Sauna bathing frequency in Finland and the impact of COVID-19

•Nearly 60% of 1000 randomly selected Finnish responding to a survey used the sauna at least once a week.•Men visit saunas more frequently than women; and women under 35 were the most infrequent sauna bathers.•Only 8 % of participants use sauna at least 4 times a week, achieving the maximum expected health benefits out of sauna.•COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a decreased frequency of sauna bathing for 20 %, likely attributable to sauna use restrictions.•A large proportion of the participants expressed critical attitudes towards sauna in association with infectious diseases.