Saunas, Bathhouses and Cold Plunges in Chicago
14 saunas and bathhouses in Chicago, from old-school Russian banyas on the Northwest Side to a 24-hour Korean spa in Niles, a Roman-style thermal bath in River West, winter saunas on the lakefront beaches and contrast therapy studios across the North Side.
14 places, 10 with a cold plunge, 2 co-ed, day passes from $40. Checked October 2026.
All places in Chicago
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AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago
A Roman-inspired thermal bath in a restored factory in River West, where guests move through hot, warm, cold and salt-water baths, a steam room, a dry sauna and an outdoor bath with a waterfall.
BathhouseCold plungeSession $175
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Chicago Bath House
A Russian-style bathhouse on Division Street in Wicker Park, formerly known as Red Square Spa, with a banya, steam rooms, a cold plunge, a hot tub and a full Russian restaurant and bar.
BanyaBathhouseCold plungeDay pass $50
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Chicago Sweatlodge
An old-school Russian banya combined with a Turkish-style bathhouse on the Northwest Side in Old Irving Park, open to men only, with a hot dry room, a steam room and food on site.
BanyaSeparate men's and women's areasDay pass $40
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Contrast Hot + Cold
A hot and cold studio on Milwaukee Avenue in River West with a shared community room of infrared saunas and cold plunges, plus private suites for one person or a couple.
InfraredContrast therapyCold plungeSession $39
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Eastend
A wellness club in Fulton Market built around a custom Finnish sauna that seats about 40 people, with cold plunges, guided sauna classes and a saunamaster on staff.
Traditional saunaContrast therapyCold plungeCo-ed194°F40°FSession $45
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Fire and Ice Sauna Experience
Two mobile wood-fired saunas run by Thunder Domes at North Avenue Beach each winter, the Chicago Park District's first winter sauna concession on the lakefront.
Outdoor saunaTraditional saunaSession $30
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Freeze & Float Spa
A River North recovery spa offering private 45-minute sessions that pair an infrared sauna with a cold plunge, alongside float and other recovery treatments.
InfraredContrast therapyCold plunge150°FNo plungeSession $80
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King Spa & Sauna Chicago
Niles
A 24-hour Korean jjimjilbang in Niles with nine themed sauna and healing rooms, including a Bul Ga Ma kiln sauna, a salt room and an ice room, plus gender-separated bathhouses with hot and cold pools.
Korean spaCold plungeOpen 24 hoursDay pass $75
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Lume Wellness & Aesthetics
A River North wellness and aesthetics spa that books private 50-minute infrared sauna sessions at a lower temperature than a traditional sauna.
InfraredSession $60
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Oak St. Sauna
A seasonal wood-fired sauna in a converted shipping container at Oak Street Beach, with a cold plunge filled with Lake Michigan water and views of the Gold Coast skyline.
Outdoor saunaTraditional saunaContrast therapyCold plunge200°FNo plungeSession $45
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Perspire Sauna Studio West Loop
A West Loop branch of the Perspire Sauna Studio chain with private full-spectrum infrared sauna suites that include red light therapy and a cold SNØ shower.
InfraredHeat45°FSession $60
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SweatHouz Lakeview
SweatHouz's Lakeview studio on North Clark Street, offering private suites with an infrared sauna, a cold plunge tub and a vitamin C shower for one person or a pair.
InfraredContrast therapyCold plunge175°F48°F -
SweatHouz Old Town
A private contrast-therapy studio in Old Town where each suite has its own infrared sauna, cold plunge tub and vitamin C shower, booked by the hour for one person or a pair.
InfraredContrast therapyCold plunge175°F48°FSession $90
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SweatHouz West Loop
The West Loop branch of SweatHouz on Madison Street, with private suites that each pair an infrared sauna with a cold plunge tub and a vitamin C shower.
InfraredContrast therapyCold plunge175°F48°FSession $90
How Chicago does the sauna
Chicago's oldest bathhouses are Russian and Eastern European banyas, with very hot wet heat, cold pools and platza treatments. Chicago Bath House in Wicker Park, once known as Red Square Spa, and Chicago Sweatlodge in Old Irving Park carry on that tradition. Chicago Sweatlodge is open to men only.
North of the city, King Spa in Niles is a Korean jjimjilbang open around the clock, with themed heated rooms, pools and a food court. In River West, AIRE Ancient Baths offers a slower, candlelit circuit of warm, hot, cold and salt-water pools.
In winter, wood-fired saunas set up on the lakefront at Oak Street Beach and North Avenue Beach, with Lake Michigan for the plunge. The rest of the year, contrast therapy studios in River North, the West Loop, Old Town and Lakeview pair private infrared saunas with cold plunges.
Before you go
- The lakefront saunas are seasonal. Check the listing for the current season before you go.
- Book ahead at the contrast studios, which sell timed private sessions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sauna day pass cost in Chicago?
Of the 3 places we list with a published day pass, prices run from $40 to $75, with a median of $50 (prices checked October 2026).
Where can I do sauna and cold plunge in Chicago?
10 places we list have a cold plunge or cold pool next to the sauna, including AIRE Ancient Baths Chicago, Chicago Bath House, Contrast Hot + Cold, Eastend and Freeze & Float Spa.
Are there co-ed saunas in Chicago?
Yes. Eastend and King Spa & Sauna Chicago have co-ed sauna areas. Check each listing for the swimsuit rule.
Do I need to book a sauna in Chicago in advance?
5 of the places we list require a booking and 1 take walk-ins. Book ahead for evenings and weekends either way.
Is there a 24-hour sauna in Chicago?
King Spa & Sauna in Niles, just north of the city, is open 24 hours. Check its listing for prices and rules.