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Published 2/26/2026
Take the plunge: Experience Sweden’s Cold Bath Houses
Despite Ribersborgs Kallbadhus being one of the most recommended things to do in Malmo, Sweden, I found it extremely difficult to get any information about what it’s really like to visit a cold bath house in Sweden. I suspect those dear fellow travel bloggers were too nervous to actually try cold bathing.
But not me!
I harnessed my inner Gryffindor and made a visit to Ribersborgs Kallbadhus (kallbadhus translates to “cold bath house”) my number one priority during my three days in Malmo in December 2025. Not only did I survive an hour of sitting around naked with a bunch of Swedish strangers, I truly enjoyed myself and highly recommend the experience.
To help calm your nerves before you head to a cold bath yourself, I’m here with my first-hand experience so you’ll know exactly what to bring (how we wished we had a bath robe and basic toiletries!), what to expect, the specific bathing ritual you’ll follow, and more.
Read on for everything I wish I’d known before my formative first Swedish cold bath experience!
The Swedish Tradition of Cold Bathing
You’ll find cold bath houses (kallbadhus or kallbadhuset) all over Sweden, especially in the southern and western regions. These public facilities are often built on a platform over the ocean and accessed via a causeway from the beach. There is usually a nominal entrance fee and then they may offer other paid services like towel rental, massages, and/or a restaurant.
This post is based on my experience at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus in Malmo, Sweden.
While I guess you could go for a swim at the Swedish cold baths (and I did spy a man gleefully splashing around in the far distance when I waded into the open ocean), the cold baths are really designed for the Nordic cycle of sitting in a sauna for several minutes and then doing a quick plunge in the (very chilly) ocean. You usually repeat this cycle 3-5 times.
The experience of cold bathing is very similar to the Swedish tradition of vinterbading, or winter/ice bathing. However, you can do cold bathing at any time in Sweden since the Baltic and North Seas and their associated straits serve up perfectly frigid waters year-round. Vinterbading usually refers to a sauna followed by jumping into a hole in a frozen lake.
Swedish cold bathing is often a gendered experience where men and women have their own separate bathing areas. Some cold baths, including Ribersborgs, do regularly offer queer events for trans and nonbinary individuals.
It’s worth noting that cold bathing is a very different experience than the Copenhagen Harbor Baths that are just across the Oresund Strand. The Copenhagen baths are really just public outdoor swimming pools. If you want to learn more about experiencing the harbor baths in Copenhagen, this is a very helpful guide from Destination Day Dreamer.
Cold Bath Facilities
While offerings will obviously vary depending on which kallbadhus you visit, here are the facilities offered at Riberborgs Kallbadhus:
Communal changing room – There are small lockers (about the size of a hotel safe) for your phone and other valuables. For storing your larger items like clothes and bags, there are shared benches and hooks. We felt very comfortable storing all of our items out in the open. There are also a couple hair dryers and a communal vanity so you can dry your hair and reapply makeup after bathing.
Showers – These are open shower heads (no stalls) in between the changing area and the sauna rooms. It is normally to wash your hair and body here, but refrain from body care like shaving.
Communal wood fired sauna – It was very clear that most women come to the cold baths for social experience. This sauna room has room for about 20 individuals, most of who will be paired up for a little chat.
Quiet/dry sauna – I’m not sure there was an official no talking rule, but it was very quiet and definitely not as popular as the communal sauna. Less people meant it was warmer because there are fewer bodies absorbing heat.
Outside hot tub – This was quite small; only space for about 8 people and it was always pretty full.
Protected cold plunge pool – The baths are built on platforms above the ocean and they have a section where the platforms completely surround the ocean so there’s always a calm pool to dunk in.
Access to the open ocean – There are steps right down into the Øresund Strait so you can take your plunge in the open ocean if it’s not too rough.
Additionally, there are two shared saunas on site: one humid, one infrared. Massages are offered and there is a restaurant in the main reception area.
One thing I don’t know the answer to is what the small stalls around the protected cold plunge pool are for. Initially we thought these were changing rooms, but it was clear that all the women were using the communal changing area. I think they might be storage areas for folks with passes to the bath house? At any rate, they were not being used during our winter visit. If you know what they are, please let me know!
What To Bring
Towels – You can rent these from the bath house, but chances are you probably have access to a towel so you might as well save a buck and bring your own. I recommend bringing two so you can sit on one and then have a nice dry one to use when you show at the end.
Shower sandals – I wore these everywhere except inside the saunas. (There are places to leave your shoes outside the saunas.) I can’t imagine padding down the metal steps into the ocean without some sandals on!
Bathrobe – We visited in early December and let me tell you, the walk from the saunas to the ocean with just a towel wrapped around your body was brisk. We saw so many bathrobe-clad women chatting away comfortably on the outdoor platforms and we immediately regretted not having this cozy option for ourselves.
Basic toiletries – You’re not going to go through your full shower routine after your cold bath experience, but it’s perfectly acceptable to wash your hair and soap up in the communal shower area. I really wished I’d brought at least a bar of soap and some lotion, especially for my face.
