From Alpine hot springs to candle-lit Roman baths, explore Europe’s ultimate relaxing yet festive getaways.
As the winter chill slices through Europe’s air, a new ritual emerges: swap the last sun-drenched beach post for “steam-and-stroll” weekends where the real heat is found in mineral pools and candle-lit baths. This winter, the continent’s most-booked cities for spa escapes and Christmas markets are combining deep relaxation with festive spectacle.
Taking data from Google Reviews and trends on Fresha, the online platform for Europe’s wellness experts, demand is anything but lukewarm. So which destinations are topping the charts for European winter vacations?
Innsbruck is drawing crowds to its Tirol Alpine Aqua Dome, where guests float beneath snowy peaks before heading to the world-famous Christkindlmarkt, all sauerkraut steam and frosted Christmas lights. Budapest, ever the original in thermal bathing, promises vintage-tiled grandeur at Széchenyi baths by day and mulled wine merriment by night.
The Croatia and Montenegro itinerary deliberately sidesteps overcrowded hotspots in favour of authentic ports. In Croatia, guests will visit Šibenik‘s medieval streets, ancient Vis with its beaches dating to 397 BC, as well as the historic Rovinj, and Dubrovnik‘s 10th-century forts.
Montenegro‘s contribution is Kotor, a Roman settlement later fortified during Byzantine rule, now affectionately dubbed “cat city” for its population of feline strays. Italy showcases Pesaro, a UNESCO Creative City of Music where composer Gioachino Rossini was born. Here visitors can tour his former residence alongside 5th-century religious architecture.
Further west in Switzerland, Zurich and Lucerne spin luxe into lakeside spa escapes at the Bürgenstock, then turn high-end shopping streets into a winter wonderland. Cologne in Germany offers the ultimate wellness weekend: steamy saunas just steps from the city’s light-strung cathedral market, where bratwurst and gingerbread meets candlelit calm. Barcelona might be a typical summer favourite but it throws its own winter warmer twist, as AIRE’s ancient Roman-style baths offer respite before wandering to the festive Fira de Santa Llúcia on breezy evenings.
“Winter is the moment our bodies crave warmth, stillness and ritual,” notes Danielle Louise, beauty and wellness expert at Fresha. “These cities let you decompress in thermal pools or restorative spas, then head straight into Christmas lights, mulled wine and proper cosy atmosphere.” Her tip for those stuck at home: “Run a magnesium bath, apply a hot oil hair mask, sign off early. Europe’s best spas operate on one principle, recovery first.”
In this season of brisk air and bright lights, Europe’s festive wellness escapes prove the pleasure of winter isn’t about chasing sunlight – it’s also finding shelter, warmth, serenity and festival cheer.
