The most serene spa hotels in Europe

BOOK NOW

Anyone lucky enough to have stayed at a Cheval Blanc property (of which there are now five) will know that the aesthetic perils of earthly existence do not apply to the staff. Groomed to an otherworldly level of perfection, every smiling face here radiates the kind of health and happiness us grey-brained city dwellers dream of.

On entering the Guerlain spa, to be met by receptionists that have seemingly never met a pollution particle, you’ll be willing to do almost anything to emerge looking and feeling just like them. But thankfully, there are no gruelling HIIT classes or intermittent fasting on the menu here: instead, you’ll find a hefty dose of outrageous luxury, backed by serious skincare nous.

Perfect for rectifying post-flight puffiness, the Orchidée Impériale Prestige Treatment combines a line-up of regenerating products applied via a unique, intuitive massage technique that locates and relieves facial tension to leave you looking sculpted and lifted. But if there’s one booking that’ll guarantee you emerge feeling like an entirely different person, it's the almost two-hour long Croisière Riviera full-body massage, designed by Guerlain and Louis Vuitton. Here, a sound bath is combined with music that twists and turns in time with the treatment’s phases, transporting your mind to another, more serene planet while your therapist performs an undulating, lymph-draining, contour-chiselling massage from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

For those looking for a wellness retreat with a side of rosé, (well, when in St Tropez) the property has launched a menu of spa-centric programmes that combine personal training sessions on the private beach with Shiatsu massage, remodelling radiofrequency facials, Riviera hikes and even high-tech I-Sculpt body therapy. Turns out, this is exactly the level of indulgence that'll make up for the longest of London winters – Roberta Schroeder

• Cheval Blanc St-Tropez, Saint-Tropez, France
• Room rates start from €1,525 per night
• Spa treatments start from €80; beauty treatments from €50
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Forget strict detox protocols and restrictive meal plans, Terme di Saturnia puts the 'treat' back into 'retreat' with its laidback atmosphere and excellent buffet spread (oven-warm apple cake for breakfast? yes please). Guests are encouraged to wander the sprawling grounds in the comfort of their dressing gowns and wellness facilities are well-equipped with not only a restorative spa, but also resident skin specialists, dermatologists, and a gym for the fitness-inclined. It's a great little spot for trips with friends too, as the bar area comes alive in the evenings.

But what makes Terme di Saturnia a must-see experience is its breathtaking surroundings and vast thermal pools. It's easy to lose an afternoon floating languidly in them, but 20 minutes at a time is ideal, and do make use of the floats - it's near impossible to find your footing otherwise. These thermal baths have ancient beginnings, dating back to the Etruscan and Roman era, where soldiers would have a dip post-battle to soothe their wounds. It takes 40 years for the water to travel down from the Mount Amiata and similar to most thermal springs, there is a heavy sulphurous scent in the air. Around 10 minutes walk from the hotel, you'll find naturally terraced thermal springs which is open to the public but is often quiet in the evenings. It truly is a magical sight straight out of a fantasy novel. Head towards the top of the short hill and bathe in the secluded, milky turquoise pools. There's really nothing quite like it.

For the history buffs, take a drive towards the medieval town of Pitigliano which has been around since before 1061 and still features the Medici Aqueduct. Make sure to pick up some pasta, fruit conserves and pop into Clio Fiore Jewels for handmade pieces. - Medina Azaldin

• Terme di Saturnia, Tuscany, Italy
• Room rates start from £337 per night
• Thermal spa packages start from €670 per stay (3 nights)
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The centrally-located Le Meurice, with its views of the Jardin de Tuileries, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre may not be an obvious choice for a spa break but the hotel's Valmont Spa begs to differ.

The aqua blue and bone white interiors of La Maison Valmont offers instant respite from the buzzy Parisian streets. Beyond the spacious treatment rooms with in-built showers, there's also a fully-equipped gym, a mani/pedi area and an outdoor terrace to unwind in.

