Fryd: your local sauna away from home

By Celina Tran | Photos: Fryd

On a crisp morning on the shores of Askøy, just a short ferry ride from Bergen, locals and travellers alike can be found stepping out of a steaming wooden cabin, braving the icy fjord, and returning flushed faced. This is Fryd, a modern take on a centuries-old tradition that is as much about community as it is about wellness.

Founded in 2023 by brothers Andreas and Joachim Økland, together with their friend Gabriel Carvajal, Fryd has quickly become a beloved part of the local landscape. The trio, all from Askøy and Fyllingsdalen, set out to create a sauna experience that would be both unique and accessible, giving people an easy way to disconnect from daily stress while reconnecting with themselves and others.

“Our slogan is ‘Your local sauna’, and it’s really the best description of what Fryd is,” says Andreas Økland. “It’s the place you go to find calm in a busy everyday life, to meet friends for a fresh start to the weekend, or simply because you love the feeling of sauna and cold-water bathing.”

“Norway has a long sauna tradition, and many people have good memories from childhood in which the sauna played an important role. In our case, it was a cosy little sauna at the family cabin, built by our grandfather,” he says.

Years later, a floating sauna experience on the east coast planted the seed for what would become Fryd, inspiring the trio to bring the concept home to Askøy. In 2023, they opened their first sauna on Askøy and have not looked back since.

At Fryd, guests can book floating or land-based saunas by the hour, either privately or as part of an open session. “We’ve built everything with user-friendliness and good facilities in mind. The whole process should be simple from start to finish,” Økland says.

Fryd: your local sauna away from home

After sweating it out, visitors can jump into the sea surrounded by the spectacular west coast scenery. The newest sauna in Kleppestø is only a short ferry ride from Bergen, and even the trip, with the beautiful mountainous backdrop, is an experience in itself.

Økland says that Fryd, which attracts both Askøy locals and travellers from around the world, serves as both a wellness service and a social meeting place. “I once read a sign that said: ‘In the sauna, we are all equal.’ That really stuck with me. There’s something unique about the conversations and atmosphere that arise in a sauna. Our goal has always been to create a social space that’s inclusive and easy for everyone to enjoy.”

Fryd: your local sauna away from home