• Swimwear and two towels. One to sit on for hygiene reasons and another to dry yourself off.

• Plenty of water to rehydrate - you’re going to lose a lot of water through sweating, so ensure you replenish.

• Warm clothing to put on after your sauna. Chances are you’ll be lovely and cosy but on winter days you might feel the chill after leaving the sauna.

• Flip-flops and a swimrobe or even dressing gown if you wish, these are nice to pop on between sauna rounds.

There is a semi private changing space although storage is limited, come in comfy clothes to allow for a quick change, this way you also maximise your sauna time. Please travel light, and if possible come ready to sauna!

Portobello

Thursdays 4:45pm –10.00 pm

Fridays 8.00 am–10 .00pm

Saturdays 8.00 am–9.00 pm

Sundays 8.00 am–7.00 pm

Granton

Thursdays 4.00pm - 8.30pm

Fridays 8.30am - 10.00pm

Saturday 8.30am - 9.30pm

Sundays 8.30am - 9.00pm

As we’re mobile this may vary slightly although our aim is to be at the foot of Brunstane Road North, Portobello just in behind the green bollards onto the prom. A perfect place for sea dips! Pop Brunstane Road North, Portobello, EH15 2DN into your phone. You will receive a message the day prior to your booking if location changes, which should only be a matter of metres to a parallel street.

MAP LINK

SWS Granton is situated next to The Pitt Market, 20 West Shore Road, EH5 1QD.  Entranceto the sauna is via the Promenade adjacent to Granton Beach.  You can reach SWS Granton by public transport and a short walk. Buses from the City Centre; 8, 14, 16, 24, 27, X29, 47, 113. Buses from Leith; 16, 200.  From the West; 200.  From Gorgie/Costrophine; 38. 

MAP LINK

We'd love to introduce sauna to your family. Please do read this page carefully and adhere to the guidance if you would like to bring young children with you.

Children aged 13+ are allowed in SWS Community Saunas when accompanied at a ratio of 1:2

COMING SOON! Children aged 6+ will soon be allowed with a ration of 2:1 (hold your horses, we need to settle into our rhythm, check back in the New Year!)

Children age 16 or under must never be left alone in the sauna.

The sauna can be an enjoyable and comfortable experience for everyone, if some basic rules are kept in mind.

• Children should never be left unattended

• It is essential that a responsible adult observes how a child's body is responding to the high temperatures and is aware of signs of discomfort such as dizziness, headaches and feeling too hot.

• In addition, the stove is very hot and would cause severe burns if touched or fallen against.

• As a rule, the younger the child, the more vigilant the adult needs to be!

Please be aware, staff have the right to end the session early if they feel the Health and Safety of the child or anyone attending the session is compromised and no refund will be offered in this case.

Yes! However, it is important to be aware that children do not tolerate heat as well as adults because their thermoregulatory and circulatory systems are not as developed. For example, they do not sweat as adults do. Also changes in blood pressure during cooling between or after sauna visits, can cause children to feel dizzy or be unsteady on their feet.

Whilst these effects are not dangerous in healthy children, it is important to always monitor your child inside and out of the sauna and be aware of signs of discomfort.

Please be aware, staff have the right to end the session early if they feel the Health and Safety of the child or anyone attending the session is compromised and no refund will be offered in this case.

• Children aged 13+ are allowed in SWS Community Saunas when accompanied at a ratio of 1:2 

• ⁠Children under the age of 6 are sadly not permitted.

• When children under 13 are present, the maximum group size is restricted to 6

• For insurance reasons, children are not allowed to use the cold-water plunge (at Granton). However, watering cans and buckets for splashing face and body will be provided to aid cooling.

• Children must be accompanied at all times, this applies inside and outside the sauna.

• Children are not allowed to add water to the stove because of the risk of burning from the steam rising.  

• We ask children not to run inside the sauna and changing area.

• The responsible adult must continually monitor their child and how their body is responding.  If any signs of discomfort are observed the child and responsible adult must leave the sauna immediately. 

• Please do not bring children in the sauna who have an infection or fever.

Recommendations

• Children should step outside to aid cooling or splash with water within the sauna space. 

• Children should be encouraged to drink plenty of water or even juice during their session, to maintain their body’s water content.

• Smaller children should sit on the lower benches and where possible, away from the stove.  The rocks and flue of the stove are incredibly hot and would cause severe burning if touched.

• Children should be encouraged to wear a sauna hat to minimize the chances of overheating.

You may reschedule all appointments up to 48 hrs before the session using the link in your confirmation email. If you wish to cancel your appointment completely email hello@soulwatersauna.com (cancellations are subject to a £3 admin fee).

Private Sauna bookings cancelled outwith the 48hr period will be receive a refund (minus £3 admin fee, the refund process is unfortunately manual). This could take 5-10 days to be issued.

If you choose to cancel or reschedule with less than 48hrs notice, your account will not be credited. You are very welcome to transfer your booking onto a friend, just ensure you have confirmed this to us in advance.