The extensive facial and body treatment menu means there's something for everyone, especially jetsetters in need of a pick-me-up. For a session that sculpts away post-flight puffiness and restores radiance, book in for the 90-minute Majestic Treatment which incorporates lymphatic drainage and Japanese massage techniques.

If you have time to spare, head up to Restaurant Le Dalí and treat yourself to the delicious trompe-l'œil desserts by master patissiere Cédric Grolet and revel in the opulent, surrealist space inspired by one of the hotel's most famous dwellers, Salvador Dali. -MA

• Le Meurice, Paris, France
• Room rates start from £1,500 per night
• Spa treatments from €130
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Spa junkies, foodies, golf obsessives and history buffs… there’s truly something for everyone at this Irish institution, perhaps best known for its golf course (they’re hosting the Ryder Cup in 2027) but – due to ‘best hotel’ accolades coming in thick and fast – establishing itself as a must-visit hotel. It’s gained itself a Michelin star at their Oak Room restaurant, opened an incredibly swish fitness centre complete with two shiny Padel courts and has a list of activities available including falconry, fishing and a horse-drawn-history tour detailing the estate’s past back to the 12th Century.

The spa is hidden within the main house, with treatment rooms tucked away next to a peaceful indoor pool overlooking the rushing River Maigue that runs through the golf course and estate. Their brand partner is 111Skin and if you have a spare two hours and 30 minutes, we’d advise you to gift yourself the head-to-toe ‘Rose Gold Renaissance’ treatment which starts with a body scrub, includes a massage with rose quartz stones and a multi-stepped facial, and ends with every inch of you glowing. - Jennifer George

• Adare Manor, Co. Limerick, Ireland
• Room rates start from £630.70 per night
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The trouble with finding peace on a Greek island is seeking out a secluded spot that your fellow serenity seekers haven’t already checked into. But seclusion and serenity are secretly at the very top of the Eliamos wellbeing menu - best enjoyed in the privacy of your own villa, overlooking your very own infinity pool where you can spend hours staring into your own abyss.

Less hotel, more exclusive hamlet, a stay here feels like a private villa retreat, just with a five-star restaurant and spa on your doorstep. With only 12 villas it’s unlikely you will bump into your neighbours, perhaps only when seated at the restaurant where you can choose between local organic specialties, or side-by-side at morning Pilates or yoga flow classes on the cabana terrace overlooking the Ionian, before plunging into the dark-green lagoon effect resort pool.

The architecture of the villas, inspired by the earthiness of the island, also instils a sense of space and grounding for its residents. Terraces overlooking the olive groves are paved with quartz floor reminiscent of crystallised sand, saltwater pools reach out into the Ionian, and outdoor showers wash away more than just suntan lotion. You could easily create your own retreat within these four walls, but it is worth emerging for a spa treatment.

Up the wild and rugged walkway, you will find a small but perfectly formed spa with only two treatment rooms where the in-house therapist offers the most wonderful reflexology and massages both of which help you slow down a little more. Treatments of course use local Greek oils and ointments, and if the glow of the warm, and always-smiling, staff is anything to go by, you’ll want a double dose.

In the unlikely event of cabin fever, there are private excursions available for further mind expansion, including hiking, guided stargazing and boat trips across the deep blue to experience true Greek island holidaying – albeit on your terms, on your time, aboard your own private deck. - Katy Young

• Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa, Kefalonia, Greece
• Room rates start from €650
  
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Regularly topping lists as one of Italy’s (if not the world’s) most sensational properties, Borgo Santo Pietro offers a ‘farm stay’ in the height of luxury, in the heart of Tuscany. Here comfort meets quality when it comes to every aspect, from the antiques laden rooms with bespoke beds, to dining options (a more rustic trattoria or a fine dining, tasting menu feast). With only 20 rooms within the sprawling estate, despite its level of luxury is has a homely feel, which is mainly down to the people – expect to make close friends with Justino the head gardener as you wander through his groves, or Mama Olga who has lived in the village her whole life and now teaches the pasta making classes.

