By: Chris ⎜ Last updated
Book KOK Langkaia if you want the cleanest version of Oslo's sauna-and-fjord ritual: a wood-fired sauna on the water, and a front-row view of the Opera House and MUNCH, with the option to rent your own sauna cruise for 2 hours. Just like Oslo Badstuforening, this is certainly not a spa. There are no toilets on site, the changing room is small, shared and unisex, and showers are outdoors and cold water only.
If you are staying in the western end of the city, around the National Theatre, Aker Brygge or Royal Palace, you should consider the KOK location at Aker Brygge.
Shared, private, or cruise
KOK has three different products. FELLESKOK is the shared sauna, PRIVATKOK is the private sauna, and KOKCRUISE is as you probably get from the name, a cruise onto the fjord.
Shared sauna is the right pick for solo travellers, couples, or a couple of friends. You buy individual seats and share the sauna with up to nine other people. As opposed to Oslo Badstuforening 20 meters away, where you can use any available sauna, here you're allocated a sauna you will share with up to 9 other people during your session.
Sessions are 1.5 hours including changing time, and the sauna stays at the dock. It's social, more so than Oslo Badstuforening, as here you will spend the entire session with the same group of people, and people will chat.
This is not the place for you if you need toilets, hot showers, or are looking for the cheapest sauna session. Then Oslo Badstuforening at Sukkerbiten is the best option for you.
Private saunas start making financial sense around five people. Private sauna sessions are two hours including changing, for groups up to ten. At last check, shared seats were NOK 320 each and private started from NOK 1,520 during off-peak, so the per-person cost drops fast with a bigger group. Check the live booking calendar as prices are dynamic and constantly changing based on demand.
KOKCRUISE is a cruise where a skipper takes the sauna out onto the fjord. It's also two hours, fits up to ten people, and costs from about NOK 3,000 off-peak.
Best time to go
Morning weekday sessions tend to be the calmest.
Evening is the most atmospheric time, and the one most likely to sell out. After sunset you have a direct view to the lit Opera House. You should book ahead, especially for weekends and holidays.
Winter will give you the best version of this experience. The sea can be freezing and covered in ice, where the sauna masters have made a hole for you to cool down. It hurts from the moment you go into the water, and you will not stay long, a few seconds is enough before climbing back into the heat.
What to bring
Bring swimwear, two towels and sufficient water. There are no places to fill your water bottle here, but they are selling water bottles. One towel is for sitting on inside the sauna, which is mandatory. The other is for drying off. We would recommend you arrive wearing swimwear under your clothes, to avoid having to change in the small unisex changing rooms.
Facilities and swimming
There are no toilets at any of KOK's Oslo locations, nor are there any public toilets nearby at the Langkaia location. Use the facilities before you arrive, and relieving yourself in the sea is normal.
Cold-water showers are available on the deck. In winter, the showers might be shut if the weather is really cold, so don't count on rinsing off.
For swimming, use the ladder and keep your head above water if the water looks dirty, which is especially important after heavy rain. Not that the water ever seems very clean here, you should use the showers to rinse off after bathing. Jumping might be more fun, but the ladder is the smarter option most of the time.
Langkaia or Aker Brygge
KOK also has saunas at Aker Brygge. The facilities are pretty similar, except that KOK Aker Brygge does not have showers. Also, we would argue the Langkaia location has the best view, with the Opera House in the background. But you should mostly choose location based on what is most convenient for you.
Other sauna options in Oslo
KOK is not the only sauna operator in the area. Oslo Badstuforening and SALT both run saunas nearby, with different price points and atmosphere. There's a full comparison in our Oslo sauna guide, which covers all three and helps you decide which is the best for you.
What to do nearby
Hotels nearby
