The Best Luxury Wellness Hotels in Europe
Sometimes travelers just want to get away from it all, and there’s no better place for a much-needed respite than a wellness-oriented resort. Whether you’re looking for a mountaintop retreat or a spa escape in the midst of a city, many of the world’s best luxury wellness hotels can be found in Europe, from Iceland to Italy. Each has a different approach to its spa program and design, and each one will have you leaving the world behind in no time. If you’re looking for a memorable place to unwind, here are 15 of the best luxury wellness hotels in Europe.
Stanglwirt — Going am Wilden Kaiser, Austria
Nestled in the Tyrolian Alps, Stanglwirt is a wellness resort that has everything, from a sauna complex to a gym outfitted by frequent guest Arnold Schwarzenegger. The hotel itself is a traditional Alpine design, with eco-friendly rooms and suites that can suit any number of guests. The high-end spa, which is frequently updated, offers Rolfing, facials, massages, and cosmetic treatments from Hollywood favorite Dr. Barbara Sturm. The resort, easily accessible from Munich, Germany, or Salzburg, Austria, is a great place to unwind in any season, but in the winter skiers and snowboarders can take full advantage of the nearby ski resort Kitzbühel.
Forestis Dolomites — Palmschoss, Italy
Nature is at the core of everything at Forestis Dolomites, which overlooks Italy’s Dolomite mountains and surrounding forest. It feels like a true hideaway, especially as the property requires some driving to reach. The rooms and suites aim to bring the outside in, with giant windows that feature scenic views and natural materials (for something really special book the penthouse suite, which has its own pool and sauna). The spa is inspired by Celtic tradition and combines the elements of nature with four types of trees — mountain pine, spruce, larch, and stone pine. There’s an indoor/outdoor pool, saunas, a silence room, a gym, and several treatment rooms. Thanks to its location, guests can also ski in and out of the hotel itself, with many options for hiking, biking, and snowshoeing.
Terre Blanche Hôtel Spa Golf Resort — Var, France
The rolling hills and charming towns of Provence are the perfect setting for a wellness resort and Terre Blanche Hôtel Spa Golf Resort, built like a little Provençal village, ticks every box. The eco-friendly hotel, located in Var, offers a nature-inspired respite with 115 suites and private villas that emphasize spacious comfort. The spa, which features its own detox program as well as massages and treatments developed with Valmont and KOS Paris, is a quiet, peaceful space for a treatment, a dip in the pool, or a visit to one of the indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. Fitness classes and golf (not one but two championship courses) are available for those who want to stay active, but the focus is on finding a sense of inner stillness.
Euphoria Retreat — Mystras, Greece
Get away from it all, literally, at Euphoria Retreat, a wellness resort that offers a much-needed reset with its peaceful atmosphere, expansive spa, and variety of well-being programs. Accessible from Athens or Kalamata, the hillside property feels like a true getaway. The water-inspired spa has indoor and outdoor amenities, including pools, a salt therapy room, and yoga and meditation rooms, and the guest rooms are equally serene and well-appointed. Throughout the year, the hotel offers specialty retreats and programs, including weight management and detox, but you can also stay as a regular guest. The food onsite is health-conscious, local, and tasty, ensuring your visit is as much of a vacation as it is a well-being retreat.
Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp — Antwerp, Belgium
In the midst of Antwerp, the Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp reimagines cosmopolitan wellness. The five-star property, part of the Leading Hotels of the World group, invites guests in for a holistic stay that weaves into every space. The contemporary rooms are simple, with natural colors, and each is unique thanks to the historic building the hotel is housed in. It features several restaurants, three of which have Michelin stars, but travelers will want to spend most of their time in the impressive Botanic Health Spa. The spa team covers a vast array of treatments and specialties, from traditional Chinese medicine to anti-aging facials to spiritual healing, and the facilities feel endless. It’s a destination in and of itself, but the hotel is also just a great place to call home during a trip to Antwerp.
Adler Spa Resort Sicilia — Sicily, Italy
The Chedi Andermatt — Andermatt, Switzerland
The Chedi Andermatt, found high in the Swiss Alps, has solidified itself as a go-to wellness destination since it opened in 2013. The hotel features 119 rooms and suites, as well as five restaurants, a health club, and, of course, a cutting-edge spa. The spa pairs Alpine style with Asian influences over three floors, with pools, saunas, and spa treatments aimed at creating true tranquility, like a Himalayan hot stone massage and a sea salt bath ritual. Nearby, travelers can take advantage of the famed hiking and skiing in the scenic mountains of Andermatt, known as one of Switzerland’s top resort towns.