Not only is most of your food grown on site, a unique aspect to this hotel is that your spa products are too. Seed To Skin, a natural skincare brand founded by the hotel’s owner, Jeanette Thottrup, is (almost entirely) sourced from within the estate grounds – such as herbs and flowers, sheep’s milk and honey - and cooked up and packaged in the laboratory in the local village. A trained herbalist, Thottrup teamed up with a skincare formulator to create skin-healing, deliciously textured formulas that are used within all of the spa treatments. For the ultimate head-to-toe, skin and soul experience try ‘Nature’s Bounty’: a body scrub, massage and restorative facial using the Seed to Skin products. - JG

• Borgo Santo Pietro, Tuscany, Italy
• Room rates start from €955 per night
• Spa treatments from €85; beauty/grooming treatments from €20
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

This beautiful property, situated a mere 30 minutes from Bordeaux airport (making it an ideal weekend getaway) combines two of life's greatest pleasures: skincare and wine.

Set in rolling vineyards of Château Smith Haut Laffite, and featuring three restaurants (including one Michelin-starred must-go), scenic biking and walking trails, and luxurious cabin-style rooms, the hotel is a haven in many ways. But the spa is truly the star of the show.

Housed in a high-ceilinged old barn, the Vinotherapie spa utilises 'waste' from the wine-making (seeds for scrubs, active extracts from the grape skin) and the full range of grape- and wine-based Caudalie products in a range of holistic treatments. Try a facial with brightening hot and cold stones (and plenty of the brand's refreshing Grape Water) or a Merlot body wrap, which harnesses the antioxidant powers of the fruit.

Post-treatment, you can wallow in the mineral-rich swimming pool, warmed from a hot spring 540 metres below the ground. Wine-in-hand optional. - JG

• Les Sources de Caudalie, Bordeaux, France
  
• Room rates from £236 per night
• Spa treatments from €280, half-day ‘rituals’ packages from €325 (for guests only)
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Gone are the days when lavender and low lighting signalled the ultimate spa experience: now, those in the know take the presence of 111 Skin as the ultimate seal of approval.

The Harley Street-born brand is moving swiftly into the world’s most forward-thinking spa destinations, providing treatment menus that offer both tension relief and aesthetic improvement.

The science-first brand sits at the centre of Daios Cove’s sun-strewn new wellness destination, Kepos By Goco, offering a menu of its famously effective facials. Here, jawline-sculpting massage is amped up with microneedling, masking, LED and cryotherapy, offering the satisfaction of a medical facial in the most luxurious setting.

True to form, you can also find 111 Skin’s favourite thermal experiences here. Jump into the cryotherapy chamber for 120 seconds of circulation-boosting chill, or recline in the infrared sauna to ease the aches from an early-morning workout. (With BXR trainers installed in the unusually large gym, you can expect to need it.) For the truly committed wellness-seeker, colonic hydrotherapy, IV vitamin infusions and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber await. You'll barely find time to plunge into the (multiple) pools. - Roberta Schroeder

• Daios Cove, Crete, Greece
• Room rates from £474 per night
• Spa treatments from €45; spa day/multiple day packages from €390
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The French Riviera is known for its glitz and glamour, popping champagne bottles and pumping beach clubs. But just 20 minutes from Nice is a haven of a hotel, offering quiet luxury in the Provencal hills. The 76 bedrooms are spread out across the resort, which feels almost village-like with varying architecture and perfectly manicured gardens, and four swimming pools including one exclusively for adults. This includes the ‘lagoon’, a little oasis surrounded by sandy ‘beaches’ and complete with a waterslide for little ones and a Tiki-style bar for grown ups.

In the centre of the resort is its spa, a vast space with twelve treatment rooms, a private pool for spa guests only and sun-drenched terraces to lie the afternoon away on. Their signature treatment, the Volupté massage, is as relaxing as it is effective, combining Lomi Lomi techniques (flowing, rhythmic strokes) and deeper Swedish massage for 90 minutes.

