If you enjoy the idea that you can relax in warm water beneath vaulted ceilings and wander through historical towns with no agenda at all, Germany The call is loud. Germany is home to over 350 spa towns that have long combined natural healing traditions and refined wellness. The towns are known for their healing therapies such as thermal springs and salt mines. They also offer hydrotherapy, alpine air and hydrotherapy. Many spa towns have a variety of treatments. KurkarteSpa guest cards offer visitors discounts, free transportation, walking tours and other perks.
As a top travel advisor who specializes in Germany, here are my four favorite spa towns that showcase the best of Germany’s wellness culture—and everything you need to see, do, and savor while you’re there.
Baden-Baden
Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa
Nestled in the southwestern corner of Germany Black ForestBaden-Baden, an elegant city that has drawn wellness lovers ever since Roman times. Friedrichsbad Spa offers a unique bathing experience that combines Roman, Irish and other traditions. The 17-step thermal circuit combines Roman tradition with Irish culture. Caracalla Spa offers open-air pools with forest views. Outside of the spa, stroll the Lichtentaler Allee, a famous park dotted with sculptures, rose gardens, and Belle Époque architecture.
What to Do in the Area: The icon Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa This is a sanctum of refined luxury, with a medical holistic spa and private garden. The hotel also has a children’s club and babysitting services for maximum relaxation.
Where to eat: Rizzi serves upscale Mediterranean cuisine and an extensive wine list in a relaxed atmosphere.
Bad Wörishofen
Therme Bad Wörishofen
Bad Wörishofen is the birthplace of Sebastian Kneipp, the 19th-century Catholic priest who developed the water-cure—a hydrotherapy-based healing system. At Therme Bad Wörishofen, which was designed to look like a tropical oasis, visitors can experience Kneipp’s methods firsthand with its barefoot walking paths, cold-water foot baths, and hydrotherapy circuits. You can explore his life, work, and discoveries at the Kneipp Museum. After that, you can stroll through the spa gardens.
What to do: Steigenberger Hotel Der Sonnenhof offers a unique blend of Bavarian charm and modern wellness programs, including yoga, detox menus and an outdoor pool with infinity.
What to Eat? Gasthof Adler offers local specialties, beer and seasonal French cuisine at its bistro Petit Plaisir.
Bad Reichenhall
This picturesque town, located on the border between France and Italy, is set in a basin of the Alps. Austria Saltwater therapy and the fresh mountain air are two of its most popular features. Rupertus Therme offers salt-infused saunas and pools that promote relaxation. Gradierhaus is a huge open-air wall of salt that can be used to detoxify the respiratory system. Then, visit the Alte Saline complex, an ornate 19th-century salworks complex with a Salt Museum, or take the cable cars to the top of Predigtstuhl mountain, just south from Bad Reichenhall.
What to do: Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa is an artfully designed, eco-friendly retreat with panoramic views, a wellness library, and a healing spa menu.
What to Eat? Head to Brauereigasthof Bürgerbräu, an authentic Bavarian pub, for traditional dishes and house-brewed beer.
Bad Ems
Hans-Peter Merten/Getty Images
Bad Ems is a German town located on the Lahn River in western Germany. It was once a favorite with Kaiser Wilhelm and Russian czars. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The soothing thermal water of Emser Therme is a relaxing experience. The riverside saunas and sal steam rooms are a great way to relax. Be sure to sip from the historic Emser Kränchen mineral spring, which is said to benefit the respiratory system. Explore the town by foot, admiring the pastel-hued houses along the river.
What to do: This family-run accommodation is just steps away from the river promenade. Häcker’s Grand Hotel The hotel offers a classic design with direct access to the spa and a thermal pool.
What to Eat? Sample Rhenish classics at Gasthaus Alt Ems, from cordon bleu to Jägerschnitzel.
Sofia Markovich Travel + Leisure A-List member, specializes on trips to Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Markovich will create an itinerary tailored to your needs. Contact her at [email protected].
