While the autumn-winter Balaton already invites exploration on its own, the lakeside Hotel Golden Lake Resort in Balatonfüred offers truly unique sauna rituals that warm not only the body but also the soul. In the Finnish Sauna Theatre, whose vast glass walls overlook the lake, sauna master Miklós Kiss leads sessions that elevate sauna bathing into a ritual experience — with fragrances, music, and light effects turning heat into pleasure and the act of slowing down into an art form.
As the sun slowly sets behind the shimmering mirror of Lake Balaton, the hotel’s lakeside Finnish sauna house welcomes guests with a distinctive atmosphere: the warm scent of pinewood, the panorama opening onto the lake, and the heat of the sauna create a unique harmony. And while the dim lights of the Sauna Theatre glow invitingly by the water, inside the air is filled with warmth, special fragrances, and tranquil calm, while outside the peace of the evening Balaton surrounds the little wooden house. During our visit, a couple was just walking toward it, sauna towels in hand, curious smiles on their faces — stepping into a world where everyday worries melt away like ice on hot stones.
Miklós Kiss, sauna master of the Sauna Theatre
The host, Miklós Kiss, the Sauna Theatre’s sauna master, introduces guests to the culture of sauna bathing with the discipline and mindfulness brought from his athletic background. He first discovered the experience fifteen years ago, then perfected his skills through years of practice and study. Today, he considers the sauna not merely a hobby, but a way of life. In his experience, the attraction is magnetic — it is no coincidence that those who first attend a guided ritual by a professional sauna master often fall in love with sauna bathing for good.
“You should never just rush into a sauna — you must tune in to the experience,” he says.
The heat of the Finnish sauna, around 80–90 °C, both disciplines and embraces. Before entering: shower, dry off, and in the cabin, be textile-free or covered with a towel. The towel should cover the whole body, and the seating should be chosen according to heat levels — milder below, more intense above — the difference can reach 20 degrees. The hourglass marks 10–15 minutes: the classic sauna cycle.
The sauna master’s role is not spectacle but guidance. Miklós observes the guests, asks, gives advice, and — on request — pours scented water onto the stones. The “aufguss” is the simplest form: natural essences are poured on the hot stones, and the heat is softened or intensified by controlled air movements. But the sauna ceremony goes far beyond that: a short, thematic ritual with music, light, choreographed towel waving, and fragrance sequences. The aromas build upon one another — citrus for opening, woody-coriander for depth, mint for a refreshing close — while the feeling of heat rises gradually from minute to minute.
Cooling down is an essential part of the ritual. “Anyone unfamiliar with their body’s tolerance shouldn’t rush into icy water,” warns Miklós. The safe way: cool down the limbs first, then immerse fully in the outdoor plunge pool. Changing themes throughout the seasons”
The Sauna Theatre’s programs vary by season and holiday. In autumn, harvest and end-of-summer sessions await guests; at the end of October, playful Halloween aufguss rituals glow with pumpkin-lantern light and mysterious scents. During Advent, candles and festive essences accompany the experience, while the days between Christmas and New Year are lighter and more communal. At St. Nicholas time, fragrant aromas mingle with the Santa mood; on New Year’s Eve, champagne and cedar fill the air; on New Year’s Day, a refreshing cold-water ritual awaits.
Each session reflects Miklós’s personal style — relaxation, deep breathing, deceleration — the subtle rhythm that merges with the vibrations of the waves outside. His goal is to open a door to that universe from which guests — whether beginners or seasoned sauna lovers — depart longing to return. According to him, two to three sessions per week not only improve well-being but also strengthen the immune system. The body thanks the conscious warmth, the soul appreciates the order of the ritual.
Those entering the sauna for the first time usually choose the lower bench, where the temperature is milder and easier to adapt to. “Sauna bathing is not about performance or competition,” emphasizes Miklós Kiss, „but a personal journey that lasts as long as it feels good.”
Another charm of the sauna ritual is that inside the heated cabin everyone is equal — there are no ranks or roles, only the shared experience and rejuvenation. Sometimes soft laughter fills the air, other times only silence and scent weave the moment.
Hotel Golden Lake Resort
“Sauna bathing is one of the best investments in health — fewer doctors, more joy of life,” says the sauna master of Hotel Golden Lake Resort. After a session, one steps out not only more relaxed but almost renewed — carrying with them the warmth of the steam, the memory of the scents, and the quiet certainty that at Lake Balaton, by the water’s edge, the sauna does not only cleanse the body, but gently soothes the soul.
That is why, as Miklós Kiss says, Balaton awaits — and the sauna calls.
Zoltán M. Érsek
