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Mobile sauna: the sauna that travels
Not every sauna stands permanently in the garden: there are saunas in tents, on trailers and on the water. The idea is old – and raises its own questions.
Updated: September 2026 · independent guide, sources linked
A mobile sauna in the garden may also need a permit. The rules of all 26 cantons are in our building permit overview.
Building permit guide →At a glance
| Forms | tent sauna, sauna trailer, floating sauna (sauna raft) |
|---|---|
| Heating | usually a wood-fired heater |
| History | Finnish soldiers built saunas in mobile tents and even in bunkers |
| Permit | according to the City of Bern, a sauna on wheels or supports also needs a permit |
The forms
- Tent sauna: a tent with a small wood stove – light, quick to set up, for on the go.
- Sauna trailer: a sauna on a vehicle trailer, taken to lakes or events.
- Floating sauna: a sauna on a raft or pontoon, like the one in Finland in the photo above – the jump into the water is right outside the door.
History at a glance
- AntiquityAccording to Herodotus, the Scythians sweated in a felt tent over hot stones.
- North AmericaThe sweat lodge is a frame with a cover – easy to put up.
- 20th centuryFinnish soldiers built saunas in mobile tents and even in bunkers.
- TodaySauna trailers and floating saunas turn the sauna into an experience at lakes and beaches.
A mobile sauna in the garden – mind the permit
Legally, a sauna on wheels isn't automatically "mobile". The City of Bern states in its fact sheet that a sauna on wheels or supports also needs a permit – what counts is the use, not how it's fixed. If you park a sauna trailer in your garden long-term, check the rules of your canton as for any other sauna.
For a permanent spot in the garden, a barrel sauna is often the simpler solution: it's usually delivered in one piece. A wood-fired heater needs a safe chimney wherever it is – more in our heater comparison.
For a sauna in the garden, each canton handles the building permit differently, for example Jura, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Obwalden. All 26 cantons: Building permit.
A mobile sauna in the garden may also need a permit. The rules of all 26 cantons are in our building permit overview.
Building permit guide →More sauna types: Finnish sauna · Smoke sauna · Wood-fired sauna · Electric sauna · Barrel sauna · Sauna cabin · Infrared sauna · Bio sauna · Steam room · Kelo sauna · Kota sauna
Sweat baths of other cultures: Banya (Eastern Europe) · Roman baths · Hammam · Sweat lodge (North America) · Temazcal (Mesoamerica) · Qargi (Yup'ik & Inuit) · Steppe nomads (Scythians) · Hanjeungmak (Korea) · Mushiburo (Japan) · Sweathouses (Ireland)
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