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15 Best Things to Do in Spa (Belgium)

Resting in a valley close to where the Ardennes massif meets the Hautes Fagnes plateau is the world’s original spa resort.

Spa grew up around a natural source long praised for its supposed healing properties.

Charles II of England and Peter the Great came to take the waters at Spa, but these springs had been frequented for many centuries by that time, and were even described by Pliny the Elder.

Such was the importance of the resort for the upper crust in the 1700s and 1800s that “Spa” became the generic English term for hydrotherapy.

There are still lots of monuments left over from Spa’s apogee, from the oldest casino in Europe to the last place Marie Henriette of Austria called “home”.

1. Parc 7 Heures

In the 18th century Spa’s posh clientele needed somewhere to take a turn, and so this promenade was laid out on meadows by the Wayai stream.

The Parc de Sept Heures (Seven O’clock Park) maintains an aristocratic air with its alleys between hornbeams, limes and elms, and its surfeit of monuments, most from the 19th century.

The main sight is the 130-metre Galerie Léopold II (1878) with a coffered wooden ceiling and elegant cast iron columns.

This covered promenade is bookended by two regal pavilions, Pavillon Marie-Henriette (for Léopold II’s wife who died in Spa in 1902), and Pavillon des Petits Jeux.

There are also many more recent monuments scattered around the park, including one for the Armistice and for the opera composer Giacomo Meyerbeer (1891-1864). Just off the promenade is a neatly tended mini-golf course, and a funicular shuttles up the Colline d’Annette et Lubin hill for a pleasing view of Spa and surrounding woodland from the new spa centre.

2. Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand

The spring sheltered in this Neoclassical pavilion from 1880 is the most famous of the many that rise around Spa.

This is the source that gave birth to Spa as a resort, and takes its name from Peter the Great who “took the waters” on this very ground in 1717. Inside is the “Fontaine aux dauphins intérieure”, the most ornate of the many fountains in the town.

After a refurbishment, the pavilion reopened in 2012 as the new home of Spa’s tourist office.

The winter garden here was reworked into a venue for exhibitions and events.

3. Domaine de Berinzenne

Climbing out of Spa on the road to the south you’ll soon arrive at a beautiful estate, with misty moorland couched in forest.

A boardwalk lifts you over a patch of peat bog typical for the Hautes Fagnes.

A wonderful feature at Domaine de Berinzenne is the long avenue of limes leading up to the Musée de la Forêt et des Eaux.

This attraction uses creative exhibits to present the biodiversity of the Spa-Bérinzenne region.

There’s also a sweet little pond and an observation tower with vistas extending far to the east over the Hautes Fagnes.

And if you want info on hikes and cycling routes into Spa-Bérinzenne region, the Maison de la Nature is on hand, putting on temporary exhibitions and boasting a cafeteria.

4. Musée de la Ville d’Eaux

The plush Villa royale Marie-Henriette (1863) was the final address of King Leopold II’s wife, Marie Henriette of Austria (1836-1902) and has been home to the city museum since 1970. The permanent exhibition deals with fine art and local craftsmanship, and includes a large array of handmade wooden items known as Jolités de Spa.

Originating in the 16th and 17th centuries, the name applies to expertly fashioned and finished clothes brushes, jewellery boxes, fans, sewing boxes, frames, writing cases, cups, snuffboxes and hearth brushes, to name a few.

On the ground floor the exhibition guides you through Spa’s past, explaining its progress as a resort and hydrotherapy trailblazer using videos, artefacts and historic documents.

5. Thermes de Spa

In the 2000s Spa’s hydrotherapy centre was relocated to new upscale premises atop a hill overlooking the town.

You can follow a path beaten by centuries of years of visitors and come to “take the waters”, claimed to increase circulation, increase metabolism and benefit the skin.

Needless to say, things have changed a lot since the days of Peter the Great, and Thermes de Spa has up-to-date facilities, combining modern wellness with time-honoured hydrotherapy.

Available at this cylindrical glass building are an extensive range of wellness and beauty treatments, centred on the spring water, but including massage, facials, saunas, steam rooms, meditation sessions and much more.

There’s a long list of packages to pick from, while the Maman-Bébé institute specialises in care for new mothers and babies.

