Best Saunas in Montreal (2026): Prices, Rules and What Just Closed

By Fuentes, founder of Lanoviss · 31 October 2026 · prices and rules checked 31 October 2026

The best saunas in Montreal right now are Bota Bota, the floating spa moored in the Old Port (from $65 before taxes for a 2-hour circuit), L'Orangerie, which takes over the old Scandinave Vieux-Montréal space on 1 November 2026, and Strøm on Nuns' Island (from $52 on a weekday). If you want a social, scheduled Finnish-style session instead of a spa circuit, RECESS Thermal Station in Griffintown is the newest option. Scandinave Vieux-Montréal itself closed on 25 October 2026.

Key facts: Bota Bota 2-hour circuit $65–$85 before taxes · L'Orangerie $75–$125 before taxes, opens 1 Nov 2026 · Strøm Nuns' Island $52 Mon–Thu, $75 anytime · RECESS 2-week unlimited intro $99 · minimum age 16–18 depending on venue · no official page we read mentions sauna hats (checked 31 Oct 2026).

Which saunas in Montreal are open right now?

Four spa-style venues, one social sauna club and one private banya are open or opening this week. Nothing here is a cheap drop-in municipal sauna: we checked the city's public bathhouse page for Bain Morgan and it lists a free pool, not a sauna, and we found no official source for a sauna at the other city baths. Prices below are in Canadian dollars as the venues list them; "before taxes" means the venue says so or does not state a tax rate.

Is Scandinave Vieux-Montréal still open?

No. Scandinave's own site confirms the Old Montreal spa closed on 25 October 2026 and is no longer part of Groupe Scandinave; it points former guests to its Mont-Tremblant spa. New owners open L'Orangerie in the same space on 1 November 2026, and Scandinave gift cards are accepted there until 30 November 2026 according to L'Orangerie's site. We could not confirm L'Orangerie is trading yet, so check its booking page before you go. Directories and review sites that still list Scandinave Vieux-Montréal are out of date.

What does a Bota Bota day cost, and what do you get?

Bota Bota prices by time on the water and by calendar period: the 2-hour "Pause" circuit is $65, $75, $80 or $85 depending on the period, the 4-hour "Layover" $75–$95, the 6-hour "Getaway" $100–$120 and the full-day "Voyage" $120–$155, all before taxes. Members pay less ($40–$60 for the Pause). Friday to Sunday after 5 pm the prices page lists an extra $10 off. A bathrobe, towel and locker key are included; you bring a swimsuit and sandals. It is open Monday to Thursday 10:00–22:00 and Friday to Sunday 9:00–22:00, and you must be 18. The Pavillon has a panoramic sauna with hot and cold baths, and a floating spa deck sits on the former ferry hull.

The street number "358 de la Commune O" appears on a third-party listing, not on the official pages we read, so use the McGill entrance at rue de la Commune and rue McGill as your landmark.

What is L'Orangerie, and how does it compare?

L'Orangerie lists a thermal cycle at $75–$125 before taxes, with a separate Saturday rate. It is open daily 9:00–21:00, requires you to be 16, and asks for a swimsuit and sandals, a shower before the circuit, devices in the locker, no outside food, no alcohol or cannabis and no re-entry. Facilities listed are a dry Finnish sauna, hammam, warm pool with a waterfall, cold pool, cold shower, relaxation lounges and massage. Because it is new, expect the first weeks to be the least predictable on crowding and pricing.

Where is Strøm in Montreal?

Strøm's Montreal spa is on Nuns' Island (Île-des-Sœurs), not in Old Montreal; its official site lists five locations and none is in the Old Port. The Nuns' Island page shows thermal-experience entry at $52 Monday to Thursday outside high season and $75 anytime including high season, struck against "regular" prices of $80 and $100, with a robe, towel and locker included. The address (1001 boulevard de la Forêt) and hours (Mon–Thu 10:00–22:00, Fri–Sun 9:00–22:00) come from a third-party listing, not the official page. Strøm's Old Quebec spa states a minimum age of 16; the Nuns' Island page we read did not state one.