For when all that pampering has worked up an appetite, you have a choice of options from pool side snacks to a fancy tasting menu at fine dining restaurant Table du Pierre. The buffet breakfast is a stand-out, from the homemade burrata to freshly ground hazelnut chocolate spread. If you feel the need to venture outside of the gates, the historic town of Saint Paul de Vence sits just a 15 minute but steep uphill walk (or short transfer, that the hotel will offer) away, where you can explore the many art galleries it’s famous for or sip champagne spritzes overlooking the sprawling views. Luckily the tipsy stroll back will be all downhill… - JG

• Domaine du mas de Pierre, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
• Room rates from £212 per night
• Spa treatments from €90, spa day/multiple day packages from €1,230
• Family friendly
  

BOOK NOW

There's much to love about Puente Romano, a luxury village-style resort located on the sunny Costa del Sol, not least its impeccable Six Senses Spa. From the calming design and tranquil energy to the recalibrating therapies offered, it immerses you into the mood of the Mediterranean, elevating a beach holiday no end.

The intimate, sensory haven features a jaw-dropping hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pool, heat and ice experience showers, sauna and steam room. There's also a traditional Hammam hosting wellness rituals, and six treatment rooms offering the ultimate in luxury pampering. Our pick is the heavenly Six Senses Signature Massage which, opened and closed by a gently vibrating sound bath, combines personalised pressure and light stretching to melt stress and restore balance.

Peel yourself away from the spa to enjoy the water sports, top-notch gym, and world-class tennis court (first managed by Björn Borg, no less). Equally celebrated is the prestigious Marbella Club Golf Resort, located nearby.

There's plenty of opportunity to indulge, too. With more than 15 restaurants and bars (including Nobu Marbella) on site there are choices to satisfy all. - Bridget March

• Puente Romano Beach Resort, Marbella, Spain
  
• Room rates from £370 per night
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The words 'Dior', 'spa', and 'Paris' are probably enough to conjure up how chic this subterranean haven is. Situated in the Cheval Blanc hotel, an art deco building overlooking the Seine, from the second you walk down the marble staircase to the spa you're in a Dior-branded paradise.

From the waiting room, warm and inviting with a neutral palette and freshly cut roses, to the hypnotic swimming pool – the largest in Paris – every inch of the space has been considered. Each of the six treatment suites has a theme to represent 'a facet of the House of Dior', from 'Sauvage' (an alpha-quartz floating table signalling a return to nature) to 'Bonne Etoile' which has a starry ceiling, lit up to show your astrological constellation.

Serene settings aside, the treatments are top notch. Within almost 50 options which took five years to develop, the facials take centre stage, and utilise the Solution Professionnelles line exclusive to Dior spas. Expect active skincare, facial massage, bespoke serums, and an urge to steal the Dior blanket you're lying under... - JG

• Cheval Blanc, Paris, France
  
• Rooms start from €2,200 per night
• Spa treatments from €290; exclusive Dior Sapphire Crystal Micro-Abrasion treatment packages from €150
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The blissful lake views always play a starring role in any Lake Como hotel, and Il Sereno really makes the most of incorporating its location's natural beauty as much as possible – something which is particularly cleverly done with its spa. The hotel collaborated with award-winning designer Patricia Urquiola, who worked to balance the natural ambiance of the world-famous lake with the ultimate in comfort and luxury, in what was originally built as the property's boathouse over a century ago.

This results in wonderfully calming treatment rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water, and a semi al-fresco hot tub (or cool tub, depending on temperatures) that you can laze in while listening to the waves lapping below. The relaxation area also features a sauna and steam room, both lined with beautiful Italian tiles, and the space can only be booked for private use by guests during their stay – no sharing required.

The outdoor-to-indoor theme continues via the treatment menu, with a range of massages and rejuvenating, cellular-boosting therapies inspired by nature – using Valmont products – all uniquely tailored to the individual. - Sarah Karmali

• Il Sereno, Lake Como, Italy
  
• Room rates from £1,000 per night
• Spa treatments from €105; beauty treatments from €15
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Near Sparta in the Peloponnese, Euphoria lives up to its name: elation is reached during journeys of transformation, helped along by the forest setting, which is within the Unesco World Heritage Site of Mystras, in the foothills of Mount Taygetos. Meals (of delicious Mediterranean dishes, of course) are tailored to each individual guest, based on how their body metabolises food, and the goal is nourishment, balance and enjoyment, not deprivation. This philosophy extends to private dining at the Leoncini Mansion, which was built in the 1830s and is one of the most romantic corners of the estate.