6. Lac de Warfaaz

After a series of floods in the 19th century the Wayai stream was dammed to the north-east of Spa in 1892, giving rise to this 6.5-hectare lake, 600 metres in length.

Lac de Warfaaz is a couple of kilometres out of Spa and has paved banks lined with lofty horse chestnut trees for walkers, cyclists and anglers.

There’s a small huddle of restaurants, cafes and bars on the south shore, and in summer you can hire a pedalo from a little jetty for a paddle on the water.

7. Église Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Remacle

Spa’s waters started to gain an international reputation in the 16th century and a Catholic parish was established in 1573. The solemn neo-Romanesque in the heart of the town is the third on the site and was ready in 1885. Before heading in you can check out the reliefs on the tympanums over the portals.

In the centre these show the risen Christ and Mary on her thrown, while below the left tower is Saint Remaclus with the wolf and below the right is Saint Hubertus (patron saint of hunters) and the deer with a vision of a crucifix between its antlers.

Standing out inside are the 17th-century Baroque sculptures of Remaclus, Mary, Joseph with Baby Jesus and Saint Roch.

There’s an eye-catching Byzantine-style Christ Pantocrator in the dome of the apse, and where the right transept meets the sanctuary you’ll find a masterful polychrome statue of Saint Remaclus from the mid-16th century.

Not far away on the right side of the choir is a votive canvas of Christ on the Cross, accompanied by Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian, produced in 1598 by Liège artist Jean Ramey (c. 1530-1612).

8. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The venue for the Belgian F1 Grand Prix was built in the early-1920s and is just a ten-minute trip from Spa via the N62. This circuit, with its rippling topography and coniferous backdrop is billed as the most beautiful in the world.

It’s a claim that is hard to deny, and even people unfamiliar with motorsport may recognise the world-famous Eau Rouge and Raidillon combination, where drivers speed down a hill into a sharp left and then back up the slope into a fast, blind right-hander.

The Belgian Grand Prix usually falls around the end of August or start of September, but there’s something happening at the track every day of the week between mid-March and mid-November.

On a typical day you can head off on a guided tour at 14:00, with a multilingual guide pointing out the press room, commentators’ booths, podium, race control room and the paddocks for the Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours race.

9. Casino de Spa

No self-respecting destination for aristocrats and industrialists would do without a casino.

But what makes Spa’s special is its great age, going back to 1763, so it could be the oldest casino in the world.

This grand Neoclassical building is named the Redoute, which was the preferred French term for a gambling establishment in the 18th century.

The casino has come through prohibitions on gambling in 1872 and 1902, as well as fires in 1909 and again in 1917, which required reconstruction work until 1929. There are table games like roulette, Texas hold’em poker and blackjack, as well as slot machines shipped in from Las Vegas in the 2010s.

The minimum age is 21 and the casino stays open from 11:00 ’til sunrise.

10. Anciens Thermes de Spa

Spa’s stately Renaissance Revival bathhouse was built in the 1860s to a design by Léon Suys, who also designed the Brussels Stock Exchange.

This is actually the third set of baths in Spa, the first established in 1828 where Spa’s town hall stands today.

For 135 years, bathers would head to this palatial building, which originally had 54 baths, six shower rooms of varying descriptions, two hydrotherapy rooms and two plunge pools.

There’s rich statuary cresting the pediment by Jacques Van Omberg and the Van Den Kerkhove brothers, and an interior with opulent stuccowork and frescos.

The Thermes de Spa moved home up the hill in 2003, and since then the building has lain empty awaiting a new purpose.

As of 2020, a long-term project was underway to turn it into a five-star hotel.

11. Spa Eaudyssée

The headquarters for the Spa mineral water brand is within walking distance of the centre of Spa.

Awaiting you there is a visitor centre, open Monday to Friday and explaining every stage of the epic underground journey that Spa’s water makes from rainwater to the pure, naturally filtered product in its bottles.

In these experiential galleries with tablet computers and tactile displays there’s also information about the importance of the water cycle and the origin of the Spa brand and the leapfrogging Pierrot on its logo.

At the end you’ll be able to select a bottle of still, carbonated or fruit-infused water from Spa’s range take with you.

12. SpaForest

In Spa’s wooded backyard there’s a high ropes centre where you’ll shimmy from treetop to treetop via fun and challenging transitions, all the while clipped onto a safety line.

