If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and recover from the stresses of everyday life, what could beat a wellness retreat in a country where the word ‘spa’ actually originated? Belgium is home to the City of Spa, a wildly popular health destination back in the 15th and 16th centuries when visitors would flock to the town to take to the healing spring waters.
Today the country continues to offer the best in wellness to tired and weary bodies with a range of spas designed to revive and restore you to prime condition. Many of these wellness retreats continue to be oriented around Belgium’s natural springs, with thermal pools, jacuzzis, and steam rooms where you can take advantage of nature’s flowing bounty.
These world-class spas also offer a range of innovative treatments, including acne-eliminating facials, invigorating masks, detoxifying scrubs, and stress-busting massages, as well as hammams, themed saunas, ice fountains, and plunge pools. Even if you already feel in tip-top health, you’ll be surprised how a visit to one of Belgium’s best spas can leave you feeling like a new person.
We’ve found Belgian spas located in fairytale castles and others situated deep in the heart of forests or on historic country estates. We’ve got a luxury spa where each sauna has its own theme and others where sound and light therapy are combined with the power of touch to leave you completely re-energised. We’ve even got luxury spa hotels where you can spend the night.
And, of course, we’ve got spas that prioritise eco-friendly practices, minimising their environmental footprint while maximising their capacity to deliver blissful relaxation to guests.
The 10 Best spas in Belgium
- Château des Thermes of Chaudfontaine
- Les Thermes de Spa
- Thermen Londerzeel
- Nooz
- Waer Waters
- Thermae Boetfort
- Spa Retreat La Forêt
- Cinq Mondes Spa at Dolce La Hulpe
- Manoir de Lébioles
- Aspria
Château des Thermes of Chaudfontaine
A day trip to this majestic castle, located in an expansive woodland in the Valley of the Vesdre, is like stepping into a fairytale—only without all the accompanying drama.
Immerse yourself in pure serenity and calm as you soak in the 34°C outdoor thermal bath with its water jet system and views of the 19th-century grounds, and which takes its healing mineral waters from the nearby natural spring.
There’s also an indoor spring pool, jacuzzi, musical bath, two Turkish baths, saunas, footbaths, a salt cabin, ice fountain, and caldarium, as well as a zen garden—in case you’re still not relaxed.
You’ll also have access to a range of heavenly-sounding treatments. Attending the spa with your significant other? Try out the couples treatment, where you get three hours in the Liège suite with its jacuzzi and hanging bed, plus a bottle of champagne, edible treats, and access to the thermal baths.
There’s also a gourmet restaurant where you can refuel before heading back into the world.
Address: Rue Hauster 9, 4050 Chaudfontaine, Belgium Opening days and hours: every day, 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Price range: $$ Website: www.chateaudesthermes.be
Les Thermes de Spa
Looking for a luxury spa in Belgium? Nestled in southeast Belgium in the natural paradise of the Ardennes, Les Thermes de Spa is located in the Belgian town of Spa so you know this is a place that has mastered the art of pampering.
This ancient resort town has been welcoming illustrious visitors such as Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas to its healing waters since the 16th century—hence its nickname, the café of Europe. And Les Thermes de Spa is the town’s vast contemporary wellness complex, located on a hilltop and with panoramas of the picturesque village below.
Lounge in the thermal pool with its restorative spring waters, then head to the sauna to sweat away any remaining stresses—or to the hammam for soaking and exfoliating. Specialised treatments include a subaqua massage, plus peat baths designed to reduce muscle tension and stiffness.
Address: Colline d'Annette et Lubin, 4900 Spa, Belgium Opening days and hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am to 10:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, and Sunday 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Price range: $$$ Website: www.thermesdespa.com
Thermen Londerzeel
Thermen Londerzeel is located 10km north of Brussels and has all the spa facilities you could hope for, including an outdoor pool, jacuzzi, foot baths, cooling bath, and steam bath.
But the most unique and intriguing feature of this spa? The nine themed sauna cabins. One has a giant aquarium full of tropical fish and plays soft music as you sweat. Then there’s the Alps sauna which has a chalet built inside an artificial ice cave, kept at freezing temperatures. Another has Himalayan salt stones and yet another infrared technology to improve blood circulation and detoxify the body.
