Many visitors to Europe now choose to include a short visit to one of the many luxurious health and wellness spas within their tourism itinerary. here is a country-by-country guide to some of the best.
Italy
Palazzo Fiuggi
The town of Fiuggi (1 hour/80km south-east from Rome) has been famous for the natural healing powers of its Acqua di Fiuggi – flowing from its natural mountain springs – ever since the 14th century, when Pope Boniface VIII claimed drinking it flushed out his painful kidney stones. Two centuries later Michelangelo similarly declared the miraculous mineral waters
had also cured him of the same ailment. Thereafter Acqua di Fiuggi was being sent in bottles to all of Europe’s royalty.
Today’s internationally acclaimed medical-wellness retreat Palazzo Fiuggi boasts ‘world-class spa and medical facilities’ incorporated into each of the four science-driven programs, focussing on detoxing, boosting the immune system, achieving optimal weight and anti-ageing.
But there are no standard or pre- determined programs: by creating a bespoke portfolio of medical services, wellness treatments and holistic therapies for each guest, a personalised pathway will be tailored to individual needs to ensure each guest achieves their goals.
The ‘food-as-medicine’ concept behind the nutrient-packed diet plan was developed by Heinz Beck, resident chef behind Rome’s three- Michelin-star restaurant La Pergola, in collaboration with senescence specialist Professor David Della Morte Canosci.
And the multiple gym, hydro circuit and traditional Roman baths programmes combine advanced Western medicine (blood tests, ultrasounds, retinal scans) with ancient, holistic traditions.
France
Les Sources de Caudalie (Martillac, Bordeaux)
Les Sources de Caudalie – set in the rolling vineyards of Chateau Smith Haut Laffite, just 30 minutes from Bordeaux airport – boasts it combines ‘two of life’s greatest pleasures: skincare and wine’. It features three restaurants (including one Michelin-starred), scenic biking and walking trails and luxurious cabin-style rooms.
Caudalie pioneered the notion of ‘vinotherapy’, with treatments combining the anti-ageing properties of polyphenols contained in grape seeds and the spa’s own natural hot-water spring.
Hence, its famous Vinotherapie spa with 20 treatment rooms combines ‘waste’ from the wine-making (seeds for scrubs, active extracts from the grape skin) with a full range of grape- and wine-based Caudalie products in a multi-offering program of holistic treatments.
These include a facial with brightening hot and cold stones (and plenty of the brand’s refreshing Grape Water); bubbling away immersed in a barrel of Grape Marc; a crushed cabernet scrub; a Pulp Friction massage; or merlot, honey, wine and vine flower body wraps (which harness the antioxidant powers of the various fruits).
Post-treatment, guests ‘wallow in the mineral-rich swimming pool, warmed from a hot spring 540 metres below the ground’.
Greece
Euphoria Retreat (Mystras, Sparta)
Euphoria Retreat sits in the pine forest within the Unesco World Heritage Site of Mystras, in the foothills of Mount Taygetos. It offers ‘journeys of transformation’ which merge Hippocratic beliefs about the importance of holistic healing with Taoist spirituality.
Guests start their stay with a ‘3GL assessment’, when the nutritionist measures levels of glucose, glusthasiame and glucogens in the blood, leading to a wealth of digestive and respiratory advice to set each guest ‘on a powerful path to wellbeing’. Meals are immediately tailored to each individual guest, based on how their body metabolises food – importantly the goal is ‘nourishment, balance and enjoyment, not deprivation’.
Most visitors come for 5- or 7-night programs to manage stress, detox, and boost fitness and the immune system. Popular programs at the dedicated 4-floored spa centre include: Spartan Spirit of Adventure (combining a week of hikes exploring the region with high-intensity-interval- training sessions at the Sainopoulio amphitheatre); the 3/4-night Feel Alive Again (a post-Covid pandemic recovery aiming to release pent-up negative emotions and stress); a 3-day path to cultivating more meaningful relationships; Wellbeing Detox; Yoga and Mindfulness.
Specific spa treatments also include a range from reflexology and reiki to massages on a quartz bed, Watsu, Theta Healing, chakra balancing and even psychic consultations.
Austria
Lanserhof Lans (Innsbruck)
Renowned Austrian medical spa Lanserhof Lans is the detox centre of choice for Europe’s ‘rich and famous’ who fancy ‘spring cleaning their mind and body’ in unparalleled Alpine surrounds.
The ‘Lanserhof Concept’ is based on the ‘valuable findings of naturopathy, energy medicine, psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, chronomedicine and modern cutting-edge medicine’: an ‘intelligent symbiosis that has won many awards’.
After an initial consultation with an assigned doctor, guests launch into an individually tailored, holistic programme of detox regimes, fasting, therapies and relaxation, based on the revolutionary approach of Austrian physician FX Mayr, who believed ‘a clean gut is the key to good health’, as well as plenty of rest and exercise.
At the heart of the Lanserhof Concept is the Lanserhof Cure: the thorough regeneration of the intestines to revitalise the vital forces. The regeneration process begins with sensitive detoxification, purification and de-acidification programs: ‘only a detoxified body is able to regenerate and reorganise its self-healing powers’.