Signature retreats include Feel Alive Again, a four-night programme created to help attendees recover from the effects of the pandemic; a Spartan-inspired week of fitness in the great outdoors; and a three-day path to cultivating more meaningful relationships. You’ll also be able to channel Odysseus and embark on your own epic journey. Spa treatments range from reflexology and reiki, to massages on a quartz bed, Watsu, Theta Healing, chakra balancing and even psychic consultations. - Caroline Lewis

• Euphoria, Mystras, Sparta, Greece
• Room rates from £482 per night
• Spa treatments from €50
• Children aged 14-17 welcome
  

BOOK NOW

Just down the Southern French coast from Marseille, before you get to the glitz of Saint Tropez, is the chic fishing port of Cassis, a hub for linen-clad locals on weekends away. Les Roches Blanches hotel is the jewel in the town's crown – an art deco luxury property built into the cliff side that's hosted Winston Churchill and Edith Piaf in its time.

The Sisley spa, adjoined to the hotel with access to its two swimming pools, sea swimming jetty (if you can brave the brilliantly blue but famously cold water) and restaurants, is a must for any visitors.

Ask for a room with floor-to-ceiling views of the port and you'll feel like your toes are practically dipping in the sea while you enjoy your treatment. The 90-minute Phyto-Aromatic Sisleyä Facial is our tip if lifting, anti-ageing effects are desired; this premier line of theirs has the most potent ingredients, and the massage techniques are thorough and sculpting. - JG

• Les Roches Blanches, Cassis, France
  
• Room rates start from £341 per night
• Spa treatments from €95; Phyto-Aromatic Sisleyä Facial, €250
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

A sister hotel to London's iconic Claridge’s perched on the riviera doesn't need a hard sell, but just in case something is stopping you from hitting the ‘book’ button, do read on. With uninterrupted views (bar passing super yachts and incoming helicopters) out over the sea, Cap Rocat to your left and Monaco to your right, the Maybourne takes pride of place atop its cliff. Rooms are modern, cool and welcoming, with luxurious features like quartz-clad bathrooms and Dyson hair tools. A rooftop restaurant offers a unique seafood tasting menu, but you’ll be equally as well fed by the pool with truffle pizza and crispy sushi. To quench your thirst while sunbathing, mini mocktails are passed around by charming staff, although spicy margaritas tend to be a popular choice past midday.

Hidden within the hotel is a small but perfectly formed spa, offering treatments from luxury brands like Augustinus Bader and FaceGym. In peaceful treatment rooms (each with soothing sea views), offering a calming neutral palette in contrast to the signature bright orange towels at the pool above, take an hour (or two, or more) to yourself to reset and restore. If you hit the margaritas a bit too hard, try the ‘Body Sculpt’, an efficient but soothing massage that helps to banish toxins and sculpt contours using drainage techniques and deep kneading. Take the offer of the tummy massage part, if you’re not too shy, to really get the best of it (and make room for the next round of drinks). - JG

• Maybourne Riviera, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
• Room rates start from £652 per night
• Signature spa treatments from €50; Augustinus Bader treatments from €175
• Family friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Perched on a hilltop with views of the Tuscan countryside as far as the eye can see, this 10th century hamlet turned hotel offers a luxurious rural escape, with guests able to roam the 4,000 acres freely, explore Italy’s largest rose garden, join truffle hunting expeditions, and even join a ‘cosmetology workshop’ to make their own bath oils and tinctures as the Castello’s Etruscan ancestors did here 1,000 years ago.

With just 39 rooms, both around the hotel’s central courtyard and in old lemon stores, the vibe here is tranquil luxury. Long lunches in the sun and afternoons lounging by the show-stopping hillside pool are encouraged, followed by truffle-covered dinners in their Tuscan restaurant. But between these tasking activities, some time in their incredibly unique spa is a must.