There are three courses to try out, with rope ladders, ziplines and all manner of precarious bridges that will need coordination and a sense of balance to conquer.

SpaForest has a wide choice of other activities on offer, from Nordic walking to archery to survival workshops, and has just stocked a fleet of all-mountain electric scooters.

13. Château de Franchimont

For an easy excursion, this ruined Medieval and Renaissance castle can be reached in 15 minutes from Spa.

The Château de Franchimont is thought to have been raised in the 11th century by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège.

It is roosted on a spur over the right bank of the Hoëgne, a left tributary of the Vesdre.

The castle was modified all through the Medieval period, but what’s compelling is how it was adapted in the early 16th century for gunpowder.

Added at that time are casemates, pentagonal outer ramparts and an artillery tower that now houses an exhibition about the site.

The bastions on the corners, accessed via underground passages are a thrilling artefact of Renaissance warfare.

By the end of the 16th century artillery to the point where the castle could be picked off from nearby hills and so it was abandoned and later partially destroyed by Louis XIV.

14. RAVeL Spa-Stavelot

Wallonia has opened up vast swathes of its countryside to cyclists via the 1,400km (and growing) RAVeL path network.

Mostly on former railway lines and canal towpaths, RAVeL stands for Réseau Autonome des Voies Lentes (autonomous network of slow paths). In the Ardennes the system has a special value, giving access to a beautiful but otherwise impenetrable upland region to people on two wheels with flat trails that never have more than a 2% gradient.

RAVeL Spa-Stavelot is along the old Ligne 44A from 1867, connecting Spa to Gouvy in Belgian Luxembourg and shut down in 1974. The 22-kilometre route takes you through upland forest, granting distant views and passing directly above the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

15. Musée de la Lessive

This specialist museum on Park de 7 Heures is all about laundry, showing you how the washing got done before the days of electrical machines.

Presented over thousands of years, some of these methods are surprising in their ingenuity.

Each technological milestone is covered by documents, a reproduction or an antique appliance.

Many of the museum’s hand-operated 19th and early-20th-century machines are in working order, and a guide will give demonstrations.

There’s also an in-depth history of soaps and detergents and a chronology of the humble iron.

The museum is open every afternoon in July and August, weekends in April, May, June, September and October, and just on Sundays for the rest of the year.

15 Best Things to Do in Spa (Belgium):

• Parc 7 Heures
• Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand
• Domaine de Berinzenne
• Musée de la Ville d'Eaux
• Thermes de Spa
• Lac de Warfaaz
• Église Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Remacle
• Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
• Casino de Spa
• Anciens Thermes de Spa
• Spa Eaudyssée
• Château de Franchimont
• RAVeL Spa-Stavelot
• Musée de la Lessive

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Do & Explore

Wellness At The Source: Belgium, Home Of The Original Spa

— Belgian bliss.

by Cora Harrison

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, waer waters, thermae boetfort, spa retreat la forêt, cinq mondes spa at dolce la hulpe, manoir de lébioles.

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.

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. 

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 ?

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. 

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 .

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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Spa, Belgium

The perfect 3 days itinerary.

Spa, a picturesque town in the Ardennes region of Belgium, is renowned for its natural mineral waters and historic spa facilities that date back to the 16th century. This charming town is not only famous for its thermal baths but also for its beautiful landscapes, lush forests, and a tranquil atmosphere. Spa is also known for hosting the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at the nearby Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps , making it a thrilling destination for motorsports enthusiasts.

What to do in Spa?

This 3 days itinerary is the perfect guide to the best things to see in Spa. It includes day-by-day activities, travel tips, and the top places to visit.

Day 1: Discover the Healing Waters

Start your day with a visit to the Thermes de Spa , where you can indulge in various hydrotherapy treatments and relax in the indoor and outdoor pools with panoramic views of the surrounding hills. Enjoy a peaceful morning soaking in the mineral-rich waters that have made Spa famous worldwide.

Explore the town center of Spa, visiting local shops and the Musée de la Ville d'eaux , which details the history of the town and its famous visitors. Have lunch at a local café, sampling Belgian specialties.

Dine at a fine restaurant, perhaps trying out the traditional Ardennes cuisine, followed by a leisurely evening walk through the serene streets of Spa.

