The best spas Europe has to offer (and they're only a short plane ride away)
Want a holiday that allows for some downtime, the opportunity to both relax and work out as well as boost your overall wellbeing, alongside discovering a different culture, city or cuisine? Then a spa may be your ideal destination, combining holiday perks with a side of serious spa joy. And whether you want sun or snow, you won't need to venture too far to find it. Europe has a long spa history and boasts an array of different spas, so whether fitness, nutrition, yoga, or pampering alongside partying are on your spa wish list, there's something for everyone.
Don’t worry if you don’t know your ashtanga from your ashwagandha, we’ve come up with a list of spas that will allow you to discover some of Europe's best cities and islands. while also helping you achieve your wellness goals. And we’ve even gone and tested a bunch to come up with this edit and intel, so that you know it's worth taking the trip.
Some of these spas aim to seriously reset your habits, improve your gut health and require a stricter routine (see the Original Mayr), others offer relaxation and recharging after a day of action in the mountains (Six Senses Courchevel) and other offer a pamper and party vibe (Melia South Beach). Whichever way you go, there’s something on this list to leave you feeling completely restored. Oh, and leave your ‘gram looking pretty goals too…
If you fancy staying closer to home, check out the best spas in the UK, or if you want to fly further afield, we've also curated the best spas in the whole world.
Studio_MBest Spas in Europe - France
Six Senses Residences & Spa, Courchevel
The vibe: From the outdoor hot tub and indoor pool to the sauna and steam suite, the Six Senses Residences Spa is designed to help you relax and rejuvenate after a day of mountain action. The idea is you can literally ski in and spa out. Located in the chichi alpine resort of Courchevel 1850 (Prada and Chanel stores are just steps away) this boutique spa is also open to non guests, and is the perfect place to spend your well earned downtime. Aside from a menu of relaxing and recharging treatments, you can book in for yoga, a PT or physiotherapy session and there's a wellness assessment available to help devise the best plan for you. For Residence guests there's also the option 3,5 or 7 day holistic wellbeing programmes focused on detox, nutrition and sleep.
Come with…your ski or spa buddy or two. It’s a small cosy intimate space, with five treatment rooms, so it's not suited to larger groups, (although it does offer a unique package where you can hire the whole spa space if you desire). Together you can make the most of the thermal and hydrotherapy experiences - there's an outdoor hot tub, sauna and steam suite and a Kneipp Therapy Foot Bath (you walk over stones through hot and cold water), designed to boost circulation and target the energy zones in your feet. And with comfy beds around the pool, it’s very easy to spend an hour or more just chilling, snoozing or chatting away in comfort.
Hero Treatment: If you have achey muscles there are some seriously blissful massages and body treatments on the menu, alongside facials from The Organic Pharmacy. We loved that each treatment starts and ends with a vibrating sound bath bowl laid against the body, to allow the sound healing to resonate within you. Or try the compression treatment as you lounge by the pool. This entails velcro boots being wrapped around legs, which inflate and pulsate to encourage lymphatic drainage and tension relief. It is more relaxing than it sounds, as we discovered when we tried it and dozed off!
You'll leave feeling: Blissfully relaxed and recharged, ready for another day of action.
Best Spas in Europe - Greece
Anazoe Spa at Costa Navarino, Greece
The vibe: Perched on the Pelponnese peninsula lie two linked hotels (The Westin and The W) comprising Costa Navarino, where you’ll find all the ingredients for a restorative holiday including a panoply of eateries including a traditional taverna and series of village-style cafes, many swimming pools (some even coming off the back of hotel rooms), and, yes, an impressive 4000 square metre spa. But don’t let its scale fool you - the attention to detail at Costa Navarino is impressive, with everything geared towards showcasing and preserving this beautiful part of Greece.
Come with…Anyone in need of a proper holiday and keen on all things Greek - there’s more than a whiff of Mama Mia about this one.
Hero Treatment: Olive trees are a key part of the Costa Navarino mission - in order to build the golf courses, they uprooted and replanted hundreds to preserve them, and now harvest their own olive oil. The signature Oleotherapy treatment makes use of the healing, antioxidant properties of the oil, so book in for that.You’ll leave feeling…Healthier - all that fresh Greek food and time in the warm Ionian Sea is a great tonic if you’ve been under the weather.
