An art nouveau spa in Stockholm
Tucked away off a pretty shopping street in a beautiful art nouveau building is one of Stockholm’s oldest spas, Centralbadet, where a day ticket costs from £23. As winter darkness descends, candles are lit around the pool and a quiet calm envelops you. Swimming by candlelight is a treat. Next, a sauna followed by an ice-cold plunge. Afterwards, a nightcap is in order, so it’s a brisk walk in the cold crisp air to Fotografiska restaurant. It’s a great spot to savour one of Stockholm’s best views: the old town Gamla Stan and the twinkling lights on Lake Mälaren. Sarah Rochfort
‘Completely timeless and immersive’: birdwatching in Norfolk
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A misty evening on Salthouse marshes. Photograph: Ernie Janes/Alamy
Birdwatching at the Cley and Salthouse marshes in Cley-next-the-sea, Norfolk. The two bird hides are meditative and relaxed spaces. The windows open directly on to the pools of saltwater where many different species of birds obliviously wander around. It’s a place that is completely timeless and immersive. Your only job is to gaze out at the birds. It’s a very popular spot for birdwatching but the atmosphere is friendly and quiet. Someone even let us have a go with their binoculars. We particularly enjoyed watching a nest of baby swallows huddled in the corner of the hide. The marshes cover a wide area and are so important for biodiversity, providing an essential resting place for resident and migratory birds. You might even spot a spoonbill, which have returned to the UK from 2010 after being absent for hundreds of years. Well worth a wellness visit, even if you don’t really know anything about birds (like me). Petra, Hampshire
Scandi sauna huts
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Hello Outdoors shepherd’s hut sauna. Photograph: Jason Ludlow/PR
A fresh ginger concoction, orange slices and a friendly sauna master greeted us at the Hello Outdoors shepherd’s hut sauna, which has a picture window overlooking the historic Lymington Sea Water Baths. The deep blue of the sky and water, Swedish sauna hats, the calming scent of our chosen essential oil, a soothing soundtrack and the option to ease the sauna heat with an exhilarating plunge in an ice-cold tub or a more genial dip in the sun-warmed sea baths made for a very enjoyable and restorative couple of hours away from real life. We didn’t want to leave. Claire Edwards
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Forest bathing in Croatia
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The village of Radoboj. Photograph: Zvonimir Atletic/Alamy
For five days in Radoboj, northern Croatia, we forest-bathed beneath the trees, walked slowly, practised breathing and meditation and ate simple local food. No luxury spa, no expensive treatments – just nature and time. I wore an Oura smart ring throughout. My resting heart rate fell markedly and, by day four, the ring recorded four and a half hours of restorative time. More importantly, I felt profoundly different. It completely overturned what I thought wellness travel was. Sometimes the most restorative place isn’t a spa. It’s a forest. Bex Hamilton
Bath time near Sofia, Bulgaria
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The Bankya Central Mineral Baths. Photograph: PR
The natural mineral springs in Sofia mean bathhouses are a way of life. Bankya is on the outskirts of the city, so I travelled by bus to visit the Central Mineral Bath Bankya. This opulent bathhouse is owned by the Sofia municipality, meaning the atmosphere is a mix of the everyday council baths and extraordinary architecture from the early 20th century. You can visit from under €10 and, as well as the promised health benefits of the natural spring water, there is a thermal zo, a salt room, aromatherapy, saunas and steam rooms, plus a range of massages.
Sarah Collings
The perfect spa and skiing combo in Poland
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A winter landscape of Zakopane and the Tatra mountains. Photograph: Zoonar/Alamy
While skiing in Zakopane, Poland, we made the most of Terma Bania, an incredible pool and spa centre right in the heart of the ski resort. There’s something magical about watching the sun set from blissfully warm water, surrounded by snow. There’s an astonishing variety of saunas, pools and steam rooms, all with mountain views. We discovered several other thermal pool and spa complexes in the area and ended up spending as much of our holiday in the spas as on the slopes!
Francess
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Soak by the loch in Argyll
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The sauna at West Coast Wellness. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
The Lochside Sauna at West Coast Wellness (£17 for 2.5 hours) in Evanachan sits on the shore of Loch Fyne. Hidden away from the single-track road, a 10-minute walk takes you to one of the most peaceful saunas in the UK. From the giant window, sit back and watch the water of the loch (keep an eye out for dolphins), slowly preparing yourself to make the short walk down and take a dip between the heat. Alternatively, there’s a cold water plunge that’s even colder than the loch! The centre also offers yoga and pilates sessions, and the delicious Inver restaurant is just around the corner.