Day 2: Adventure in the Ardennes

Take a guided hike through the Ardennes forest , exploring the lush greenery and diverse wildlife. This is a perfect opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh, clean air of the Belgian countryside.

Visit the nearby town of Stavelot, home to the Stavelot Abbey and its museums. Enjoy a leisurely lunch in one of the town's quaint restaurants.

Return to Spa and perhaps enjoy a relaxing evening at a local jazz bar or café, experiencing the laid-back nightlife of the town.

Day 3: Experience the Thrill of Motorsports

Head to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps , one of the most famous race tracks in the world, especially known for hosting the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix. Take a tour of the circuit, learn about its history, and if possible, experience a track day event.

Continue exploring the circuit area or participate in a driving experience if available. Have lunch at the circuit's restaurant, enjoying views of the track.

Conclude your trip with a visit to a local brewery to taste some of the finest Belgian beers, reflecting on the exciting experiences of your trip.

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<a href=\"https://tools.wmflabs.org/wikivoyage/w/poi2gpx.php?print=gpx&amp;lang=en&amp;name=Spa_(Belgium)\" title=\"Download GPX file for this article\" data-parsoid=\"{}\"><img alt=\"Download GPX file for this article\" resource=\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" src=\"//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f7/GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\" decoding=\"async\" data-file-width=\"20\" data-file-height=\"20\" data-file-type=\"bitmap\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" class=\"mw-file-element\" data-parsoid='{\"a\":{\"resource\":\"./File:GPX_Document_rev3-20x20.png\",\"height\":\"20\",\"width\":\"20\"},\"sa\":{\"resource\":\"File:GPX Document rev3-20x20.png\"}}'/></a></span>"}'/> Spa is a town in the Liège province in Belgium , known as the "original" spa, i.e. a place where tourists came in to enjoy the health and wellness benefits of water and hot springs in particular. The springs in Spa became so popular that the name became genericized to mean any such place, with other versions of how it came to be also created over the years. Indeed, Spa is now one of 11 "Great Spa Towns of Europe", a transcontinental UNESCO world heritage site . Apart from the mineral waters, Spa also draws crowds several times a year when racing and other events are held at the nearby Spa-Francorchamps track.

The town is famous for its mineral water. The word spa comes from the name of this town, though folk etymologies — and several marketing campaigns — claim the word to be an acronym of "sanitus per aqua" or some other Latin phrase.

Spa is connected to the Belgian railway network by a side line branching out in Pepinster from the Liege - Aachen line. The 50.490368 5.855744 1 Spa Railway Station is just west of the city center. The direct local trains from Aachen are discontinued since 2024 and getting to Spa from most origins in Belgium by train requires at least one change of trains in Pepinster, which on weekdays sees InterCity Line 12 service from Brussels and Liège, in addition to local train services. One can of course also arrive by car, the journey from Brussels takes around 1.5   h.

The centre of Spa is relatively small, but many attractions are in farther villages and neighbouring municipalities. TEC runs a network of bus lines connecting them.

• 50.49176 5.86427 2 Bains de Spa . The old building of the city baths has been closed since 2005 and projects are underway to turn it into a luxury hotel. The baths are now in a modern facility in the woods. ( updated Jun 2016 )

• 50.49215 5.86726 3 Pouhon Pierre le Grand . Spa's emblematic building houses the mineral water fountain named after the Russian Tsar Peter the Great, who visited the city in the 18th century and became a big fan of its healing and wellness qualities. ( updated Jun 2016 )

• 50.49205 5.85747 4 Musée de la ville d'eaux ( Villa royale Marie-Henriette ). The city museum collects artifacts of the history of Spa with focus on its springs and related developments. It is housed in a villa that was built for the Belgian queen Marie-Henriette in 1863. ( updated Jun 2016 )

