Hot List : Spectacular Spas and Wonderful Wellness Destinations in Europe

By Chris Robinson

From Ancient Greeks to Ottoman Turks, Europeans have been perfecting the art of wellness destinations for centuries. Here are some of the very best.

PORTO HELI, GREECE

In Peloponnese, there is a unique lustre to the Aegean light as it bathes hillsides strewn with classical villas and pavilions. You can almost feel the presence of Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, hovering over the shimmering pools and olive groves. Luxurious hilltop resorts offer spa treatments based on healing Greek philosophy – think facials using local organic honey and a range of holistic therapies, including Pilates, yoga and water shiatsu. Moonlit yoga in the amphitheatre, anyone?

KARLOVY VARY, CZECH REPUBLIC

In the 14th century, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV, discovered some rejuvenating thermal springs and named the spa town of Carlsbad after himself. Now called Karlovy Vary, the town is celebrated for the beautiful baroque and art nouveau buildings built around 79 mineral springs sprinkled about the town. Follow in the footsteps of Tsar Peter the Great, who stayed here in the early 18th century. Admire grand spa architecture and stroll the impressive colonnades, sipping on the famed health-restoring waters from local ceramic drinking cups.

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

The City of Spas, Budapest, has more than 100 springs. It produces nearly 70 million litres of thermal water a day! These thermal waters were enjoyed by Romans in the 2nd century and the bath culture flourished during the Turkish occupation of Hungary in the 16th century. Today, there are approximately 15 public thermal baths in Budapest. Try Kiraly Bath, which has a magnificent octagonal bathhouse built during the Ottoman Empire for use by a local pasha. It’s a smaller, cozier bath than the rest, built within the city walls with a snug interior garden featuring a wooden hot tub and cots.

BATH, UK

The Romans founded the city of Bath in the first century AD. The Temple of Sulis Minerva and the Roman baths complex are now part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Modern wellness devotees should head for the latest incarnations of the ancient baths in several of the spa and wellness hotels in town. Guests can do as the Romans did by trying a traditional bathhouse circuit with pools of varying temperatures.

BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY

The historic town of Baden-Baden, at the foot of the Black Forest, is Europe’s quintessential spa town. This quaint town promotes wellness due to the curative thermal waters that bubble upwards from 12 springs that emerge from a depth of around 2,000 metres. Approximately 800,000 litres of spa waters rise every day at temperatures up to 68°C. The minerals in the water provide an all-around healing effect – and Baden-Baden’s spas also let you enjoy a sea salt grotto, aromatherapy, yoga classes and massage treatments.

LOUBÈS-BERNAC, FRANCE

If meditation is your wellness vacation goal, head to the Bordeaux wine region in the southwest of France. Here in Plum Village, Europe’s largest Buddhist monastery, with more than 200 monks and nuns living in four different hamlets. East truly meets West amidst the gently rolling vineyards and communal accommodations. Meditations are led by experienced Zen practitioners, including renowned Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Here, as Nhat Hanh said, you “walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”