You can also take advantage of the spa’s Aufguss sessions in the Marco polo sauna—a Finnish tradition whereby a ‘sauna master’ uses a towel or fan to circulate hot air and water vapour over you as you sit in the sauna, intensifying the experience.
Starting to feel a bit warm already? You’ll be pleased to know there are three plunge barrels outside with cold water.
And, if you’re feeling hungry afterwards, you’re only 30 minutes from Brussels, so why not check out one of the city’s best vegan or vegetarian restaurants?
Address: Stuikberg 4, 1840 Londerzeel, Belgium Opening days and hours: every day, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Price range: $$ Website: www.thermenlonderzeel.be
Nooz
Located not far from Antwerp in Grobbendonk, Nooz is a wellness retreat with a difference. If you thought going to a spa was simply about a massage and a dip in a jacuzzi, Nooz will enlighten you with its innovative and highly creative wellness journeys.
Take the ‘duo quatre mains’ massage, for example, which involves two different therapists, a sound and light experience, followed by snacks, champagne, and fresh fruit. Or there’s the floating bath where you can relax undisturbed in a private pavilion in the middle of a forest in a huge bath with adjustable coloured lighting.
In addition, you’ve got hot tubs heated by wood fires, a rainwater shower, and the option to rent part of the forest and hot springs for your own private use.
Fancy staying longer than a day? This eco chic wellness spa has its own accommodation including the Forest Lodge with its own jacuzzi, the Heaven Lounge with its own massage room, and an immersive cinema room too.
The name Nooz comes from ‘Snooze’ and there’s nowhere more conducive to a restful nap than this unique wellness retreat. It’s also probably the most romantic spa in Belgium we’ve come across.
Address: Nachtegalendreef 40, 2280 Grobbendonk, Belgium Opening days and hours: every day, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Price range: $$$ Website: www.nooz.be
Waer Waters
One of the major draws at the sleek wellness spa of Waer Waters is the fact that they don’t use chlorine in their operations at all—a perk for those concerned about exposure to chemicals.
The complex is made up of the dressed ‘Unite’ zone, the silent ‘Zen’ zone, and the ‘Re-energize’ zone with its outdoor Norwegian sauna concept and the option to be totally naked if you fancy.
Start by working up a sweat in the spa’s fitness complex before heading over to the Kelo Sauna, made from a rare 300-year-old pine tree. There’s also an ice fountain as well as steam baths, hammams, plunge pools, and a swimming pond.
We recommend unwinding in the blissful warmth of a sauna or hammam then reviving yourself with a dip in the rainwater shower or swimming pond. There’s also a comprehensive range of beauty treatments as well as the spa’s 16 ‘experiences’, including scrub sessions in the hammam, Aufguss sessions in the sauna, and salt therapy.
Address: Rodenberg 21, 1702 Dilbeek, Belgium Opening days and hours: Monday to Thursday, 11:00 am to 11:00 pm, Friday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. Price range: $$ Website: www.waerwaters.com
Thermae Boetfort
Another spa situated in a prestigious castle, Thermae Boetfort is located in a 16th-century château in Melsbroek. If you want plenty of choice when it comes to your relaxation retreat, then this is the place, with its different saunas, swimming pools, jacuzzis and range of specialised baths.
There’s the nude Moenia area, to start with, featuring seven different saunas, including a salt stone sauna where the walls are made completely of salt crystals, the ‘sauna of whispers’ where talking (or, rather, whispering) is permitted, and the ice cave sauna, partly located underground. There are also different relaxation rooms, plus the option of Aufguss or scrubbing sessions.
Then there’s the Curia—the bathing-suit area—which includes the Kelo wood sauna, light therapy sauna, music sauna, and infrared sauna.
Elsewhere, you’ll find an outdoor swimming pool, footbaths with heated benches, and the ‘Silence’ bar where no talking is allowed. There’s also halotherapy sessions in the salt room, where medicinal salt is dispersed into the space, giving your immune system a welcome boost.
Address: Sellaerstraat 42, 1820 Melsbroek Opening days and hours: Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9:00 am to 10:00 pm. Price range: $$ Website: www.thermae.com
Spa Retreat La Forêt
Situated on an 11-hectare historic country estate, the family-run Domaine La Butte aux Bois sits on the edge of the Hoge Kempen National Park and is the perfect place to recharge and unwind.