• 50.437 5.972 1 Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps , Route du Circuit 55, 4970 Stavelot . Venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix, and of the Spa 24 Hours and 1000 km Spa endurance races. The next F1 races are 26-28 July 2024 then 25-27 July 2025. ( updated Jun 2024 )
• 50.494285 5.864058 3 Thermes de Spa , Colline d’Annette et Lubin , ☏ +32 87 77 25 60 , [email protected] . Wellness centre on top of the hill in the town. ( updated Jan 2018 )
• 50.489299 5.855867 1 Spa mineral water , Rue Auguste Laporte , ☏ +32 87 79 41 11 . You can book a factory tour on this link but the site appears to be only in French or Dutch.  
• 50.492024 5.863015 1 Le Relais , Place du Monument 22 , ☏ +32 483 24 24 27 . French restaurant ( updated Jun 2017 )
• 50.491966 5.862198 2 L'Auberge , Place du Monument 3-4 , ☏ +32 87 77 48 33 . ( updated Jun 2017 )
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10 Must do’s in Spa | Belgium

When you think of Spa ( Belgium ), you might immediately think of spring water. But drinking water is certainly not the only thing you can do in Spa!  Spa is built around a natural spring that has been visited for centuries for its supposed healing properties.

1. Thermes de Spa

What better thing to do in Spa than to visit, well, the spa? In the Thermes you can completely relax in the thermal areas, baths, saunas, and hammams. Various wellness and beauty treatments are based on the spring water from this region. Traditionally, it was thought that this water would have beneficial effects on the body and mind. I recommend taking 1-2 massages as well on top to even out your full day of wellness.

2. Lac de warfaaz

Lake Warfaaz is a small lake a few kilometers from Spa, near the town of Nivezé. Walk around the lake and breathe the fresh air in.

The Casino de Spa breathes historic luxury and elegance. The wealthy visitors to Spa not only came for the spas but also liked to take a chance at this casino. 

Fun fact: it’s the oldest casino in all of Europe.

4. Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

The circuit of Francorchamps is a must do when you are a formula 1 or car lover. You can even drive on a racetrack if you like. Thanks to the natural beauty of the Ardennes in the background, this is one of the most beautiful circuits in the world. The Belgian Grand Prix usually falls at the end of August or the beginning of September.

Visit the nearby museum Stavelot. Stavelot will tell you more about the circuit, race cars, and the history of the circuit.

5. Parc 7 Heures

The Parc 7 Heures, or the ‘7 hours park’ was created in the 18th century. Today, you still notice an aristocratic atmosphere. The most beautiful part of the park is the Galerie Léopold II: a covered walkway of 130 meters (1878).

6. the Spa factory

From the center of Spa, you are within walking distance of the headquarters of the spring water brand Spa. The Eaudyssee Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday. Here you can discover more about every step of extracting spring water. Also, take a look at the experimental galleries where the Spa story is told with interactive touchscreen tablets.

7. Stroll along the Ninglinspo River

A beautiful walking route runs along the Ninglinspo river (a branch of the Ambiève river). The route is 6.4 kilometers long: a great distance to cover with children. If you stick to the mapped-out route, it will take you about 3 hours. 

8. Visit the Horse Museum

These were once the royal stables of Queen Marie-Henriette (1836-1902), the second Queen of Belgium.

9. Franchimont castle

This medieval castle from the 11th century is strategically placed on top of the rocks and offers a view over the three nearby valleys. 

10. SpaForest climbing park

Spend an afternoon climbing trees in SpaForest. Make your way from treetop to treetop while clipped onto a safety line. 

11. Spa city

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Top tips om in Spa te doen! De welness ziet er heerlijk uit en Ninglinspo is toevallig mijn favoriete wandeling in België 😉

Leuk om te lezen Lore! 😀

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Spa, her circuit

And her thermal baths.

The health benefits of bathing in natural hot-water springs were known in Ancient times, but the first town where visitors could “take the waters” in the modern sense was Spa in the Belgian Ardennes, which gave its name to many other similar resorts (e.g. Bath Spa and Leamington Spa in the UK). Spa was “the eighteenth-century Monte Carlo” with luxury hotels and restaurants and a casino to entertain the wealthy aristocrats taking the waters there. Today, visitors can still take the waters and a range of spa treatments, and there are plenty of other attractions in the town, including music festivals and the Spa-Francorchamps Formula 1 motor-racing circuit.

Health and Wellbeing for the twenty-first century

Who hasn’t enjoyed a nice soak in a hot bath, followed by a massage and other beauty treatments? The treatments based on Spa’s naturally hot spring water have developed from the austere to the lush and can be enjoyed in visits of one day or longer. The three springs continue to disgorge thousands of litres of mineral-rich water every day. The wooded hills surrounding Spa are perfect for exercise and mountain and forest sports and the annual “Francofolies” music festival is the perfect place to let off steam with some dancing!