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon — Grindavík, Iceland
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is well-known for its gorgeous thermal pools, which are set into volcanic rock. While many travelers visit on their way to and from the nearby airport, the Blue Lagoon also boasts a five-star hotel called The Retreat, which is a destination unto itself. It features 60 suites with incredible views, a subterranean spa, the Michelin-starred Moss Restaurant, and a private lagoon that offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the Blue Lagoon’s healing waters without the crowds. The spa is the real draw, however, with plenty of treatments, float therapies, and even in-water massages.
JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa — Venice, Italy
Right in the city and yet relaxingly removed, the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa is located on the private island of Isola delle Rose and features its own water shuttle. The hotel is a retreat unto itself, with lush gardens, relaxing pools, and an expansive spa that has to be seen to be believed. The rooms and suites are contemporary, with views of the water and Venice, and there are several restaurants on-site if you prefer not to head into the city’s busy center. Inside the JW Venice Spa, you’ll find a hammam, sauna, vitality pool, and a selection of body and face treatments that focus on well-being and detox.
Das Graseck — Wildenau, Germany
Travelers to Das Graseck, located in the picturesque Wetterstein mountain range, are invited to prioritize their health and recuperation during their stay. The resort balances indulgence with well-being, offering guests access to a high-end spa (think multiple saunas, pools, and a variety of treatments) as well as a medical facility where you can get a full check-up. The rooms range from basic to luxurious, with many featuring balconies and terraces with panoramic views, and the cuisine is healthy and delicious in equal measure. While the hotel is especially popular in the winter thanks to the nearby Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski resort, guests can enjoy its pastoral setting year-round with hiking, biking, and golf.
Les Sources de Caudalie — Bordeaux, France
Those who use Caudalie products know the magic of the French skincare brand, which originated at Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Bordeaux. Wellness-inclined travelers can stay in one of the mansion’s rooms or suites, designed with antique furnishings and a rustic countryside charm. The highlight of the hotel is its Vinothérapie Spa, which incorporates local hot springs. The treatments are anti-aging and anti-oxidant focused, just like the brand itself, and there’s also an outdoor pool, a gym, yoga classes, tennis, and forest bathing available. The icing on the cake is the property’s two-Michelin star restaurant La Grand’Vigne, so you’ll be both well-rested and well-fed.
Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa — New Milton, England
England has no shortage of country house hotels, but Chewton Glen, a Relais & Châteaux property, is a step above the rest. The vast resort has traditional rooms and suites, as well as chic treehouse suites that immerse guests in the landscapes of the surrounding New Forest. The spa has a lot to experience, with its hydrotherapy pool as the focal point, and the treatments are traditional and high-end. Elsewhere on site, guests can enjoy a cooking school, hike to the nearby beach, or take a drive to Stonehenge. There’s nothing more healing than the English countryside, but it’s even better somewhere like Chewton Glen.
Octant Furnas — São Miguel Island, Portugal
Octant Furnas, found in the Azores, brings together the natural hot springs of the Furnas Valley with a contemporary hotel that emphasizes high-end wellness. The spa amenities include everything from a thermal outdoor swimming pool and a thermal circuit to a fitness center, and guests can book a variety of body and skin treatments, some of which use volcanic stone and clay. Nearby, there are hiking and cycling trails, local hot springs, and whale watching, all of which serve to connect you to the surrounding nature. Octant has a similar property in the Douro Valley for those looking to more fully explore Portugal.
The Gainsborough Bath Spa — Bath, England
Indulging in the natural thermal waters of Bath is a long-held tradition in the English city. While visitors can enjoy them in local pools and spas, the best spot for peak relaxation is the private Spa Village at The Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel. The five-star resort, set in two notable Grade II listed buildings, offers luxurious in-room comfort, with daily access to the Spa Village Bath, which features thermal pools, saunas, an ice alcove, as well as a variety of treatments like mud scubs and mineral facials. The hotel can be found in the center of the historic town, known for its Roman Baths and Jane Austen museum, allowing travelers to pair contentment with culture.
Grand Hotel Bristol Spa Resort — Rapallo, Italy
Indulging in the natural thermal waters of Bath is a long-held tradition in the English city. While visitors can enjoy them in local pools and spas, the best spot for peak relaxation is the private Spa Village at The Gainsborough Bath Spa hotel. The five-star resort, set in two notable Grade II listed buildings, offers luxurious in-room comfort, with daily access to the Spa Village Bath, which features thermal pools, saunas, an ice alcove, as well as a variety of treatments like mud scubs and mineral facials. The hotel can be found in the center of the historic town, known for its Roman Baths and Jane Austen museum, allowing travelers to pair contentment with culture.
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Source: Shermans Travel