Last Updated on May 6, 2020 by haveclotheswilltravel

Experiencing a Russian Banya should be at the top of your travel itinerary for Russia, especially if you’re visiting during winter! For this post, I’ll explain what a banya is, what to expect when visiting one and share some funny videos and photos from our experience! (I’m jumping into a frozen lake in one video, haha.) Enjoy!

*This experience is highlighting Put-in Tours’ “Moscow Day Tour to Sergiev Posad with Banya & Dinner.” We did this when my brother-in-law, Ryan, visited us over the holidays. I will explain more about this at the end of the post + there is a fun, giveaway with GPSmyCity at the end of this post!

What is a Russian Banya?

In short, a banya is similar to a sauna. The biggest difference, though, is that a “banya” has high levels of humidity in it, while a sauna will have dry air. They’ve been a part of Russian life for over a thousand years!

What to Expect When Visiting a Russian Banya

Note: Unless otherwise stated by the facility, it is a good idea to bring your own flip flops, towels, water bottles, shampoo, soap and any other toiletries you may wish to use after.

Wearing a Felt Hat

You’ll wear these funny, felt hats to protect your hair and ears from the heat in the banya. This also helps to regulate your body temperature, so you are able to sit in the banya for a longer period of time. (I could usually sit for about 10 minutes at a time – however, I am VERY sensitive to heat. Most people can sit much longer.)

Flogging with Venik

Another interesting aspect of the Russian Banya is flogging using birch twigs (venik). This is supposed to benefit your health and improve your immune system, and honestly, if you have someone who knows what they are doing, it does feel really good!

Below is a Snapchat my husband took of me during my flogging. (Sorry for the vertical video – Snapchat is the only footage I have of this!)

Jumping into Something Cold…

After you’ve gone in and out of the banya a couple times…you’re supposed to cool yourself off. You could do this by taking a quick, cold shower, jumping into a cold pool or tub (banyas do have these), jump in a snow bank (seriously) or…you can just jump in a frozen lake! We opted for “jump in a frozen lake” for this experience, haha.

They literally had to chainsaw a hole for us to jump in – there was that thick of ice! Needless to say, it was cold. Ryan and my husband loved it! They said they felt incredibly refreshed and actually jumped in multiple times. I only went in once. I personally didn’t like the way I felt after it…this is likely because I moved at turtle speed into the water and didn’t dunk myself…whereas Ryan and my husband jumped right in.

We are the worst at videos – sorry! But they are still funny to watch! I’m responsible for Ryan’s video (no idea why I lowered the camera when he jumped in), and my husband is responsible for taking my video. I’m still working on teaching him to take horizontal videos when he’s using his phone, haha. Oh, and I didn’t even film my husband’s jump…I managed to just take about 100 photos on the burst mode using his phone. (Seriously, we should never do videos!) Nonetheless, enjoy!

Ryan’s Polar Plunge!

My Polar Plunge!

*Click here to shop my swimsuit top, and click here for the bottoms.

Private, Semi-Private or Public Banya?

Unless you have a friend who has their own banya, you’ll have to pay to visit either a private banya, semi-private (will explain that in a moment) or a public banya. These will all be slightly different experiences. I’ll explain each one below.

Private banya

I had visited a private banya while in Moscow for my birthday. There are quite a few throughout the city. You can rent them for your own use, and you can bring friends or family with you. You can also purchase “spa” treatments, such as massages, floggings by a professional, etc. We had visited this one (Banya Stoleshniki) as my birthday present and had a couple different floggings and massages done while we were there. It was pure heaven! They also can adjust the heat depending on your tolerance to it. (So, I could sit forever during this banya experience.)

*For this experience, you are naked, except for a little towel you can wrap around yourself if you want.

Public banya

Visiting a public, Russian banya obviously means there will be more people there than just yourselves! It will be a similar experience, though, in the sense you still wear the felt hats, there will be venik and there will be various ways to cool off (likely not a frozen lake, though). Each sex will have their own side to use in the banya. (Girls will go one way and boys will go another way.) It will also be VERY hot in public banyas, so be prepared.

Again, there are many different public banyas to choose from throughout Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscow’s most famous is Sanduny. It’s really beautiful and has quite the story behind it (a love story involving Catherine the Great had something to do with this place being built!). You will simply show up to Sanduny to purchase your entrance or you can book a tour. (Click here to read my tips for visiting this banya.)

*For this experience, you are naked, except for a little towel you can wrap around yourself if you want.

Put-in Tours Banya Experience (Semi-Private)

This is a group guided tour of a traditional wooden banya just outside of Moscow. It’s “semi” private because you will be with whomever else books the tour for that day. When we went, there was only one other person with, and he was a friend of the guide and was there to get drone footage of the experience.

*Bring your swimsuits for this banya experience!

Regardless, it’ll be a small group no matter what! That’s because only so many people can fit in these private, traditional banyas (6 or 7 is comfortable) and you get picked up in a classic, Soviet Van!

Put-in Tours Soviet Van

This experience also includes a trip to the Sergiyev Posad, where you will visit the famous Trinity Lavra of Saint Sergius monastery. It’s simply breathtaking! (It’s a very short distance from where the banya is.) Click here to learn even more about this tour.

Sergiyev Posad

Guard dog for our parking spot – he was super friendly!

I highly recommend using Put-in Tours for any of your touring needs while in Moscow. Simon and Sergey are fantastic! You will feel like family when you book a tour with them. Click here to see more tour options, and click here for their website.

*Click here to see all of my blog posts featuring Russia.

My husband and I have loved each of our Russian banya experiences so far! And Ryan said the banya experience with Put-in tours was his favorite part of his trip to Russia! If you’re visiting Russia, you should visit a banya one way or another. And now I’m curious, did this post terrify of you Russian banyas? Or would you want to experience one? Let me know in the comments!

Travel Insurance

It’s a good idea, no matter where your adventure takes you, to have travel insurance. You never know what might happen! Whether you get sick before your trip and can’t go, or you become sick or injured while on your adventure – being covered with travel insurance is a must. Some credit card companies do provide this service (check with yours), or you can get a quote from companies such as RoamRight.

Visa Requirements

To check if your country requires a Visa for traveling to Russia, click here.

Disclosure: some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

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