The allure of the facades of yesteryear around the ancient baths is still alive

The first spa resort

Spa attracted foreign visitors even in mediaeval times. For example, King Henry VIII of England’s Italian physician visited in 1547. He was followed in 1654 by the future King Charles II of England during his exile and in 1717 by the Russian Emperor Peter the Great. To entertain the visitors who flocked to the town, a casino opened in 1763 (it is now the world’s oldest) and a racecourse in 1773. Austrian Emperor Joseph II visited in 1781 and called Spa “the café of Europe”. Casanova came for other attractions: “All the nations of Europe flock to Spa in the summer to commit thousands of indiscretions; I committed mine like everyone else” he wrote, “People don’t just come to take the waters, but to do business, to plot, to have fun, to find love and to spy on others…”

The middle classes take over

As the nineteenth century progressed, the growing middle classes replaced the aristocracy as the main group of visitors to Spa, as access and communications improved following the arrival of a daily postal system in 1840 and the telegraph and railway in 1856. King Leopold II of Belgium’s wife, Queen Marie-Henriette bought a villa in Spa and spent her summers here from 1853 until her death in Spa in 1902. This royal patronage conveyed a sense of respectability and more hotels and facilities were built in response to rising visitor numbers.

The First World War and after

During the First World War, Spa was occupied by the German army who used it as a convalescence centre for injured soldiers. The German General Headquarters, headed by Kaiser Wilhelm, moved to Spa in 1918, and it was in Spa that he signed the German surrender and his abdication. Spa was again used as a convalescence centre by the German army during the Second World War.

In the post-war years, the spa treatment centre was rebuilt and the town adapted to mass tourism. The growing interest in the environment and wellbeing led to a complete rebuilding of the spa centre in 2005, connected by an inclined lift to the town centre.

For more information, please visit www.thermesdespa.com

See all photos

The Spa-Francorchamps motor-racing circuit

Located around 20 km from Spa, in the village of Francorchamps, the circuit that hosts the Belgian Grand Prix is one of the most famous in the world. Apart from the famous F1 drivers, visitors can also test their skills there!

Rebuilt to new safety standards in 2007, the circuit laps are just over 7 km long. Visitors can explore the pits and stands and then travel as a passenger in a racing car driven by a professional, or they can even drive themselves, from pole position, waiting for the chequered flag just like the champions.

The first Spa 24-hour race was held in 1924, followed by the first Belgian Grand Prix in 1925. The circuit’s setting amid the Ardennes forest and its difficulty quickly led to it becoming a favourite with drivers and spectators alike.

For more information, please visit www.spa-francorchamps.be

Useful information

More information on the Thermes of Spa:   www.thermesdespa.com   More information on the racetrack of Spa-Francorchamps :   www.spa-francorchamps.be

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Today, Spa-Francorchamps is a true tourist and sporting attraction, hosting international and national races as well as all kinds of test drives, experiences, visits and team building.

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Discover race driving on the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps circuit, in complete safety as a passenger. Accompanied by an experienced driver, get whisked off in our Alpine A110s during an unforgettable experience. Two adrenalin-fuelled and thrilling laps of the track await you, with excitement guaranteed at every turn!

Explore the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in your own car! The Public Driving Experience gives you the chance to take to the track, reserved exclusively for enthusiasts. Here, the emphasis is not on competition (you are not timed) but on enjoyment and respect for all participants, whatever their level of skill.

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I Visited Some of Europe's Most Charming Spa Towns by Train — Here's What It Was Like

The European Route of Historic Thermal Towns offers a dreamy train adventure like no other.

Carole Rosenblat

As I gaze out the window at perfectly straight rows of green vines rising up the gently rolling hills, I picture knights on horseback riding toward the medieval castles at the top and towering over the Rhine River. I’m sitting in a comfortable seat on a train at a table across from travel companions — a small group of journalists — when a waiter stops by, asking if we’d like something to eat or drink. A cold beer and hot chili arrive a few minutes later. This is so much better than being in an uncomfortable airplane seat, staring at the clouds after waiting in multiple lines, emptying electronics from my backpack, dumping my water, and removing my coat and shoes. On top of it, the train I’m traveling on is releasing significantly fewer carbon emissions. Though this mode takes more time to arrive at my destinations, it’s much easier to get to small, historic towns that aren’t readily accessible by airplanes.

