Wellness travel has been and continues to be one of the most popular tourism trends in the history of global travel. Already from the years of the Roman Empire, more specifically from the 1st century AD. and then, the aristocracy of that distant era identified the healing properties in the water that gushed from specific sources in Europe and thus the first thermal baths were a fact.
The culture of wellness tourism flourished in the 17th and 18th centuries with entire cities eventually basing their entire economic well-being on the thousands of visitors who flocked there in the summers to take advantage of the soothing, to many miraculous, properties of the waters of a entire area. Impressive facilities have been built and continue to be built, in gorgeous locations offering breathtaking views, and now guests can enjoy multi-star spa services in state-of-the-art, luxurious facilities aimed at improving both physical and mental health.
In Europe, the choices are truly endless, from the iconic city of Spa in Belgium to stately Bath and beautiful Vichy in central France. But even if you plan to travel to Europe, there is the possibility to enjoy the great benefits of natural spas in true dream destinations.
- Vichy, France
Undoubtedly one of the most famous and popular wellness destinations in the world, the model spa town of central France has played its own important role in shaping spa culture.
Vichy has also been described as “Little Paris”, full of green parks, wonderful walking routes with amazing refinement, which combine the urban air and the air of the countryside, an impressive casino, an Art Nouveau opera house, fantastic mansions and many hotels for the your stay. Above all, however, it is the “queen of spas”, not only for France but also for the rest of Europe: a place that has played a key role in the world’s spa culture, with a total of 22 thermal springs that are the product of volcanic activity. The drinking water that flows abundantly from its healing springs is rich in alkali and has beneficial effects on the body and the skin, which makes Vichy perhaps the most popular spa center in Europe. Don’t forget to bring your own bottle to drink the city’s famous water straight from the source, which is, of course, bottled and is a key ingredient in the well-known company’s cosmetics. It goes without saying that it is worth trying the specialized treatments for the face and body, available in the city’s spas, as well as the famous bath treatments that are said to work “miracles”.
On the north side of the Parc des Sources, you will see the famous Vichy gazebo, a greenhouse-like space of tranquility and well-being, made of metal and glass. In this aristocratic space that conjures up images from another era, you’ll feel like you’re walking among French nobles during the French and British colonial years. In the Hall des Sources, you’ll taste the water from all six of Vichy’s drinking springs and, in fact, you can bring your own bottles and take as much as you can carry with you. The water of each spring runs from the taps at a different temperature. For example, the water from the Grille and Chomel springs reaches a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius and it is quite possible that the smell of sulfur that emerges will bother you a little. Of course, next to each source, you will find detailed information about both the temperature and the content of each water. In the elegant pavilion of the Hall des Sources, a breath away from the river, you will also find the most famous water that springs from the city of Vichy from the cool spring of Celestins, which is exported to more than 40 countries of the world, but here it is completely free and all you have to do is grab a bottle and fill it up.
- Bath, Great Britain
Great Britain’s famous spa town for 2,000 years, seaside Bath has been a favorite summer destination of England’s high society for centuries. References to the area’s famous thermal baths can even be found in the novels of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, while the first impressive complex of baths was built in Bath in the 1st century AD. by the Romans who considered the source sacred and built around it many, magnificent temples dedicated to the deities of ancient Rome.
If you travel to Bath today, you will enjoy the thermal water with its 43 minerals and powerful healing properties from the fountain in the elegant Georgian Pump Room, admire the famous Romanesques that are continuously fed by the spring and benefit from its healing properties properties at Thermae Bath Spa, a fully equipped, modern wellness complex that occupies part of the historic baths and combines bathing in thermal waters and the rooftop pool with a magnificent view of the city skyline. It’s also worth a stop at the Baths Museum, where you’ll learn a lot about the history of one of the most stately and popular towns in the British south.
- Budapest, Hungary
If there is one city that can be described as the absolute “European spa capital” then it is definitely Budapest.
