The Top 12 Thermal Baths and Hot Springs in Europe

Looking for Europe’s best thermal baths and hot springs? This comprehensive list of the best European thermal spas, according to travel experts, has you covered!

Thermal water has long been known for its benefits, which range from nourishing your skin and treating skin and joint diseases to improving your immune system, reducing pain and inflammation, and relaxing your body and soul.

Bathing in hot spring water, on the other hand, is an important and centuries-old tradition throughout Europe. Visiting a European thermal bath is not only a relaxing experience, but it is also a cultural experience not to be missed.

So, without further ado, here are Europe’s best thermal baths to soak in and melt your worries away.

#1 Blue Lagoon, Iceland

The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is one of the most relaxing thermal baths in Europe. It is conveniently located just 20 minutes from the airport outside of Reykjavik, and it is an easy stop on your way into the city.

The lagoon is located in the lava fields of western Iceland; as you drive in, you’ll notice old, hardened lava on the sides of the road. In fact, lava rocks surround the Blue Lagoon hot springs, creating an incredible, otherworldly setting.

The water, on the other hand, is as distinct as the rocks and is a stunning milky blue. It’s a color you don’t often see, let alone bathe in!

The milky blue color is caused by the water’s high silica content. In fact, white silica mud can be found on the “floor” of parts of the thermal pool – don’t worry, it feels great and isn’t at all gross!

The lagoon is enormous, with plenty of space to spread out and explore. The temperature of the water varies throughout the lagoon, with the far back being the warmest. Expect temperatures ranging from 98 to 106 degrees Fahrenheit, which will feel great against Iceland’s chilly air.

The use of a towel, a drink from the swim-up bar, use of the sauna, and a silica mud mask (there’s a hut in the water where they pass out mud – you can apply it right there and wash it off in the water when you’re done) are all included in the admission price.

Do you want more? Massages and other luxury experiences can be added to your package.

Soaking in this famous Iceland thermal bath is an experience you will never forget, with its milky blue color, silica mud, and black volcanic rock.

Plan your trip to Iceland and book a hotel room close to Blue Lagoon

#2 Saturnia Hot Springs, Italy

One of Europe’s most beautiful hot springs, the Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany, is undoubtedly located in Italy. Visitors can expect a high-end spa experience in the midst of nature!

The turquoise blue pools of the steaming white sinter baths, which are located in the middle of a hot river and amaze visitors from all over the world, are one of a kind.

Saturnia Springs is a true natural wonder, and the river with the white sinter pools is even free to the public. Not only do Instagrammers congregate here, but also families with children, the elderly, and couples who come to swim in the pools, take great photos, and then have a picnic by the river.

Saturnia Thermal Baths in Tuscany can be visited at any time of year, winter or summer. You should come during the week, though, because the weekend is by far the busiest. The best time to visit is just before sunrise, when you will have almost the entire natural spring to yourself and the scenery will be at its best!

Bathing in the healing waters should last about 15 minutes. The river has a high sulfur content, which is beneficial for inflammatory diseases like rheumatism and arthritis. This bath is also said to be rejuvenating, leaving your skin soft and supple.

Plan your trip to Italy and book a hotel room near this location

#3 Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Turkey

Pamukkale is a small town in Turkey, nestled into a hillside in the southwestern region of Denizli. Pamukkale’s famous white cliffs tower over the village. Every year, a large number of visitors come to experience the enchantment of the Pamukkale thermal baths (or Cotton Castle due to its appearance).

The thermal pools are formed by a spring that cascades over the cliff’s edge and contains a high concentration of dissolved calcium bicarbonate. It leaves shelves and ridges of calcium deposits filled with warm thermal water after cooling and hardening.

Hieropolis, the ancient city, is located just behind the enchanting pools. Because of its proximity, Hieropolis was a well-known healing center where doctors would treat patients in the thermal waters. After taking off your shoes at the top of the hill, you can wade through the pools.

Between the two attractions is the man-made Cleopatra’s Pool, where the woman herself is said to have lazed. Swim for up to 2 hours in these pools for 33 Turkish Lira (approximately $10 USD). They even encourage you to drink the pool water for its numerous healing properties. It has the flavor of warm soda.

Because of the popularity of Pamukkale, Cleopatra’s Pool, and Hieropolis, it is best to visit these one-of-a-kind Turkey thermal baths early in the morning. If you get up before sunrise, you’ll see colorful hot air balloons floating over the pools, making for a spectacular sight and tour.

Accommodation nearby

#4 Rupertus Therme in Bad Reichenhall, Germany

Bad Reichenhall is located in the Berchtesgaden Alps, near the famous Kings Lake and at the foot of the Predigtstuhl. Because of its salt springs, this charming Bavarian town became wealthy in the 7th and 8th centuries.

Later, this alpine saline was used for therapeutic purposes as well as the Rupertus Therme, a thermal bath. The brine springs are considered healing springs because they contain essential trace elements and a high mineral content.