I’m traveling along a small portion of the European Route of Historic Thermal Towns , one of more than 45 routes certified by the Council of Europe.

We begin the trip in Spa, Belgium (yes, the actual name of the city), one of 11 towns in seven countries that, in 2021, were designated " transnational serial " World Heritage Sites by UNESCO, known as The Great Spa Towns of Europe. Spa’s thermal springs were first documented nearly 2,000 years ago and became known as places of relaxation around the world. Only two hours by train from Brussels, this favorite of Czar Peter the Great quickly becomes a favorite of mine.

Strolling through the streets of this town of 10,000 residents, I see bakeries serving meringue cookies, cheese shops, and cafes. Locals offer a friendly " bonjour " as they pass. 10 colorful statues of Pierrot (Peter, as in the Great), the city’s symbol of a jumping clown and mascot of the bottled water originating here, dot the streets. And the casino, a staple of historic spa towns, sits in the center of it all.

After walking around, we head up the funicular to Thermes de Spa . Three types of water feed the spa: one for drinking, one for pools, and one for both drinking and spa treatments. While all of the water originating directly from the thermal springs tastes of salt and sulfur — the result of underground mineral concentrations— these flavors change depending on what spring the water comes from. Some even offer a bit of unexpected natural carbonation.

Exiting the locker room to the thermal spaces, we luxuriate in pools of varying temperatures, from polar-plunge cold to aah, I’m never getting out . After trying out every pool (indoor and outdoor), shower, and sauna, and relaxing with a post-soak beer, we head to Hôtel La Reine to change before dinner at the property's Michelin-listed restaurant, La Cour de la Reine .

The following morning, a short walk leads us to the train station for the 4.5-hour ride to Bad Ems, Germany . We’re using Interrail Flexi Global Passes , which allow us a certain number of days of unlimited travel by train in two or more countries within one month. We have the seven-day flexi passes, but you can get different time periods for these, from four to 15 days. With a few exceptions, this pass lets us travel on almost all trains in Europe without reservations, offering flexibility when a train is late or plans change. (Interrail passes are for citizens and legal residents of European countries; for everyone else, Eurail passes do the same thing.) We soon encounter another benefit.

Two and a half hours into our trip, we stop in Cologne, Germany, to change trains. Our 40-minute connection time gives us a window for a quick visit to the Cologne Cathedral . Rising high directly across the street from the main train station, the 775-year-old architectural masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and at one time, the tallest building in the world. We don’t have time to fully explore it (that could take the better part of a day), but we do get a chance to admire its beauty on the outside and in. One fellow traveler watches our bags, though we could have also used the automated luggage storage system at the train station. And if we didn’t have a schedule to keep, we could even hop on a later train and explore more.

We arrive in Bad Ems in the early afternoon. Sometimes called the "Imperial Spa,” Bad Ems was one of Germany's most famous bathing resorts in the 17th and 18th centuries. A destination where royalty, politicians, musicians, and writers flocked, it became a place to see and be seen. Though we have no celebrity sightings while walking along the river on this rainy afternoon, our local guide points out the many buildings lining the waterfront that date from the start of a boom time from the 1820s to 1860s. Soon after the railway was built in 1858, posters advertised, “Depart Paris at 9 p.m. and arrive in Bad Ems at 9 a.m.”

Continuing our walk along the historic colonnade — another hallmark of historic thermal towns — we find the casino, Spa Theatre, and Marble Hall. Painted in a creamy yellow, the building has gold chandeliers hanging from deep-green silks. Elaborate decorative tiles cover the ceiling and walls, giving visitors the feeling that the great composer Offenbach might step onto the stage at the front of the room at any moment.

While a few of people in our group choose to take a ride on the town’s funicular, most of us decide a warm thermal bath is the perfect follow-up to an interesting yet cold and rainy walking tour. Heading back to the modern Emser ThermenHotel , with rooms decorated in royal blue, we pass the Old Town Hall and its arc of 12 bells hanging atop and ringing a selection of tunes three times per day.

