7 epic European destinations for a spa break in 2025

Jessica Baldwin

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What better way to kick off 2025 than by planning an escape to one of Europe's best spa destinations? For centuries the weary have flocked to Europe's thermal springs, hoping to heal everything from gastritis to gout.

But boy would the Romans get a shock if they rocked up to some of the continent's geothermal havens today, with the watery wellness retreats offering everything from beer baths and aquatic techno 'sparties' to adrenaline-pumping waterslides.

Whether you want to dance the night away in Hungary's healing waters, succumb to a sea of suds in a traditional Turkish hammam or connect with nature in the world's largest natural thermal lake, we have the perfect European destination for your New Year spa break.

Getting there: browse current offers on city breaks to many of Europe's best spa destinations^* with easyJet holidays^*.

Budapest, Hungary

Blessed with UNESCO sites, extravagant cafés and more thermal baths than any other capital, it's easy to see why Budapest^* is such a hit with the weekend break brigade.

With more than 100 thermal springs feeding the city's bathhouses with warm, mineral-rich waters, they're said to help everything from hips to hangovers. Do them justice with a weekend of spa-hopping, or if you only have time for one, head to 'gram-worthy Széchenyi Baths.

Housed in a lavish neo-Baroque building in City Park, Europe's largest hot spring spa boasts 16 pools and various heat experiences. In winter, the outdoor pools let you bathe beneath the stars or, if you're lucky, snowflakes. Beware, Saturday night is 'sparty' night, so expect blaring techno and lasers galore.

Climate in Budapest

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	2	5	11	17	22	25	27	27	23	16	8	3
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	6	8	8	9	8	7	5	2	2
Days with some rainfall	12	11	11	11	12	13	11	11	9	8	12	13

Reykjavik, Iceland

Spa breaks needn't be sleepy affairs; when you're not relaxing in its abundant lagoons, the 'Land of Fire and Ice' lets you explore thundering waterfalls, spurting geysers and active volcanoes! Winter plunges Iceland into darkness for much of the day, but this is when the island's hot springs and geothermal pools are at their best, as are the Northern Lights.

Friendly Reykjavík^* makes a great base to dive into Icelandic bathing culture, with 18 public pools and a stellar lineup of hotel spas. Plus, Europe's legendary Blue Lagoon is just a short drive away.

Famous for its skin-soothing waters, this surreal lagoon, set amid stark lava fields, is fed warm, silica-rich waters by the local geothermal power plant. Alternatively, admire the icy North Atlantic whilst floating in steamy Sky Lagoon.

Climate in Reykjavík

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	1	2	2	5	9	11	13	12	9	6	2	1
Hours of sunshine (daily)	1	2	3	4	6	5	6	5	4	2	1	0
Days with some rainfall	18	17	19	18	16	17	18	18	18	20	17	19
Sea temperature °C	3	3	3	4	6	9	11	11	10	8	6	3

Baden-Baden, Germany

Locted between Germany's fairytale-filled Black Forest and its inviting wine country, the spa town of Baden-Baden^* sits on the country's most beautiful hiking route, the Panorama Trail.

Just a few kilometres in, you're dwarfed by fabulous forest and rewarded with spectacular views including an ancient castle. Epic hikes aside, it's Baden-Baden's 12 devilishly hot thermal springs that secured it a spot on UNESCO's Great Spa Towns of Europe list, the most iconic of which is reserved for those who dare to bare!

Don your birthday suit so you can experience Friedrichsbad Spa's infamously rough 'soap brush massage' before making your way around its historic pools and heat experiences. Keen to keep your cozzie on? Visit on a 'textile day' or head to the more modern Caracalla Spa.

Climate in Baden-Baden

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	3	5	9	14	18	21	24	23	20	14	8	4
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	7	6	4	2	2
Days with some rainfall	16	14	15	15	17	15	14	14	11	12	14	15

The above guide shows the climate in Stuttgart, which is 44 miles from Baden-Baden.