Lewis
Wild swimming and wildlife in North Yorkshire
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Wild swimming at Pool Bridge Farm. Photograph: PR
Wild swimming at Pool Bridge Farm guarantees a wholesome retreat from the vibrant bustle of neighbouring York. Transformed from old fishing ponds, the sprawling site has four lakes and plenty of space for lounging and lunching. A revitalising dip is best paired with a stop in the sauna (£16.50), priming those brave enough for the raw, heady thrill of the next plunge. To top it off, head to nearby Wheldrake Ings nature reserve, one of North Yorkshire’s top wildlife destinations, especially for waterfowl. As the flood waters rise from autumn, so does the abundance of migratory birds. A serene natural scene to soothe the soul.
Fin
Sensory walk in the Black Forest, Germany
My two teenagers and I stumbled on a wellness experience for the mind, body and soul while wandering around the Black Forest near our holiday base of Freiburg last summer. A friendly German walker with a tree branch for a stick and a large husky for a companion told us to try a barefoot sensory trail at Park mit Allen Sinnen (park of all the senses) as we walked together through the forest. So we followed his advice. It involved walking barefoot over grass, sand, woodchips, stone, mud and more while trying to tune into our five senses. We began by putting our hands into hollowed-out trees with our eyes closed to guess what objects were placed there. There were bright, colourful flowers, natural scents to imagine, and huts to relax and sit in full of sounds and smells to immerse ourselves in with eyes closed. We repeated these walks for three days, heightening our contact with our own senses – and treating ourselves to rye bread and cheese sandwiches with forest fruits berry juice from simple forest cafe cabins as a reward.
Helen
Winning tip: County Donegal’s peerless sauna on the pier
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A boat trip to the Sliabh Liag sea cliffs. Photograph: Christopher Hill /Scenic Ireland/Alamy
If you find yourself on the wild coast of south County Donegal, head to the Sliabh Liag Sauna at Teelin pier. After a day of hiking (and maybe one or two pints of porter the evening before), the small wood-fired sauna right on the pier was the perfect unwind. We followed it up byTake a dip in the sea at the bay just steps away. If you have plenty of time, combine the sauna with a nearby boat trip to the unforgettable Sliabh Liag sea cliffs, which rise 601 metres (1,972ft) above the sea. Peter Henry View image in fullscreen
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs A Candlelit Spa Then an IceCold Plunge and a Nightcap Readers Favourite European Wellbeing Breaks
The Basics
What exactly is this type of wellbeing break
Its a short European holiday built around relaxation and recovery typically a candlelit spa session a cold plunge and a relaxing drink to finish the day Think thermal towns alpine spas and coastal retreats
Whats the idea behind combining heat cold and a nightcap
Heat relaxes your muscles cold boosts circulation and alertness and a nightcap helps you unwind Together theyre a simple ritual for destressing and sleeping well
Which European countries are best known for these breaks
Austria Switzerland Germany Hungary Iceland Finland Sweden Italy and Slovenia are reader favourites all have strong spa and thermalbath cultures
Do I need to be fit or experienced to enjoy one
No Most spas and thermal baths are open to all fitness levels You can skip the cold plunge or keep it to a few seconds
How long should a wellbeing break be
Two to four nights is the sweet spot Even a single overnight stay can feel restorative
Benefits
What are the actual health benefits
Reported benefits include better sleep less muscle tension improved mood and reduced stress Cold exposure may boost circulation and alertness
Is the cold plunge really necessary
Not at all Its optional Many people alternate hot and cold for the circulation boost but the spa and relaxation alone are worth it
Will a nightcap ruin my sleep
Alcohol can fragment sleep so keep it light and early one small drink an hour or two before bed Many spas now offer alcoholfree nightcaps like herbal teas or mocktails
Can these breaks help with burnout or stress
Theyre a good shortterm reset but theyre not a cure Think of them as a helpful pause not a replacement for ongoing care
Common Questions and Concerns
Isnt an icecold plunge dangerous
For most healthy people a brief plunge is safe But if you have heart conditions high blood pressure or are pregnant check with a doctor first Never plunge alone and start with just a few seconds
