Winter can play havoc with a girl’s (and also a boy’s) beauty regime and now that summer is on the horizon, it’s time to get the glow back in your skin and treat yourself to a heavenly spa break.
There’s no better place to enjoy a luxurious spa experience than in the Nordics, a region famous for its Swedish massages, relaxing saunas and hot springs – making it the ideal place to rejuvenate and relax. Here we’ve found the region’s best spa hotels for you to unwind in.
Situated on the waterfront, the Grand Hôtel offers unequalled views of the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town. Nobel Laureates, royalty and celebrities have all at one point made this hotel a home away from home.
If you want to live the high life and experience some authentic Scandinavian luxury, why not sample some of the treatments available in the Grand Hôtel’s sumptuous spa? Inspired by all things Nordic, the therapies range from Artic detox and Swedish massages to luxurious Nordic baths.
Arken Hotel is the ideal hotel for both art lovers and spa enthusiasts. The hotel foyer regularly exhibits works from both famous and locally renowned artists and there’s also a private in-house gallery for guests to enjoy.
The healing power of nature is a key theme in the hotel’s Art Garden Spa. Here you can relax in the outdoor hot springs and enjoy the superior sea and garden views. Why not indulge yourself with a revitalising water massage or with a trip to the sauna?
Just ten miles from Copenhagen is The Kurhotel Skodsborg. Since opening its doors in 1898, the hotel has continually promoted healthy lifestyle choices. This decision is evident in the spa, where relaxation and rejuvenation are encouraged through bathing traditions based on light, air, nutrition, exercise and rest.
In the hotel spa you can choose from several types of traditional treatments including massages, body wraps and beauty therapies, as well as other non-conventional options, such as Craniosacral Therapy which treats imbalances in the nervous system.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of mountainous lava fields, the ION Luxury Adventure hotel is just an hour’s drive from Reykjavik. As the name suggests, adventure plays a big role in what the hotel has to offer but so does utter relaxation. Normally these themes don’t go hand-in-hand but ION ensures that they perfectly complement one another.
Where else could you climb a glacier, hike through the mountains before relaxing in a ten-metre heated outdoor swimming pool? The hotel’s Lava Spa specialises in treatments which incorporate Icelandic herbs and sea salt, so you can indulge yourself with a relaxing massage after a hard day exploring.
The Thief has established itself as one of Norway’s finest hotels. Situated on the seafront in the city district of Tjuvholmen, it offers unsurpassed views of the canals and the Oslofjord. With an award-winning interior design, The Thief’s plush surroundings provide the ideal place to unwind.
The Thief Spa first opened in March 2014 and much like the hotel, it oozes style and elegance. The spa offers several different types of treatments including seaweed wraps, Turkish baths and Finnish saunas. There’s also a resident make-up artist and hairdresser, so whatever beauty emergency you may have, The Thief can fix it.
A stone’s throw from Helsinki is the Långvik Congress Wellness Hotel, which provides visitors with an oasis of calm. This idyllic hotel is situated by the sea, but also neighbours a lush dense forest which allows guests to enjoy the benefits of both.
Långvik Spa is famous for its wide variety of treatments including collagen anti-ageing facials, hot stone massages and traditional Finnish sauna. In the pool area guests can also relax by an open fire whilst enjoying a drink from the bar.
Already a popular tourist destination, the views along the Geriangerfjord are simply breathtaking. If the spectacular coastal scenery isn’t enough to warrant a visit, the Hotel Union definitely is.
The hotel’s large spa offers more than 30 specialty treatments all of which were inspired by Scandinavian nature. Why not take a dip in the outdoor Jacuzzi and enjoy the fresh breeze whilst admiring the impressive mountain views.