Wandering the landscaped gardens with its stately trees, ponds, and sculptures is a relaxing experience in itself but it’s the La Forêt spa that really delivers when it comes to reviving worn-out bodies and minds.
There’s an indoor pool with views of the National Park, an outdoor covered jacuzzi, hammam, infrared duo seats, an iced water area, and spaces for meditation and yoga. Then there are the signature treatments that include reflexology, a complexion-clearing JetPeel facial, and a special forest-inspired treatment incorporating woodland fragrances, music, and woodland fruit tea.
We also like the sound of the La Forêt honey body treatment which involves warm acacia honey from the National Park itself.
Any responsible and environmentally-friendly guests will also be impressed by the sustainable materials used in the construction of this ultra-modern 1,350 square metre eco-chic spa and the various measures taken to maximise the facility’s energy efficiency.
Address: Paalsteenlaan 90, 3620 Lanaken, Belgium Opening days and hours: every day, 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Price range: $$$ Website: www.labutteauxbois.be
Cinq Mondes Spa at Dolce La Hulpe
In the heart of the Sonian Forest and surrounded by 178 acres of pristine woodland, Dolce La Hulpe is certainly one of the most eco-friendly spas on our list. Winner of a Gold Green Star and Green Key—two significant accolades for green initiatives—it works in tandem with the forest, aiming to preserve and safeguard this valuable ecosystem while simultaneously providing an enchanting and rejuvenating eco luxury experience for guests.
For example, there’s solar energy technology, water-saving showerheads, and an emphasis on locally-produced, bio, natural, and recycled products, including bleach-free cleaning products.Meanwhile, the Cinq Mondes Spa has a range of treatments available, inspired from different corners of the globe and offering guests a sensory trip around the world. There are Japanese bath ceremonies, Balinese papaya purée scrubs, Ayurvedic rituals from India, traditional Chinese plant medicines, North Africa hammam treatments, and coffee-based ingredients from Brazil. There are also two double suites where you can enjoy treatments with your partner.
Address: 135, Chaussée de Bruxelles, 1310 La Hulpe, Belgium. Opening days and hours: Monday to Friday, 11:00 am to 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm, and Sunday, 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Price range: $$ Website: www.dolcelahulpe.com
Manoir de Lébioles
The crest of the Manoir de Lébioles reads ‘There is more to it than meets the eye’, which perfectly sums up this wellness retreat. Seeking a private spa in Belgium? This masterpiece of understated luxury offers guests a discreet and intimate getaway in a lush forest near the City of Spa.
The wellness area of the hotel features a sauna, steam bath, ice fountain, Kneipp foot baths, aromatherapy and massage showers, a vitality pool with hydro-massage technology, a selection of countless different teas, as well as a cardio and fitness area.
Treatments vary from balneotherapy—an aromatic Jacuzzi bath with essential oils and relaxing music—to marine salt and clay scrubs, volcanic body masks, hot sand massages, and an intriguingly named treatment called ‘a pirate’s dream’ that features algae, salt and marine clay, seaside plants, and a marine oil massage.
Address: Domaine de Lébioles 1/5, 4900 Spa, Belgium Opening days and hours: every day, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Price range: $$$ Website: www.manoirdelebioles.com
Aspria
Aspria operates a range of luxury members clubs around the world and Royal La Rasante is their flagship, first opened in 1902. As you might expect, it’s quite a place, with a classic country club feel despite being conveniently located in the heart of Brussels.
After exploring the club’s four hectares of gorgeous green gardens, head to L’Institut, the club’s impeccably designed spa area. Incorporating plenty of natural light and organic materials, L’Institut feels immediately soothing to the soul. There are private gardens and relaxation rooms where you can enjoy a moment of peace and quiet or head straight to the sauna.
Treatments make use of Espa and Dermalogica skincare products—both known for their innovative and expertly crafted formulas—and vary from deep clean facials with personalised masks to algae body wraps. We especially like the sound of the ESPA Inner Calm full-body massage, designed to alleviate both muscular pressure and anxiety.
Address: Rue Sombre 56, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium. Opening days and hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm Price range: $$$ Website: www.aspria.com