Switzerland
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
This thermal and medical spa – which brands itself as ‘the true source of health and vitality since 1242’ – sits alongside a historic hotel and claims to create a place of sanctuary where you can enjoy peace, relaxation and deep regeneration ‘for renewed strength and vitality… for a healthy life’.
On site it offers the complete spectrum of potential medical options across eyes, heart, lungs, teeth, sleep, relationship restoration and dietary advice (termed ‘metabolic optimisation’).
‘Live healthy to stay healthy’ is the cornerstone of the resort’s health philosophy, boasting ‘we give you the space to evaluate your lifestyle and help you to live a fulfilling, healthy and long life’. To that end it has combined ‘many years of experience in the field of preventive and nutritional medicine to develop the NEWYOU Method: an evidence and experience-based healthcare method encompassing different service packages tailored to your personal lifestyle and combining the latest therapies in the fields of preventive and complementary medicine’.
The main Spa includes thermal baths and a holistic range of wellness treatments. The guests’ 5-star Spa Suites offer breathtaking views of the Bundner Herrschaft region while soaking up the healing benefits of pristine thermal water in the seclusion of each room’s own private spa area, with free-standing whirlpool bath and a steam bath.
Germany
Villa Stephanie at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa (Baden-Baden)
Baden-Baden has its own airport, making the palatial Villa Stephanie – with 15 luxurious guest rooms surrounded
by parkland and linked by corridor to the grand Brenners Park-Hotel – a favourite destination for many of Europe’s jetset seeking a fashionable (and easily accessible) spa experience.
Covering an area of 5,000 square metres and stretching over five floors, the sumptuous Spa includes a 500-square- metre sauna, indoor swimming pool, plunge pool, private gym, Finnish sauna, bio sauna, ladies sauna, steam bath, cold plunge pool and individual treatment rooms overlooking the opulent gardens.
Individual offerings include anti-ageing Sisley facials, tension-busting shiatsu and craniosacral therapy, as well as a deep-cleansing signature Augustinus Bader and Skinceuticals facial treatments or Aqua Organic detoxifying treatment, plus access to nutritionists, fitness coaches and activities such as hiking and biking in the nearby Black Forest.
Spain
SHA Wellness Clinic (Alicante)
This spectacular retreat overlooks the picturesque southern coast of Spain and provides ‘a 360-degree approach to wellness’ by offering ‘a potent combination of natural therapies, first-rate nutrition and the latest advancements in Western medicine to create a unique wellness experience for every guest’.
Despite its stylish setting, the clinic’s ‘primary focus is on medical treatments and programs designed to help guests achieve optimal health’.Its staff includes an assembly of experts, including doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists, yoga teachers, acupuncturists and chefs – all ‘committed to helping guests achieve their wellness goals’.
There is also a strong emphasis on fitness, offering a range of complimentary classes and activities in the surrounding area, as well as state- of-the-art gym equipment overseen by experienced personal trainers.
Personalised programs include: ‘Rebalance & Energise’ (ideal for those not looking to pursue a specific health goal, but still wanting to improve lifestyle and wellbeing); ‘Detox & Weight Loss’ (over 7 or 14 nights, a combination of medical testing, nutrition, exercise and various detoxifying and slimming treatments to help lose weight and cleanse the body of harmful toxins); ‘Leader’s Performance’ (focused on helping executives maintain optimal health against a high level of activity, effort and stress, to improve performance and productivity); ‘Anti-Ageing’ (for those interested in slowing down or reversing the effects of ageing on their body).
Portugal
Six Senses Douro Valley (Samodaes, Douro)
This wellness spa has been established in a restored 19th century manor house high in the hills overlooking vine-covered terraces of the Douro Valley (a Unesco World Heritage Site set in Portugal’s wine region) with therapies offering a holistic focus during the day, potentially followed by evenings leisurely tasting the local Douro Valley wines.
Duoro Valley offers a spa where ‘Portuguese tradition meets the elements of water, stone and wood in a great setting for rural relaxation’. Facilities include 10 treatment rooms, a Vitality Suite (including traditional sauna, infrared sauna, steam room, laconium and herbal sauna), fitness centre, indoor pool (with underwater sound therapy, colour therapy and massage jets), vitality pool and cryotherapy centre.
Among a list of 40+ individual programs are: ‘Abhyanga’ (60 min, Ayurvedic body massage to reduce signs of ageing, relieve fatigue, induce sleep, strengthen skin and boost the immune system); ‘Cell Gym oxygen Therapy’ (45 min, exposure to low oxygen air to increase breathing efficiency and create new red blood cells to increase speed, endurance and power by 10% or more); ‘Dream Catcher’ (90 min, personalised, full body massage with a vanilla and oud CBD oil and super-strength CBD balm to relieve deep seated muscle tension); ‘Non-Surgical Facelift’ (90 min, application of radiofrequency for non-surgical tightening of early signs of loose or sagging skin); ‘Refreshing Citrus Body Scrub & Massage’ (90 min, ideal for oily skin, this revitalising scrub uses citrus peel and sugar or salt, finishing with a relaxing massage); ‘Sound Massage with Tibetan Bowls’ (45 min, foot massage with aromatherapy oils while floating in the pool and feeling the vibrations of the bowls); ‘The Awakening’ (60 min, skin exfoliating and detoxifying body treatment to harnesses the power of mineral rich raw sea salt and a blend of spirulina, shea butter and essential oils designed to stimulate the circulation, detoxify and slough away dead skin cells); ‘The Equilibrium’ (60 min, multi-sensory experience starts with gentle body brushing to boost circulation and stimulate lymphatic system, then thermal mud is applied on the back, relieving tension, and recharging the body with marine minerals, followed by a warm candle massage, rich in nourishing oils and natural extracts of vanilla, rose and precious oud wood).