When compared to other German thermal baths, the Rupertus Therme is small. The use of saline, however, distinguishes it. In the sauna world, you can find a Finnish sauna, a wood-fired earth sauna, a salt tunnel sauna, a laist brine steam bath, and relaxation rooms with panoramic views.

The thermal bath pools range in temperature from 33°C to 36°C. The outdoor pools with an incredible view of the surrounding mountains are the highlights. This view is especially impressive in the winter, when the snow-covered peak shines in the distance.

Another must-see feature is the large whirlpool upstairs, which allows you to unwind and forget about the outside world.

Another feature that ranks Rupertus thermal bath among the best spas in Germany is the salt-water grotto. This basement area features a sole alpine whirlpool, a sole saline steam bath, and a sole floating basin.

Plan your trip and book a hotel room close to this location

#5 Szechenyi Baths in Budapest, Hungary

Hungary is well-known throughout the world for its thermal baths. With more than 1,300 hot springs, this landlocked country is a thermal spa paradise.

Budapest is known as the City of Baths for a reason: it sits on more than 120 hot springs and has a dozen thermal baths scattered throughout the city.

The most well-known of Budapest’s thermal spas is, of course, the Szechenyi Baths, which opened in 1913 and continued the country’s long tradition of spa culture dating back to the Roman and Ottoman empires.

This massive complex, set in a beautiful Neo-Baroque palace within City Park, has 15 indoor pools and three outdoor pools, as well as saunas, steam rooms, massage cabinets, and a cafeteria, and is Europe’s largest thermal bath.

Allow at least a couple of hours to enjoy each pool and the beautiful setting. The water temperature varies by pool, reaching an intense and extremely relaxing 38°C or even 40°C in some of them.

A visit to Budapest would be incomplete without a stop at the Szechenyi Thermal Baths. After a long day of sightseeing, this is the ideal place to soak in healing waters and give your body and mind some well-deserved rest.

Plan your trip to Budapest and book a hotel room here

#6 Rudas Baths in Budapest, Hungary

The Hungarian capital was dubbed the City of Spas in the twentieth century, but locals have been reaping the benefits of numerous thermal springs beneath their feet since medieval times.

Rudas Baths is one of Budapest’s oldest and best thermal baths. This place, built by the Ottomans five centuries ago, was a male privilege until 2006.

Today, this is the only thermal bath in Budapest that has separate days for men and women. Weekends are shared, and special night tickets grant access to the spa until 3 a.m.

While the Turkish-era baths were expanded in the 19th century with a large wellness area and pools, including one on the rooftop, the octagonal pool under a 10-meter diameter dome is the centerpiece of Rudas Baths.

A number of Budapest hot springs supply water of varying temperatures to the thermal bath area. The plunge pools range in temperature from 42 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius (especially if you enter directly from the Finnish or steam sauna).

Consider booking one of the massages available for even deeper relaxation. Classic treatments with aromatic essential oils are available, as are water massages with soap foam!

Accommodation nearby

#7 Cave Bath in Miskolc, Hungary

The Cave Baths in Miskolc, Hungary’s northernmost city, are one of the country’s most unique thermal baths. You will have a wonderful experience at this lesser-known European thermal bath, which has cave passages created over thousands of years and is filled with medicinal thermal water.

Since the 13th century, when it was used as a burial site for the city’s founding clan and later as a monastery, the cave baths have played an important role in Miskolc. It is now one of the most popular things to do in Miskolc and the main draw for tourists in this otherwise unappreciated city.

The baths are also ideal for children because the water in the caves and tunnels is not very deep, typically reaching a grown-waist. up’s You can explore the cave system and enter other caves with pools.

The water is said to relieve joint pain. In comparison to other thermal baths, the salt content here is low enough that there is no time limit for staying in the water.

The biggest surprise, however, is that the cave baths are only 30 degrees Celsius hot. Having said that, they more than make up for it in total awesomeness! And, before entering the actual caves on the left, there are a couple of pools with warmer water where you can enjoy hotter temperatures.

During the summer, there are also outdoor pools and two Finnish saunas at the baths.

Plan your trip and book a hotel room in Miskolc

#8 Thermes de Spa, Belgium

Spa is located in the French-speaking region of Belgium and is home to one of Europe’s most famous thermal baths.

In fact, it was in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe that the term “spa” gained popularity and became a generic term for thermal baths and non-medical treatments.

Spa is one of the most popular thermal towns in Belgium and was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2021.

The town originally emerged in popularity during the Middle Ages when natural mineral water was considered a healing source. People came from all over to take advantage of the springs and heal their ailments.

Please keep in mind that children under the age of 15 are not permitted in the spa. Swimsuits are not permitted in the thermal bath’s separate area for “naturists.” There are hammams, jacuzzis, and saunas in the naturist area.

You can’t leave the spa without trying the hot springs that first made the region famous. A peat bath and the infamous carbonated thermal bath, which has been in use since 1868, are among the copper bath treatments.

