wharf, Skuna Boats has become a much-loved fixture on the capital’s waterways. From floating hot tubs to igloo fondue boats, Skuna Boats has built a reputation for delivering unforgettable experiences that blend wellness, novelty, and social connection. Skuna’s current sauna experience in London sets the stage for an equally exciting chapter in Bristol.

Commenting on the new immersive experience for the city, CEO and Founder Stuart ‘Tommo’ Thomson said, “We’re thrilled to bring Skuna Boats to Bristol. This city’s vibrant culture and love for the water make it the perfect home for our floating saunas. We’re excited to offer a new way for people to relax, recharge, and connect with the harbour in a new way.

Our sauna boats blend novel fun with genuine wellbeing benefits, and there’s something truly special about stepping into the heat of a sauna while drifting through the heart of a city. Bristol feels like the ideal place to take our sauna boats to next”.

Sauna boats have grown to become a celebrated wellness phenomenon in Scandi cities like Oslo where locals embrace the restorative power of heat therapy combined with cold-water immersion, taking place on the water. This Nordic influence is at the heart of the Skuna Boats’ concept, bringing a slice of this growing wellness trend to Bristol’s historic harbourside.

Saunas and wellness experiences are enjoying a surge in popularity as more people seek out ways to relax, recharge, and improve their well-being. Regular sauna use has been linked to a range of health benefits, including improved circulation, stress reduction, muscle recovery, and enhanced cardiovascular health. As urban lifestyles become increasingly fast-paced, immersive wellness activities like Skuna’s floating sauna offer a welcome escape, blending the therapeutic heat of traditional saunas with the calming rhythm of the water for a truly restorative experience.

Keen visitors are encouraged to book in advance; tickets are now available. For more information on this exciting boating experience, visit https://www.skunaboats.com/bristol