8 of the Top Traditional Spa Experiences Around the World

These steam baths once drew inspiration from ancient Roman bathhouses, but the refined rituals that unfold within some Turkish hammams elevate public bathing to a fine art. Istanbul’s most elegant baths date back to the 16th century, with soaring architecture and marble rooms dedicated to steaming and scrubbing your way to relaxation. Many include a vigorous scrub-down with entry to the spa, and some Turkish hammams even have dedicated spaces for lounging over post-bath Turkish tea and sweets.

Geothermal energy simmers under volcanic Japan, fueling sulfurous natural hot springs, or onsen, that have long been seen as a source of health and pleasure. Bathers must be fully nude to enter the onsen, and the majority are gender-separated. (Visitors with visible tattoos might find themselves barred from some onsen, as well.) Options range from the spectacular natural setting of Hoheikyo Onsen to urban versions in central Tokyo, but there are thousands of hot pools to choose from.

Finnish sauna culture is a year-round tradition. While many local people have saunas in their backyards—and some lucky visitors might be invited to enter one—there are also plenty of public saunas for travelers to experience. While rules vary, most Finnish people visit saunas fully nude, sitting quietly on towels and sweating in the heat. Be polite: If you talk too loudly, you might annoy the saunaton.

Domed sweat lodges have been used by Indigenous people in Mesoamerica for centuries, and traces of ancient versions have even been found while excavating Maya ruins. While temazcals fell out of use in many parts of Mexico, recent years have seen something of a resurgence. Visitors can experience the intense steam heat of temazcals everywhere from Playa del Carmen to the Oaxaca highlands and Teotihuacan. Often, a trip to the baths includes massaging your limbs with bundles of fragrant herbs, and a ritual spiritual cleansing called a limpia.

Much of Iceland is powered by geothermal heat, so it’s no surprise that there’s plenty of naturally hot water to go around—the famed (and artificial) Blue Lagoon outside of Reykjavik is just the most prominent example. Today, geothermal pools in Iceland range from elegant seaside spas with high-end treatments to undeveloped natural springs where the water simply bubbles up from the ground. Bring a bathing suit and don’t forget to scrub before you soak.

In the 18th century, a kind of international European spa culture emerged, one that eventually saw the continent’s rich and famous hopping between towns renowned for healing waters, palatial baths, and, usually, a lot of gambling. Eleven of these spa towns are now part of the UNESCO–designated Great Spas of Europe, where you can still enjoy the mineral waters that were once a royal rage. They range from Germany’s Baden-Baden to Bath, England, and Vichy, France.

Related: The 11 Must-Visit Great Spa Towns of Europe

These public baths share a name—and some history—with the Turkish version, but Moroccan hammams have rituals that are all their own. Traditionally, they were located alongside bakeries, so the hot ovens could do double duty by heating water. The fully nude and gender-separated baths range from neighborhood hubs to chic and silent spas; attendants with soapy loofahs scrub visitors until they glow. If you prefer not to dive straight into group bathing, some hammams also offer private experiences.

Thermal springs surrounding Budapest have been a draw since ancient Roman times, and the Hungarian capital has claimed the nickname “City of Spas” since 1934. The most popular surviving bathhouses are sprawling, extravagant complexes that can host thousands, from the art nouveau Gellert Baths built in 1918 to the mineral-rich indoor-outdoor pools at Széchenyi Thermal Spa. The baths aren’t all about relaxation: Széchenyi Thermal Spa is known for its weekend spa parties—or “sparties”—featuring DJs, dancing in outdoor pools, and laser light shows.