There are three types of Russian banyas: public banyas, banyas that are rented for private use, and banyas that Russians have built in their own homes. For tourists who are visiting Russia, enjoying a banya is one of the best ways to experience Russian culture.
A banya is a two-part process that Russians swear contributes to good health and promotes well-being. The first part of the banya is a wood-paneled room with steam. The second part is either an ice-cold pool or a pile of snow outside during the long winter. Banya participants spend several minutes in the steam room first, then jump into the pool or sit in a pile of snow. This process is then repeated over and over, sometimes for a few hours.
Tourists who are visiting any city in Russia – whether it's a huge metropolis like Moscow, or a tiny town in the middle of Siberia – will find at least one public banya that is open to visitors.
How Does the Russian Banya Work?
Public banyas are almost always segregated. Russian men and Russian women have separate facilities and foreigners are expected to follow. This is important, because part of the banya experience is getting naked.
Body-shy Westerners should not let this deter them. The Russians have seen every body type possible, and nobody is going to stare. They will be too busy enjoying themselves, participating in what is practically considered a national pastime.
Public Russian banyas charge a small entrance fee, anywhere from $3 to $50, depending on location. Most banyas also supply towels or sheets, hats to protect the head and rubber shoes for rent.
Things to Bring to the Russian Banya
If the banya is off the beaten path, it's best for people to come prepared with the following items:
- towel or large cotton sheet (the towel is for sitting on, the cotton sheet is to wrap oneself in)
- water (dehydration is a risk of prolonged time in the steam room)
- flip-flops (to protect feet from the high heat)
- a wool hat, if possible (this will protect the head and hair in the steam room)
How to Enjoy the Russian Banya
- Banya-goers undress and the shy ones wrap themselves in sheets. Bathing suits are not allowed because the material will melt in the steam room. People also don their wool hats and flip-flops.
- The people in the banya use towels as mats for the benches in the steam room.
- There may be strange, wrapped leaves in the corner of the steam room. Those are meant for people to use on themselves or their banya friends. The wrapped leaves are beaten against the body. This creates an extraordinary amount of heat. Russians also claim those leaves are beneficial for the skin.
- Some banyas encourage the use of honey to spread on the skin. The honey dries on the skin in the steam room.
- When the heat becomes unbearable, banya-goers step outside into the snow or jump into the ice pool. Those who used honey in the steam room first rinse off before going into the pool.
- The ice pool or snow feels incredible after the heat of the steam room. The body retains the heat from the steam room for at least a few minutes.
- When people start to get cold, they go back into the steam room.
- This process is repeated several times.
Although many cultures have steam baths (Western cultures have spas and Finland has a similar type of steam bath), the Russian banya is considered the oldest and is something that is still enjoyed by modern Russians today. In some major U.S. cities, the Russian sections of town might have traditional banyas, so it may not be necessary to travel across the world to participate in this authentic cultural recreation activity.
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