My travel companions and I meet in the hotel’s thermal pools, but not before passing an area of fully nude bathers filling the large entry area holding saunas, steam rooms, showers, and lockers — a reminder that coed bathing is common in Germany and Austria (nudity is often a requirement to use some areas of facilities). Trying to play it cool, I head to the shower area, and after a quick rinse, I explore the many thermal pools bubbling up in different patterns. Outdoor whirlpools wind us in circles; big, massaging bubbles come from below our backs and bums; and thermal rain showers fall from deep-blue lights. We finally head outdoors to the dry sauna sitting along the riverbank. While the pools require clothing, this coed sauna calls for nudity, so we strip down and nobody takes notice.

The next day, we awake to enjoy a huge breakfast at our hotel. If I didn't have a train to catch, I would spend the morning at the restaurant and all day at the thermal spa. But the train calls, and by 8 a.m., we’re riding the rails again. It’s a long day on the train today — nine hours — but enjoyable. We arrive at the station only 15 minutes before our scheduled departure, another convenience of train travel .

We pass the time reading, napping, working (yes, there’s Wi-Fi), and enjoying the fantastic scenery. This part of our route travels by way of the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley , taking us through charming villages, alongside hills topped with medieval castles, and past the Lorelei rock, famous in poems, songs, and folklore that tell the tale of the siren Lorelei, who called out to fishermen from the rock, distracting them with her beauty and causing them to crash their boats into the rocks below.

Arriving in Baden bei Wien (literally, Baden near Vienna), we transfer to our hotel, At the Park , which is both the name and the location, as it sits on the edge of Kurpark. The 200-year-old park is filled with colorful floral gardens, fountains, and monuments, including the Beethoven Temple. Atop the hill in the southeast corner of the park, this domed attraction overhung with ivy is not only a monument to the composer, but also the best place to watch the sunset.

Awaking refreshed, we’re ready to join our local guide for a walking tour. With 26,000 residents, Baden bei Wien is a bit larger than the towns we’ve explored thus far, and though the rainy October day keeps most inside, it isn’t difficult to imagine the wide pedestrian streets filled with spring and summertime crowds. After walking through the park, we head down below to explore the narrow tunnels leading to a glass dome looking down into the original spring that continues to flow after thousands of years.

We move on to the Beethoven Haus , a museum in the building where the composer spent some of his 15 summers in Baden. It was here, in a first-floor apartment with pastel-pink and green painted walls (amazingly rediscovered during restorations), that he composed the "Ode to Joy" section of his Ninth Symphony. We follow this with a visit to the Arnulf Rainer Museum . Dedicated to the works of the contemporary artist, the museum is housed in a stylish former bathhouse built in 1821. With paintings hanging above sunken marble tubs and in former changing cubicles, the building is just as impressive as the artwork and fits perfectly with the city’s heritage.

Late afternoon brings another train ride, this one a short three hours to the Hungarian capital of Budapest . By far the largest city we visit on this trip, Budapest has 123 thermal springs flowing beneath the city that fill a multitude of baths. We head straight to the famous Danube River for a dinner cruise with traditional Hungarian music and dancers. With the stunning scenery of the waterfront, no further entertainment is needed.

The evening continues with a look at Sparty , the spa party held every Friday and Saturday night at Széchenyi Thermal Bath . With DJs, lasers, and hundreds of partiers dancing and drinking in the enormous outdoor pools, the crowd is a bit young for us and so we move on to Rudas Bath . The five pools in the 450-year-old Turkish bath on the lower level are surrounded by arch-topped columns and domed ceilings, making people feel as if they’ve traveled back in time. The strong sulfur smell is testament to the mineral content of the waters. After soaking in each pool, we head up to the small, modern thermal pool on the top of the building. While the view overlooking the Danube and brightly lit buildings across is stunning, this particular Saturday night proves way too crowded with partiers and couples. After a long day, it’s time for bed.

Our final day brings us back to Széchenyi, where we dip in the multitude of indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, and steam rooms. Still, the things that set Széchenyi apart are its size — it's big — and stunning architecture.

With our skin waterlogged, and about as relaxed as a person can get, we accept that it's time to end our journey. Some of my travel companions fly home, while others take the train. I catch a taxi, arriving at my apartment within 15 minutes. Still, I’m a bit envious of the train travelers. It's clear, I'm hooked on this greener, more leisurely, and very relaxing way of travel.

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