Hidden within the property’s vast ancient wine cellar, with 1,000 year old artefacts that were found within the grounds on display, barrel-vaulted, stone ceilings welcome you down into the space, that feels so of another time that you instantly forget your modern-world-woes. The focus of all treatments is less aesthetic results and more soul-soothing therapies, many which use house-blended olive oil infused with your choice of aromatics. - JG

• Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany, Italy
• Room rates start from £1,300 per night
• Spa treatments from €90; beauty treatments from €70
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

If leg health (varicose veins, cellulite) is a concern for you, then a trip to Jumeirah Capri Palace on the chic Italian isle could be just what the doctor ordered. It helps that you’ll be able to combine your stay with shopping trips to the boutiques lining the cobblestoned streets (including stockpiling sandals handily made right next-door), sailing around the island or along the nearby Amalfi Coast, and walks that showcase Capri’s captivating beauty, such as up to Axel Munthe’s Villa San Michele.

The famous leg treatment at the hotel’s Capri Medical Spa, pioneered by Dr Francesco Canonaco who runs the Leg School, involves Kneipp hydrotherapy at varying temperatures, mud applications and having your limbs wrapped in cold bandages. You’ll feel like you’re floating from the waist up afterwards. The spa also has nutritionists that can help break yo-yo-dieting habits, and treatments include Valmont facials, medical consultations and private Pilates classes.

Since it’s Italy, there’s no calorie and carb restriction or alcohol avoidance here – aperitivo hour is soundtracked by a pianist in the stylish cream lounge, and there’s a two-Michelin-starred restaurant to head to for more indulgence afterwards. Down by the water, the palace’s iconic Il Riccio beach club has the island’s most extensive seafood selection and a majolica-tiled room dedicated to desserts. - CL

• Jumeirah Capri Palace, Capri, Italy
• Room rates from £736 per night
• Spa treatments from €150; ‘Leg School’ package, €1,750
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

Luxury resort Parklane is nestled within Limassol – 30 minutes from Larnaca airport in sun-soaked Cyprus. With an idyllic aesthetic inside and out, a peaceful ambience flows through it while staff provide warm hospitality, typical of the Cypriot culture.

The blissful Kalloni Spa is a prime example of all this. Award-winning, this stand-out facility combines modern technology with a tempting menu of locally-inspired treatments. Inspired by the curative properties of the ocean, the wet facilities are focused on Thalassotherapy, with three indoor and two outdoor pools, each mineral-enriched but with different temperatures and salinity contents for specific rejuvenation.

Thalasso bath treatments and an in-water shiatsu massage therapy also harness the healing of seawater, while elsewhere on the spa menu you’ll find a traditional (albeit amplified) Russian Banya experience.

Beyond the spa there are more dazzling swimming pools to enjoy, and a serene sandy beach framed by 25 acres of landscaped gardens. - BM

• Parklane, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Limassol, Cyprus
• Room rates from £206 per night
• Family-friendly
  

BOOK NOW

The Alps have lots of super-clinics, where you can check in for everything from fasting and extreme detoxes to facials (and facelifts), but few are as well-equipped, not to mention indulgent, as Clinique La Prairie in Clarens-Montreux, Switzerland. The restorative retreat has been open since 1931, so it has had almost a century to perfect its approach – and it’s now widely regarded as one of the best centres for preventative medicine in the world.

Its programmes include Revitalisation, which focuses on slowing down ageing and enhancing immunity; and the Master Detox, which, as the name suggests, is the pinnacle for flushing out toxins. You’ll also be able to enrol on its Weight Loss System, and find the remedy for a wide range of ailments, including insomnia, fatigue and anxiety.

There are 50 specialists in residence, all with access to the newest technology and the latest genetic insights, as well as knowledge of ancient healing and holistic practices. And, as if that doesn’t sound like tonic enough, guests can book a room or suite with a view of the Alps and Lake Geneva, and enjoy some fresh mountain air. - CL

• Clinique La Prairie, Montreux, Switzerland
• Adults-only