Picture a getaway: rest, relaxation, rejuvenation and much-needed treatments against the backdrop of serene surroundings and no dings from urgent notifications. Sign me up, I say…
Hollywood has captured my sentiment in ‘Spa Weekend’, a new comedy film that hit big screens earlier in August.
It follows the misadventures of four lifelong friends who realise that in between juggling careers with everyday responsibilities, they lost track of taking care of themselves and each other. As burnout reaches breaking point, they all go for a – you guessed it – spa weekend.
With the trend now going beyond cinema theatres, luxury travel specialists Virtuoso reports that wellness bookings have increased by 28% year-on-year.
Now, I’m not someone who needs even an iota of convincing to indulge in spa treatments, but if you need a little push, these are the ideal European destinations where rejuvenation can easily fit into your itinerary.
A spa tour of Europe
If you’re stumped on where to go for your spa weekend, you’re in luck. There’s actually a map of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to help you choose
The continent is home to 11 towns spread across seven countries that UNESCO has crowned as part of the “Great Spa Towns of Europe”.
According to the UN, each town has created its own “spa architecture”, pioneering a style of urban design centred on medical care as well as modern health and wellness tourism.
Out of the hundreds of spa towns across Europe, this handful were selected for their “outstanding universal value”, and they are:
- Baden bei Wien, Austria
- Spa, Belgium
- Františkovy Lázně, Czechia
- Karlovy Vary, Czechia
- Mariánské Lázně, Czechia
- Vichy, France
- Bad Ems, Germany
- Baden-Baden, Germany
- Bad Kissingen, Germany
- Montecatini Terme, Italy
- City of Bath, UK
Europe’s top spa hotels and resorts
Even though the 11 towns above are recognised by UNESCO and, in many cases, are filled to the brim with wellness spots, Europe has myriad spas across its territories, and these are some of the best.
Finn Lough, Northern Ireland
This self-styled ‘luxury hideaway’ is secluded in the ancient Irish woodland on the edge of the Lough Erne lake system. The spa experience is centred around reconnecting with nature, and offerings include a soak at the Shoreline Spa, which sits on the banks of Lough Erne or a sauna session with panoramic lake views.
Lefay Resort & Spa Lago di Garda, Italy
This Gargnano property in Italy offers a “temple of wellness” which stretches over 4,300 square metres. Promising a synergy of East meets West, the treatments on offer range from Thalassotherapy, including seaweed facial purifying, to Western massages for tension relief as well as Eastern massages and rituals such as Chinese Gua Sha or Tibetan hot sponging and cupping.
AMARA, Limassol, Cyprus
The five-star AMARA Hotel in Limassol is located on Cyprus’ southern coast. Its spa hosts three-and five-day wellness retreats centred around the resort’s adults-only seawater infinity pool. Away from the water, the spa also offers a range of therapies which highlight local ingredients like organic olive oil and citrus, and there are also countless rituals, therapeutic massages and facials to experience.
ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea, Alicante, Spain
For travellers looking to take the wellness element of their getaway up a notch, Alicante’s ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea features an expansive 4,000 square metre wellness and spa facility. Guests can choose from Signature treatments which spotlight Mediterranean tradition in wellbeing, to technology-based therapies which boost metabolism and promote physical recovery, as well as aquatic and manual therapies and facial treatments.
Other destinations to go for a spa weekend
Velingrad, Bulgaria
Home to more than 700 mineral springs, which are known for their healing properties, Bulgaria has seen growing interest from tourists seeking spa tourism offerings, with demand rising by 15%, according to Irena Georgieva, Bulgaria’s Deputy Tourism Minister.
If your aim is to immerse yourself completely in rest and relaxation, Bulgaria Travel describes Velingrad as the “spa capital of the Balkans”. Located 130 kilometres away from the capital Sofia, and tucked away in the Rhodope Mountains, the Bulgarian town is home to some 80 springs, including the country’s largest karst spring, Lake Kleptuza.
For a thermal retreat in the pine-topped Rhodope Mountains, Velingrad’s Spa Hotel Santé’s array of rooms and apartments comes alongside various wellness offerings, including steam bathing facilities, halotherapy (salt therapy) in the salt room, as well as a Turkish bath facility.
Guests can also take their pick from the hotel’s array of pools, all filled with mineral-rich water. All pools are set to a temperature of at least 33C; the outdoor dipper pool, however, is set to 38C, and is best for quick dips. Another “dipping-style” option is the contrast pools, divided into two temperature zones, a 40C section for brief relaxation and the 18C section to stimulate blood circulation.
Hiiumaa Island, Estonia
Encircled by the Baltic Sea and a destination of natural beaches, small harbours and hiking routes, Estonia’s Hiiumaa Island is an ideal island escape.
Accessible by land, air and sea, its slow rhythm is marked by nature reserves and coastal forests of dense woodland environments, so it’s no surprise why it’s a perfect “forest bathing” destination.
Between forest and sea, the Eha Retreat is earmarked to open its doors in autumn. It will be shaped around Estonia’s so-called “five seasons”, and everything here is designed to support deep rest and regenerative wellbeing.
Guests will be able to choose between a three-, five- or seven-night experience which begins with a consultation to create a personalised programme for individualised wellbeing.
The Thermal Suite invites guests to Eha’s wellness offerings, including multiple saunas, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pools within the Thermal Suite.
Eha Retreat also facilitates nature-immersive experiences, such as foraging for ingredients to learn about food as medicine, and exploring Estonian food conservation techniques, tending land, gardening, going on guided walks through its estate, as well as engaging in forest tea ceremonies.