Its thermal baths are an integral part of the city’s culture and it truly is a destination for everyone. A culture with a very long history since in order to trace its roots one must look back to the years of the Roman Empire and the era of Ottoman rule when the city was a meeting point for the wealthiest people from every corner of Europe who arrived in Budapest for to enjoy the 125 hot underground springs and the amazing Hungarian thermal waters that are rich in elements such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium.
For traditional Ottoman-style baths, you’ll head to the Rudas thermal baths to bathe in warm waters under an impressive vaulted roof, while if you want to dip in huge outdoor pools and lie in gorgeous marble-clad rooms, then you’ll choose the baths Gellert or Szechenyi Baths, with their gigantic facilities. There is nothing more rejuvenating and relaxing than indulging in the comforting warmth of Budapest’s thermal baths, as well as the specialized treatments on offer here, from massages and body scrubs to facial cleansing and moisturising. After all, it is no coincidence that the baths are just as popular among the locals as among the visitors, being a cherished habit for everyone especially on weekends. For Budapest residents, a stop at the baths is not just a spa experience, but a way to socialize.
In an enchanting landscape, in the heart of the idyllic nature of Tuscany, the small town of Saturnia is a geological wonder.
Its sensational, natural pools with opaque, sulphurous waters in shades of white and soft blue promise the ultimate rejuvenation of the body in a water paradise that has a constant temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius. Here you will be able to swim at any time of the year completely free of charge and improve blood circulation or relieve muscle pain.
In Saturnia, in addition to the beautiful and highly Instagrammable wonder of its natural thermal springs, you will also find the Terme di Saturnia spa resort, where you can enjoy specialized body and facial treatments in stunning five-star facilities full of comfort and unparalleled luxury.
- Spa, Belgium
For the prestigious Spa located in the green Belgian Ardennes, no special recommendations are needed. Its name says it all, since it is now synonymous with wellness and hydrotherapy sessions in all countries of the world.
The healing water gushing from its springs was first exported to Europe in the 17th century, while the town was a favorite summer destination for both Belgian high society and the royal family themselves. The great reputation of this old, stately spa town still lives on through the centuries and now visitors arriving at the elegant Spa find a unique wellness destination that uniquely combines modern facilities with the tradition of a destination that is a landmark in the world of wellness. and thermal baths.
For anyone who wants to enjoy truly premium rejuvenation services, then the Thermes de Spa hydrotherapy center, hidden on the flowery slopes of the Ardennes mountain range, is a must stop and a truly unforgettable life experience. The luxurious wellness center is connected to the city by cable car and has a breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains and hills. You will enjoy treatments with steam baths, hammam, sauna, as well as specialized programs based on the healing waters of the Spa, as well as sessions to improve both your physical, psychological and mental state. If you absolutely need a high level destination for a real restart this is the place to be.
- Pozar Baths/Greece
The thermal springs Pozar have taken their name from the corresponding Slavic word meaning fire or heat.
You will find them in the municipality of Almopia of Aridaia and they are one of the most famous and photogenic natural wellness spots in all of Greece. The waters gushing from the springs of the baths are at a constant temperature of 37 degrees Celsius and offer guests the option of choosing between the small indoor pools that accommodate 1, 6 or 12 people and the impressive, outdoor, thermal pool and the fantastic, rushing waterfall with cold water. Even in winter, many of the visitors dare to try the outdoor pool and alternate between the hot and cold water.
- Baths of Agistrou/Greece
45 kilometers away from Lake Kerkini, on the outskirts of the village of Agistrou in Serres, warm thermal waters spring from the mountain.
This is a little known wellness destination that offers total peace and relaxation in small pools that you can book privately just for you and your group. It is a truly exclusive wellness experience with the water even reaching 41 degrees Celsius, so it is recommended not to stay in the pool for more than 30 minutes.
The baths at Agistro of Serres are open 24 hours a day and those lucky enough to have been there claim that the feeling of diving into the warm pools, while the temperature outside is low, is priceless. As the space is not large, reservations are essential.