Best Spas in Europe - Austria
The Original Mayr Resort, Austria
The vibe: Medical clinic par excellence meets lakeside retreat. The intention of their famous ‘Mayr cure’ programme is not merely to pamper and cosset, but rather to fully overhaul - think lessons in chewing, colonics should you need one, a room for vitamin infusions, and a whole range of holistic therapies spanning everything from craniosacral therapy to nasal reflexology all designed to reset and restore ruffled nerves and muddled digestive systems.
Come with… Either someone you’re on fairly intimate terms with, or alone: part of the signature Mayr treatment is the guzzling of Epsom salts to flush out the system, so you can expect lots of trips to the loo and a fair amount of scatological chat among guests.
Hero Treatment: The stomach massage. Alright, it’s technically not a treatment but rather a diagnostic method used daily by the doctors to ascertain how the cure is progressing and how your organs are responding, but it’s oddly relaxing and really very soothing.
You’ll leave feeling…Utterly renewed - it may be hardcore, but it truly works and has accordingly amassed an army of famous Mayr devotees rumoured to include everyone from Kate Moss and Jourdan Dunn to Lisa Eldridge and Liz Hurley.
Best Spas in Europe - Majorca
Jumeriah Port Soller Hotel and Spa, Port de Soller, Majorca, Spain
The vibe: You’d be forgiven for thinking that the view from Jumeriah Port Soller was just a superimposed postcard against a green screen. Situated on a cliff overlooking Port Soller and surrounded by the Tramuntana mountain range, Jumeriah Port Soller has the ability to transport you to a place of calm and relaxation just at one glance.
Come with… Yourself. Amongst the company of sun, sea and scenery, you will get the alone time you need without feeling lonely.
Hero Treatment: Olive seeds scrub. Who knew this tasty snack had antioxidant and regenerative properties? Instead, over-indulge in this body treatment for exfoliated and moisturised skin – the perfect act of self-love.
You’ll leave feeling… Like a secret agent whose been pampering away up in Spain’s hidden cliffs of paradise.
Best Spas in France
Terre Blanche Hotel and Spa, France
The vibe: Nestled in a particularly picturesque part of Provence, everything about Terre Blanche is chic with a capital C. The spa is enormous, with a manicured ‘zen space’ outside from which you can sip lemon tea in the balmy weather, while the rooms, complete with terracotta terraces on which you can enjoy many croissants in the morning, are sumptuous and ripe for a sneaky Instagram shot. Remember to pack your bikini - the incredible Art Deco swimming pool is impossible to resist.
Come with… Someone who’s into the good life with whom you can enjoy the spa, the wine, the freshly-baked bread, and the local market selling juicy fruit and hand-embroidered smocks.
Hero Treatment: A massage at Terre Blanche is a thing of joy as the therapists tailor the treatments to your ailments, so you can go and choose something to both relieve aching muscles and leave you feeling sprightly in one session. Also, the scented, 100% natural oils smell heavenly.
You’ll leave feeling…Desperate to book back in. And mellow. Very mellow.
Best Spas in Italy
Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Florence, Italy
The vibe: Hidden amongst the ancient trees in Giardino della Gerardesca, it is said that this spa is situated in what was once a 15th century Medici palace. With its high gardens, renaissance exterior and famous art pieces dotted all over, you will feel as if you’ve timed travelled into Italian royalty as you're pampered like a queen.
Come with…Your other half. The Italian renaissance vibes will have you feeling like Romeo & Juliet.
Hero Treatment: When we say pampered like a queen, we mean it. Dip into a ‘Lux Ceremony’, an intense facial and body ritual, which is powered through one special ingredient… non-other than 24 karat-gold.
You’ll leave feeling… like you’ve had the royal treatment.
Best Spas in Spain
Barceló Asia Gardens, Costa Blanca, Spain
The vibe: The peaceful serenity of Thailand, without the 13 hour flight. Discover your spiritual and physical balance through the ancient wisdom of the Thai Spa legacy - you will be forgiven when you completely forget you’ve only travelled as far as Spain.
Come with.. With six pools to cool off in, three tropical gardens to explore and nine restaurants to indulge at, this is an experience that must be shared, whether it's with your boyfriend or your best friend, it would be a crime not to!
Hero Treatment: The Nuad Four Hand massage sounds like a crazy round of fruit ninja but ticks all boxes for relaxation. Consisting of five famous massage techniques such as Japanese Shiatsu and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, this is THE massage for ultimate zen.