Portobello : A lovingly built sauna, clad with larch grown in Thetford, cut and milled and then magically transformed into a sauna in Norfolk. The silver birch seating and wobbly hazel supports are full of character. The sauna room will be hot and the stove even hotter!

Granton: Two beautiful Siberian cedar saunas, breathtaking views of the Forth, two cold plunge pools, cold showers and private changing areas as well as a beautiful sea-side chill area and campfire where you can chill between saunas or enjoy your post sauna tea.  All adjacent to the vibrant Pitt Market, hosting community-driven projects, delicious food and drink vendors and much more.  The perfect spot to explore pre or post sauna.

We will hold lost or forgotten property for 14 days. If not claimed, it will be donated to charity or disposed of.

Take a look at the tide times, it can feel like a long walk on a windy day if the tides out.

If you do intend on entering the sea as a ‘cold plunge’ you do so at your own risk. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you are a capable swimmer and can handle being exposed to the cold temperatures, tides, rip currents and other dangers of a body of water.

Never swim / dook alone.

*dook Scottish VERB 1. to dip or plunge 2. to bathe NOUN 3. an instance of dipping, plunging, or bathing

If it’s cold & wet and windy... sauna in the rain and cold is wonderful. Embracing the elements is what sauna is all about however, we will close if the weather is above 47mph and refund your session within 24hrs.

You can buy vouchers here

Sauna hats keep your head cool… but why?

We know that warm air rises, and in a sauna this causes the head to heat up faster than the rest of the body. Sauna hats have been used for centuries to help maintain consistent temperatures throughout the body. It allows longer sauna sessions by reducing the urge to cool off when your ears feel too hot or the löyly hits you a little too intensely.

Despite wearing a sauna hat, it's crucial to listen to your body, sauna is not a endurance sport and you should always step out to cool down when you reach your heat ceiling, but being able to stay in the heat until your whole body has reached your limit (rather than just your head) means you’ll receive more of the health benefits and be able to relax a little more whilst doing so.

You can now have your very own Soul Water Sauna hat and look sauna chic on your next stroll along the prom.

Orders are for collection from SWS during our opening hours or the Saunatonttu (Finnish Sauna Elf) may be able to deep with delivery if you need it posting.

If you require delivery, once you have received your Order Confirmation, please reply with the delivery name and address. The Saunatonttu will be in touch. Orders for pre Christmas delivery and all information must be received by Monday 16th December, 12 noon.

Our new bookings operate on a rolling system and new seats will be released daily. If there are no seat available, try coming back tomorrow!

Portobello: The sauna is in a public space, so if you have someone with you who can look after the dog, you’re welcome to keep your furry friend close by. There’s plenty of beach to explore and other dog friends to meet too.

Granton: Unfortunately we cannot allow dogs onto the Granton site, however the Pitt Market and surround promenade and beach are very dog friendly, so like Portobello, if you have a friend or companion who is not coming into the sauna, your dog will have plenty of places to explore.

Our two saunas at Granton are named Big Bear and Little Bear. To us, the names evoke the warmth and comfort of a bear’s embrace, perfectly aligning with the nurturing and restorative experience of a sauna. They also reflect the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, symbolising guidance, serenity, and connection under the stars.

Both saunas are crafted from solid Siberian cedar—renowned for its slow growth, which makes it an ideal insulator for holding thermal mass. Cedar is also prized for its aromatic and antibacterial properties. With direct views over the Forth through picture-frame windows, both saunas promote a deep connection with the sea, even as you’re enveloped in the heat.

Our largest sauna, Big Bear, is designed as a more humid sauna space where steam moves slowly, settling perfectly on your shoulders before enveloping you in its warm hug. It gently pushes you to the edge of your comfort zone while offering ample space on two bench heights, allowing you to choose your temperature and viewpoint.
Capacity: 16 (Community) / 18 (Private Hire)

Meanwhile, Little Bear typically offers a slightly drier sauna experience with a higher temperature than Big Bear. Thanks to the lower humidity, the perceived warmth feels quite similar. This sauna features more top-bench seating and wider benches, allowing you to easily bring your feet up—something any sauna-loving Finn (is there any other kind?) will surely appreciate. 

Capacity: 6 (Community) / 8 (Private Hire)

Sauna, after all, is a science, and we’re a little geeky about it!

Both saunas complement the Soul Water Sauna Granton experience, ensuring you won’t be disappointed, no matter which one you choose. Guests can flow freely between the two saunas (unless a private session is booked), letting you choose whichever calls to you most on the day.

Portobello:

We do not have toilet facilities at Portobello, the nearest public toilets can be found at Joppa Rocks or the restaurants / bars on Bath Street.

Granton:

There are loos within the Pitt Market which are accessible whilst the site is open and are a 30 second walk from SWS Granton.

A quirk of our system means that you can only redeem one voucher per transaction. So if you have vouchers for multiple sessions, you will need to book them all separately. We know that this is a little frustrating, but we cannot do anything to change this currently with our booking system.