Bath, England

For a spa break on home turf, 'take the waters' in the Somerset city of Bath^*. Renowned for its hot springs since Roman times, it's the only UK city designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety, from its honey-hued crescents to its spectacular abbey. Despite its history-packed buildings, it's the city's curative waters that prove to be the main draw for many.

Two thousand metres beneath the city's streets, 10,000-year-old rainwater is busy heating up, destined for the pools at Thermae Bath Spa.

After exploring its quirky museums and learning about its famous waters at the original Roman Baths, test them for yourself with a twilight spa session at the world-famous spa; float beneath the stars in its iconic rooftop pool, as the city glitters beneath you.

Climate in Bath

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	7	7	10	12	16	19	21	20	18	14	10	8
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	2	4	5	6	7	6	6	5	3	2	2
Days with some rainfall	18	14	16	14	15	13	12	13	13	16	17	18

Lake Hévíz, Hungary

Rubbing shoulders with Hungary's answer to The Hamptons, forest-fringed Lake Hévíz is the world's largest natural thermal lake.

In summer, its waters reach a toasty 40°C, thanks to its subterranean springs, which pump a staggering 410 litres of mineral water per second.

Unsurprisingly, plenty of local legends float around this enchanting lake accompanied by ducks, grebes and, presumably, the occasional semi-boiled fish.

Stories tell of ailing visitors soaking in the waters and emerging miraculously healed. Just before WWI, its waters were so revered that a local zookeeper brought his arthritic elephant for daily dips.

Fast forward to 2025, and you too can splash about in Hévíz's healing waters for less than a tenner. Feeling flush? Book into the wellness area for some extra pampering.

Climate in Lake Hévíz

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	2	5	11	16	21	24	26	26	22	16	9	3
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	5	6	7	8	8	8	6	5	3	2
Days with some rainfall	11	10	11	12	12	13	12	11	10	9	12	12

The above guide shows the climate in Lake Balaton, which is close to Lake Hévíz.

Istanbul, Turkey

The only city in the world to straddle two continents, Istanbul's ancient domes and soaring minarets span both Europe and Asia. With architectural masterpieces like Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque vying for attention, time flies in this east-meets-west melting pot of a city.

But Istanbul^*'s hammams are just as worthy of your time and lira. Once an essential part of Ottoman life, these steamy chambers are believed to boost everything from blood circulation to immunity.

Around the city you'll find everything from cheap and cheerful £10 baths to historic hammams dating back half a millennium. Slide into your wooden clogs, jump on that slippery marble slab and experience the scrub of your life.

Climate in Istanbul

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	8	9	11	16	21	25	27	27	24	19	15	11
Hours of sunshine (daily)	5	6	6	8	10	11	12	10	9	6	5	4
Days with some rainfall	19	16	14	11	9	6	4	5	7	12	14	18
Sea temperature °C	8	7	7	10	15	21	23	24	22	18	14	10

Bucharest, Romania

Boasting cheap flights and Europe's biggest spa, the Romanian capital has found itself on every serious spa trekker's bucket list. Plus, with tickets starting from £10, a trip to the headline-grabbing Therme București can come in at less than a spa day back home, flights and all.

Home to Europe's largest urban beach, this palm-dotted, glass-roofed wellness oasis, which spans around six football pitches, is chock-full of pools, Jacuzzis and every bonkers heat experience room you can imagine, including one where you watch BBC documentaries in your budgie smugglers; yes, really!

But beware, with 1,600 metres of hair-raising waterslides dangling around like human marble runs, the rest of the family may suddenly want to join you; best tell them you're off to take in the city's Stalinist architecture.

Climate in Bucharest

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	1	4	11	18	24	27	29	29	25	18	10	4
Hours of sunshine (daily)	2	3	5	6	8	9	9	9	7	6	3	2
Days with some rainfall	10	10	10	11	12	12	10	8	7	7	9	11

Planning your next spa break? Find the latest offers on escapes across Europe with easyJet holidays.

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Jessica Baldwin

Posted on Thursday 2nd January 2025 in: City Europe Spa & wellness

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