United Kingdom
Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa (Wiltshire)
This quintessential English mansion – offering 42 luxurious bedrooms, Michelin Star dining and 8 state-of-the-art spa therapy rooms – features walled gardens, avenues of beautiful trees and manicured lawns set in a 500-acre estate of unspoilt Wiltshire parkland near Bath.
Highly trained specialists perform a range of personalised luxury treatments including massages, facials, scrubs and holistic therapies, following an initial ‘sensory test’ with special oils to guide each therapist to a guest’s individual requirements.
Spa features include a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, manicure/pedicure room, thermal cabins (featuring Japanese Salt, Amethyst Room, Aromatic Steam and Sauna), sauna and steam rooms, TechnoGym fitness suite, peleton bikes, 2 all-weather and floodlit tennis courts, 5-a-side football pitch, yoga and pilates studio, and woodland walks in the arboretum.
Signature treatments include: ‘Bespoke Massage’ (60/90 min, choose from calming, invigorating, detoxing, soothing); ‘Hot Stones Massage’ (60/90 min, warm volcanic stones target areas of persistent tension and sooth tight, tender and aching muscles); ‘Myofascial Release & Deep Tissue Massage’ (60 min, focus on reducing tension and concentrating on areas of concern, as well as the whole body): ‘Coconut Lomi Lomi Massage’ (60/90 min, mimicking waves of the ocean, Hawaiian-style
full body massage includes long powerful strokes and deep stretches to release muscle tension, while enriching and hydrating warm coconut oil is poured); ‘Melting Candle Couples Massage’ (60/90 min, side-by-side in our dual room); ‘Jade Gua Sha Soothing Facial’ (60 min, natural soothing facial as the Gua Sha tool glides across the face to release tension, reduce puffiness, inflammation, sinus pressure and the appearance
of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as boost circulation and promote lymphatic drainage); ‘Sea Salt Scrub & Body Mask’ (60 min, head-to-toe experience commences with a body polish to eliminate dead skin cells, followed by application of a mineral body mask and includes soothing scalp and foot massage).
Ireland
Adare Manor (County Limerick)
This landmark 19th century Irish mansion has long been known for both its famous golf course and Michelin star Oak Room restaurant. But having been transformed into one of Europe’s most esteemed countryside resorts, it also boasts a modern fitness centre, an assortment of outdoor activities (including falconry, fishing and a horse- drawn history tour detailing the estate’s past back to the 12th century) as well as a top class Spa – with treatment rooms next to a peaceful indoor pool overlooking the rushing River Maigue.
The Spa is known as the Padel Club wellness facility and includes padel courts (a mix between tennis and squash), swimming pool, plunge pool, well-equipped gym, high-tech golf simulation room and private manicure and pedicure rooms.
The Spa at Adare Manor is the first in Ireland to offer customised facial and body treatments featuring 111SPA/ CLINIC, described as ‘the ultimate luxury experience, elevated with medically-inspired innovation and 111SKIN products’.
The signature head-to-toe ‘Rose Gold Renaissance’ treatment lasts 2.5 hours; using pure Rose Gold for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and illuminating benefits, it starts with a body scrub, and includes full body exfoliation using thermal face and body polish massage with rose quartz stones and crystals plus a multi-stepped facial.
Other popular treatments include: ‘Dramatic Healing Facial’ (a high-performance facial formulated to calm and soothe damaged, inflamed and irritated skin); ‘Clarity Anti-Blemish Facial’ (a targeted facial, for problematic skin, featuring a highly intelligent mask system which utilises the exclusive 111SKIN Facial Architecture method combined with active ingredients like colloidal sulphur and salicylic acid to dissolve dead skin cells and calm inflammation); ‘Luna R28 Brightening Facial’ (utilises the intensive power of the LUNAR28 clinical laser system to deliver a complexion as smooth as it is luminous); ‘Cryotherapy Energy Facial’ (uses cooled purified air to revitalise the skin by energising it via increasing microcirculation to reduce puffiness and detoxify); ‘Celestial Black Diamond Non-Surgical Facelift’ (a series of antioxidant-rich formulas are aided through diamond absorption); ‘Rose Quartz Restorative Facial’ (combines powerful restorative properties with innovative formulas to help lift, firm and sculpt the complexion); ‘Celestial Black Diamond Sculpting Treatment’ (to promote nourished, firmer, tighter skin); and ‘Meso Infusion Hydration Therapy’ (ultimate body hydration treatment).
