DID YOU know that the word ‘spa’ comes from a European town by the same name that actually is responsible for wellness traditions?
Spa in Belgium is a small town sat in a valley of the Ardennes Mountains and is often known as the Pearl of the Ardennes.
It’s one of Belgium‘s most popular tourist destinations and with good reason, because the town is full of natural mineral springs.
Perhaps you also know the name of the town due to the racing Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, which hosts the annual Formula One Belgian Grand Prix.
But Spa’s spa history dates back a lot longer than the noise of a motor engine…
Way back in the 16th and 17th centuries, the town became known for its iron-rich mineral springs that people used to think could heal them of injuries and illnesses.
Read more on travel inspo
The original experience in the town was ‘drinking therapy’, where people would drink a large amount of the iron-rich water, rather than bathe in it.
Then in 1717, Peter the Great of Russia visited and drank the water for a month and miraculously, was ‘cured’ of his severe health issues including liver and digestive problems.
This was the start of mass tourism heading to the town, with international visitors flocking to Spa for its healing waters.
This trend continued into the 18th century when Spa became a fashionable resort town known as the ‘Cafe of Europe’.
Many elite members of society would travel to Spa to treat health conditions but also participate a number of other activities including gambling.
Then in the 19th century, there was more of a focus on bathing as the town opened new thermal baths.
It’s because of the town’s long history and fame, that the word ‘spa’ was adopted into the English language and used widely as a term for a resort with therapeutic water.
Finally, in 2021, Spa was recognised as part of UNESCO World Heritage Site’s the Great Spa Towns of Europe.
Today, visitors can still relish in the benefits of Spa’s water.
One of the top spots for visitors today is Thermes de Spa – a resort which overlooks the town with peat baths, traditional copper baths, outdoor pools and relaxation experiences.
The spa experience includes a 70C sauna and a 40C to 45C hammam.
For those who want to embrace naturism, there is an area for this with a panoramic sauna, a hammam, a 36C hot tub, a 38C bath, a 20C cold bath and three foot baths.
There are a number of relaxation areas too including a red light therapy area and a blue light room, which if you spend 20 to 30 minutes in, it is equivalent of a day high in the mountains.
And of course, there are a number of baths as well.
The water for all of the spa comes from the Marie-Henriette Spring, which is the oldest of Spa’s waters dating back over 400 years.
If you fancy learning more about the history of the town, head to the Museum of the City of Water.
Inside, visitors can learn about four centuries of history in the town.
You can also venture into one of the first casinos in the world, which opened in 1763.
Many European royals used to visit Casino de Spa and visitors can still head there today.
For those who love being in the outdoors, there’s RAVeL trails, which are converted railway lines and a great way of seeing the Ardennes and its historic villages including Stavelot and Francorchamps.
Or if you prefer a bit of adrenaline, make sure to check out SpaForest, which is an adventure park with tree-climbing courses, ziplines and rope bridges.
When it comes to choosing somewhere to stay in the town, obviously a lot of the options include wellness facilities.
You could stay at the four-star Van der Valk Hotel Spa with direct access to Les Thermes de Spa thermal Baths.
A room costs from £80 per night.
Or you could decide to stay at the Radisson Blu Balmoral Hotel, costing from £97 per night.
It is surrounded by dense forest, features suites with separate living areas and has an indoor pool, sauna and a Turkish bath.
The easiest way to get to Spa from the UK is by flying to Brussels, which costs from £28 return.
From there, you can jump on a train which takes less than two hours to reach Spa, costing from £13.64 a-way.
Alternatively, you could get the Eurostar to Brussels and switch trains to reach Spa.
For more inspiration on destinations to explore in Europe, there’s one city with 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and it has been named the best destination to visit in 2026.
Plus, these are the 39 best European city break destinations – and the number one spot is very cheap.