Is there a social sauna session in Montreal?

RECESS Thermal Station is a scheduled group-session format rather than a drop-in circuit. Its pages describe a circular sauna, Aufguss, an indoor plunge pool and an outdoor ice bath, with guided and free-flow sessions and a tea station. A swimsuit is required, full nudity is not permitted, towels are included and you must sit on a towel from buttocks to feet. Sessions start on time, so arrive 10–15 minutes early. Open Sunday to Thursday and Saturday 10:00–21:30, Friday 10:00–22:00. A third-party directory puts sessions at about 75 minutes and roughly $25–$50; we could not verify that on the official site.

Can you wear a sauna hat in Montreal's saunas?

We could not find a written rule either way. Bota Bota, L'Orangerie, Strøm's Nuns' Island page and RECESS do not mention sauna hats on the pages we read, and absence of a rule is not the same as permission. The Banya St-Jacques private rental lists sauna hats among the items it provides. RECESS's own photos show a guest in a hat, which is a photo, not a policy. [DATO PROPIO PENDIENTE: email each venue and quote their written reply here.] Until then, a felt hat is a courtesy question for the front desk, not an assumption. If you are packing one, our 100% merino felt sauna hat is $59.99 CAD; see how it stacks up in best sauna hats in Canada. Disclosure: we sell it.

What should you bring to a Montreal sauna?

A swimsuit and sandals are required at every spa-style venue above, a water bottle (no glass at most venues) is worth packing, and you should leave your phone in the locker, since L'Orangerie states devices stay there. Bota Bota's Thursday "Reconnexion" evenings are the exception, allowing quiet conversation and phone use. Our Nordic spa checklist and first-time sauna etiquette cover the rest. For a bigger Quebec trip see best saunas in Quebec City and Nordik Spa Village near Ottawa.

FAQ

What is the best sauna in Montreal?

Bota Bota is the best-established option, a floating spa in the Old Port with a panoramic sauna, from $65 before taxes for 2 hours. L'Orangerie opens 1 November 2026 in the former Scandinave Vieux-Montréal space and is the main new entrant.

Is Scandinave Spa Vieux-Montréal closed?

Yes. Scandinave's site says it closed on 25 October 2026 and is no longer part of Groupe Scandinave. L'Orangerie opens in the same space on 1 November 2026.

How much does a spa sauna cost in Montreal?

Checked 31 October 2026: Bota Bota $65–$155 before taxes by duration, L'Orangerie $75–$125 before taxes, Strøm Nuns' Island $52–$75. RECESS lists a 2-week unlimited intro at $99.

Do you need a swimsuit in Montreal saunas?

Yes at Bota Bota, L'Orangerie and RECESS, where swimsuits are required (RECESS does not permit full nudity). Strøm's Nuns' Island page did not state a rule in the pages we read.

Can you wear a sauna hat in a Montreal sauna?

No official page we read mentions sauna hats, so there is no written permission or ban. Ask the venue before you go; the Banya St-Jacques private rental provides hats.

Is there a public or cheap sauna in Montreal?

We found no official source for a sauna at the city's public baths: the Bain Morgan page lists a free pool. The cheapest verified spa-style entry is Strøm Nuns' Island at $52 on weekdays outside high season.

How we checked

We read each venue's official pages on 31 October 2026 and recorded price, hours, age and rules as written. Where only a directory or press listing supplied a fact (Bota Bota's street number, Strøm's address and hours, the RECESS session length and price range) we say so. We did not visit these venues for this guide, and the official sites did not state tax rates, so totals will be higher than the figures shown. Prices change with the season; confirm before you book. We could not retrieve search "People also ask" boxes or Reddit threads, so the FAQ reflects the questions the official pages leave open. Sources: Scandinave, Bota Bota, L'Orangerie, Strøm, RECESS, Banya St-Jacques, Ville de Montréal, Bain Morgan.