You’ll leave feeling… Like a Far Eastern princess of Zen.
Best Spas in Europe - Austria
Bio - Hotel Stanglwirt, Austria
The vibe: Don’t think of the Stanglwirt as a hotel - it’s more a sprawling eco-friendly, homely series of wooden buildings - with some seriously luxe additions. There’s the bar with a glass wall so you can watch the snow white Lippizaner horses practising routines, an enormous spa comprising a series of grotto-like steam and saunas, a lake water-filled outdoor plunge pool, tennis courts overlooking the mountain range, and the comfiest beds you can imagine.
Come with…Your family - there’s something for everyone at this place.
Hero Treatment: Facialist to many an A-lister (think Emma Roberts, Elle MacPherson, and Gwyneth) Dr. Barbara Sturm has brought her famous Molecular Facial to the Stanglwirt, so book in for that if you’re after a firming, deeply hydrating treatment.
You’ll leave feeling… Much fitter - all that jumping in and out of the various pools and trying all the variety of gym facilities make for great tone that you get without putting in too much effort.
Best Spas on the Beach
The vibe: Love the idea of a spa but can't think of anything worse than Buddhas, sound bowls and silence? The Melia South Beach is the ideal retreat for you. Perfect for those who want to mix up partying with a bit of peace, this lifestyle hotel set in the party town of Magaluf on the Baleric island Majorca will cater to your every need. Located next to the iconic Nikki Beach, the hotel offers a chilled-out haven with the perfect dose of party if and when you so desire. The pared-back spa is tucked away within the hotel, offering a tranquil retreat for those seeking some post party 'me' time.
Come with... Your girlfriends. Indulge in a morning yoga session followed by a relaxing massage. Then, head to the pool for sundowners before a beachside dinner. Be sure to stay on a Saturday, when guests can chill by the pool to laid-back lounge music from the hotel’s resident DJ, whilst enjoying a barbeque and cocktails.
Hero treatment: With its cutting-edge technology and contemporary feel, the spa provides bespoke beauty treatments and therapies tailored to the needs and desires of each guest so whatever you choose will be totally catered to your needs. You can't go wrong with a classic massage; be sure to indulge in a 90-minute offering to really unwind.
You'll leave feeling... Relaxed but uplifted. It's the ideal spa trip for those seeking a harmonious mix of downtime and dancing because, yes, you can have the best of both worlds.
Best Spas in Venice
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Italy
The vibe: Venice is unquestionably one of the most beautiful places on the planet - but it can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you visit during warmer months, when the tiny streets are jam-packed with tourists and the 177 canals that traverse the city make things a bit confusing. Enter this haven. Tucked award from the hordes on Isola Delle Rose, you’re a short gondola ride from the splendours of Venice but in a sanctuary of sorts. The rooftop alone from which you can gaze out at the Lagoon is well worth the visit, but we also rate the Michelin-starred Dopolavoro Dining Room and would recommend clearing at least an afternoon to luxuriate in the award-winning GOCO Spa Venice.
Come with…Your significant other - this is a city that’s made for romance.
Hero Treatment: Opt for a classic Deep Tissue massage - you’ll need it after all that plodding around the streets of Venice.
You’ll leave feeling… Slightly (okay very) peeved that you ever have to leave. But also extremely relaxed and possibly a little more rounded - Italy wouldn’t be Italy without a little pasta and a dash of wine.
Best Spas in Europe - Germany
Schloss Elmau, Oberbayern, Germany
The vibe: They say the grass is always greener on the other side and at Schloss Elmau spa, just beyond your direct view of perfectly lawned greenery, you have the landscape view of the Bavarian Alps – so we're going to have to agree with that one. The surrounding mountain-range gives this spa a true feel of escapism like no other.
Come with… Your whole family. With entertainment and soccer camps for kids, a Michelin star restaurant and a large concert hall, there is something to entertain any mood, age or pace in this German getaway.
Hero Treatment: The ‘Orient Express’ treatment is the ultimate bath you imagine when you’re preparing a pamper night in at home. It steams, scrubs and foams your body, with an added hair and body massage. And there’s even treatments for kids with cute names such as ‘Happy Hands, Happy Feet and Happy Back’, so you’re ensured a peaceful pamper.
You’ll leave feeling… A Peaceful Pack. You and the whole clan, peaceful at last.