Plan your trip to Thermes de Spa and book a hotel room here

#9 Thermae Bath Spa in Bath, UK

The Roman Baths are the most recognizable landmark in Bath, UK. Since before the Romans arrived in 43 AD, travelers have sought out the natural hot spring water. Because of its historical significance, Bath has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

By the year 76 AD, the Romans were using the Baths at the Aquae Sulis temple complex. They dedicated the temple to the goddess Sulis Minerva, believing that the natural spa water had healing powers.

The original buildings fell into disrepair and were lost after the fall of the Roman Empire. The baths, however, were rediscovered in the nineteenth century and opened to the public as a museum in 1897.

Though visitors no longer swim in the Bath Roman Baths at the museum, they can still soak in natural spa water at the chic Thermae Bath Spa. The “New Royal Bath,” the venue’s main spa, has two beautiful modern baths where visitors can soak in naturally heated water.

This experience is available by booking the Thermae Welcome package, which costs £38 Monday through Friday and £43 on Saturday and Sunday. A two-hour spa session with access to the open-air rooftop pool and larger Minerva Bath is included in the package. The price includes the use of a towel, robe, and flip-flops.

Accommodation nearby

#10 Zurich Thermal Baths & Spa, Switzerland

The healing properties of thermal baths in Switzerland have been known for over 2000 years. Over the centuries, the country’s long tradition of hot spring bathing has evolved from pure curative baths to some of Europe’s most modern and luxurious thermal and wellness spas.

The beautiful Hurlimannbad & Spa in Zurich, where you can bathe in the century-old barrel vaults of the former Hurlimann brewery, is one of the best thermal baths in Switzerland, and my personal favorite.

You can soak in healing Aqui water in large wooden barrels with massage jets, bubble loungers, and whirlpools in the central spa area. There’s also an emerald bath for meditation and silence, steam baths, and a Kneipp zone.

The rooftop infinity pool with bubble seats and panoramic views of Zurich are the real draw here, especially at sunset!

The Roman-Irish spa area, which costs extra, combines the best of ancient bathing cultures into a one-of-a-kind spa ritual. It takes about two hours to complete and includes ten different stations, including steam baths and exfoliating alcoves, as well as a Roman bath, a hot bath, stone loungers, an exercise pool, and other amenities.

A day ticket to the central thermal bath area only, including the rooftop pool, or both the thermal bath and the Roman-Irish spa, is available. I recommend you spend a morning or afternoon visiting both for a truly relaxing experience!

Plan your trip to Zurich and book a hotel room here

#11 Tbilisi Sulfur Baths, Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia, has long served as a crossroads between Europe and Asia. The Tbilisi sulfur baths are one place where you can still feel the historic Persian and Ottoman influences.

The Abanotubani district, one of the city’s oldest, is sulfur bath central. Hundreds of domed brick roofs protrude from the pavement here, alongside a raging stream and urban waterfall.

The thermal waters have a natural temperature of 38-40 degrees Celsius and are high in sulfur and minerals. (When riding Tbilisi’s underground subway, you can often smell sulfur!)

The baths are vital to life and culture: legend has it that Tbilisi was chosen for its tepid underground waters (the name Tbilisi means “warm place”).

There are a dozen or so bathhouses operating in Tbilisi today. Depending on the establishment, it may be a very different experience than you’re used to at other European thermal baths.

Private rooms with saunas and hot pools are available at more upscale spas such as Chreli-Abano. Some are lavishly embellished with mosaics and marble floor tiles. Budget bathhouses, on the other hand, have sex-segregated communal bathing. For different reasons, both can be a lot of fun!

Whatever you decide, make sure to ask for a Kisi: a traditional scrub down similar to a Turkish hammam treatment. It will remove any dead skin and leave you feeling refreshed for several days.

Plan your trip to Tbilisi and book a hotel room here

#12 Myvatn Nature Baths, Iceland

Look no further than Iceland’s Myvatn Nature Baths for the best thermal baths in Iceland.

These baths, also known as the “Blue Lagoon of the North,” are in north Iceland, have blue water, and are less expensive to visit.

If you want to visit the “real” Blue Lagoon in Iceland’s south but don’t want to spend the money, or if you want to visit two blue lagoons in Iceland, head north to Myvatn Nature Baths.

One of the best Myvatn Nature Baths tips is to try out all of the different soaking options. The main pools, for example, are warm but not hot. However, there are hot basins where you can sit and the water is extremely hot.

The baths are still very warm all around and make for a relaxing soak regardless of when you visit Iceland. They are naturally heated by geothermal activity, and the on-site saunas and steam rooms are also powered by geothermal activity.

The view from Myvatn Nature Baths is also spectacular, so take a look around while you relax! The Myvatn Baths are located just off the Ring Road in north Iceland, making it an ideal stop for relaxation while exploring.

If you want to get a snack or meal while you’re here, there are food and beverage options on-site.

These Iceland hot springs with milky blue waters are a must-see when visiting the land of fire and ice!

Plan your trip to Iceland and book a hotel room near this location

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