Hairbrush or comb – Even if you don’t wash your hair, you’ll be happy to be able to comb it out and use the changing room hair dryers before continuing on with your day of sightseeing.
Wetbag – If you have a wet bag to throw your sandals and towels in, you won’t have to return to your rental to drop stuff off to go on with your day. This USVI souvenir is one of my best travel purchases ever.
Padlock – If you’re nervous about leaving your valuables out in the open, you can use the small lockers in the changing room, but you need to provide your own padlock. You can purchase one at the front desk. I bought one and promptly didn’t use it, but I’m glad to have it in my suitcase with some other handy “just in case” travel supplies.
How To Do the Swedish Cold Bath Ritual (Nordic Cycle)
If you’ve ever been to spa like Nordik outside of Ottawa, Ontario, you’re probably already familiar with this ritual.
- Shower before heading into the sauna. Dry off.
- Sit in a sauna (on your towel) for 10 -15 minutes
- Dip into the cold ocean water for 2-3 minutes
- Dry off and repeat as many times as you like.
Personally, I recommend doing at least three cycles, although it’s often recommended to repeat the process four times, or about 60 minutes. It was amazing how much warmer the ocean water felt on my third plunge!
Code of Conduct
- Shower (and dry off) before entering the sauna at the start of your visit
- Make sure you dry off before reentering the sauna after a plunge to avoid cooling down the room
- No food or drink, except for water in plastic bottles
- Clarify whether swimwear is allowed in the saunas. At Riberborgs no swimwear is allowed in the sauna, but it can worn everywhere else if you prefer.
- You must sit on a towel in the sauna
- Speak quietly
- Treat others with courtesy and respect
- No horseplay on the pool decks
What To Expect from the Experience
Potential Nudity
Not all Swedish cold bath houses require you hop around in your birthday suit, but if you’re dovetailing a trip to Malmo, Sweden into your visit to Copenhagen, you’re most likely to end up at Riberborgs Kallbadhus which requires you to sauna nude.
While I can’t say this with 100% certainty, but I believe the reason swimsuits aren’t allowed in Riberborgs has to do with keeping the saunas at the right temperature. Bodies absorb a lot of the heat and if you add in wet swimsuits it would be hard to keep these rooms a consistent heat.
Even if nudity isn’t required, be prepared for it. Many Europeans thinking nothing of hanging out topless or in very skimpy swimsuits.
I will admit, as a northern Minnesotan who grew up in a culture heavily influenced by Scandinavian immigrants, my naked comfort levels are probably slightly higher than the typical North American. I certainly don’t sauna naked with strangers regularly, but it’s not uncommon for Minnesotan girlfriends to go skinny dipping or sauna nude.
I totally understand that it’s rich for me to say “don’t worry about it” when I’ve had a lifetime to wrap my mind around the idea of a body just being a body. But I do encourage you to push out of your comfort zone and give the experience a try. You might be pleasantly surprised by how un-scary it feels.
A sense of community and body positivity
We saw women from all different walks of life at the baths, including elderly women, pregnant women, nervous tourists, (believe it or not, I’m not even referring to ourselves here), women on their lunch breaks, etc.,etc. The women were all very helpful and welcoming. You will certainly get a quick crash course in just how varied the bodies we each live in are!
A refreshing and invigorating experience
The biggest reason you should include a visit to a Swedish cold bath is because you feel freakin’ amazing afterwards. The endorphin release is a very, very real. A hot sit followed by a cold plunge really gets the blood circulating and it’s said to improve mental clarity, immunity, and inflammation.
Honestly, it felt like we got all the benefits from a good five mile run with minimal effort! If I lived in Sweden near a cold bath, I would definitely be purchasing a membership and visiting on the regular.
Conclusion: You’ll probably love Swedish cold bathing . . . honest!
It’s absolutely normal to feel nervous about barging in on a beloved cultural experience like Swedish cold bathing. Add in the fact that you might be doing this bathing experience of sauna and cold plunge completely nude and it’s a hard pass for many North Americans.
But if you can get beyond the initial discomfort, I assure you that this is will be one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences of your trip. It certainly was for us! But for as positive and invigorating as our time at the kallbadhus was, it was also a learning experience.
When (not if) I return to a cold bath in Sweden, I’m definitely bringing a fluffy bathrobe and some basic toiletries for the shower after. I was very glad I brought shower sandals and a wet bag and also came equipped with a general familiarity with Scandinavian spa etiquette and culture.
We also learned that everyone from the front desk attendant to other visitors are happy to show you the ropes. Don’t feel like you have to look like you know what you’re doing on your first visit to a Sweden cold bath, but do feel free to ask for directions!
I hope I’ve convinced you to add a trip to the kallbadhus to your Swedish itinerary, whether you’re headed to Riberborgs in Malmo or elsewhere in your Scandinavian travels. Swedes take spa culture very seriously and after you’ve experienced your first cold bath, you might find yourself a full-blown convert as well. Happy plunging!
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