Ottawa's Floating Sauna Opens Today Beside the NCC River House

The Ottawa River has a new winter attraction today: Saunoa's floating sauna opens today (November 13) beside the National Capital Commission (NCC) River House, with 90-minute sessions that end in a plunge in the river; the Toronto harbourfront location opens the same day. (Photo: the NCC River House, with the floating sauna beside it; photo: Saunoa.)

Ninety minutes of hot and cold, with an enclosed river plunge

The Ottawa location sits beside the NCC River House at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, with an enclosed river plunge, open-water access and changing rooms, as well as access to the River House. The century-old boathouse has been restored for year-round public use, with food and beverage amenities and changing facilities. The bathing rhythm follows the Finnish tradition of alternating heat and cold: time in the heat, water on the stones, cooling and rest, repeated within a 90-minute visit. The name comes from the Finnish verb saunoa, meaning to sauna.

Toronto location opens the same day; bookings are open

The Toronto location, at 275 Queen's Quay West, pairs its hot room with a plunge tub on the deck, with the CN Tower behind it. Bookings for both locations are now open on Saunoa's website.