The flowing fountains of the Alhambra in Granada reflect the Moorish water traditions that helped shape Spain’s historic bathing and spa culture. Photo: Deposit Photos
By Carolyn Worthington
For some travelers, planning the next vacation revolves around a checklist—iconic landmarks to see, a golf itinerary to follow, a cruise filled with activities, or a stretch of beach reserved for doing very little at all.
However, there’s a new trend steeped in history these days that’s gaining popularity among active travelers aged 45 and older: wellness travel.
Wellness vacations focus on physical and mental renewal and often include activities like exploration, sightseeing, sports, and fun. According to the Global Wellness Institute, nearly one in five trips worldwide now includes a wellness element, such as a spa visit, a nature retreat, or a restorative cultural experience.
Such trips offer a chance to relax, recharge, and return home feeling even better than when you started.
Traveling for health and rejuvenation may feel like a modern trend, but Europeans have been doing it for centuries. Visitors once traveled to spa towns to “take the waters,” soaking in mineral-rich springs believed to ease aching joints, improve circulation, and restore energy. Roman bathhouses, Ottoman hammams, and the grand spa resorts of the 19th century all grew from this long-standing belief in the healing power of water.
Ruins of the ancient Roman villa of Baelo Claudia in Andalusia. Photo: Deposit Photos
Spain has been part of that story for more than two thousand years. Roman engineers built bath complexes around natural hot springs across the Iberian Peninsula, many of which continue to flow today.
Later, during the Moorish era, bathing traditions evolved into sophisticated rituals of relaxation and restoration, blending architecture, water, and quiet reflection.
Across Spain, thermal springs have long been part of everyday life in many towns and villages. Roman legions bathed in them. Medieval pilgrims sought them out. Today, travelers rediscover them amid a growing interest in wellness tourism.
Today, those traditions continue in historic balnearios—thermal spa resorts built around mineral springs that still flow from the earth. Spain’s healing waters often take more than one form.
From “thalassotherapy” in Castellon, the riverside baths of Galicia to mountain spas in Aragón and the candlelit hammams of Andalusia, Spain’s spa towns offer travelers something increasingly rare: the chance to slow down, reconnect with the rhythms of daily life, and experience wellness the way it has been practiced for centuries.
Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso. Photo courtesy of hotel.
Thalassotherapy in Benicàssim: Spain’s Seaside Spa Tradition
Several years ago, I visited the Mediterranean seaside town of Benicàssim, a beach resort in Spain’s Castellón province in the Valencian Community, north of Valencia. It’s here where Spain’s wellness traditions take on another form—thalassotherapy, the therapeutic use of seawater and marine elements.
We had been looking forward to this since arriving in town two days earlier—an afternoon devoted entirely to pampering and thalassotherapy. The word “thalassotherapy”comes from the Greek thalassa, meaning sea, and refers to the use of seawater and other marine products for therapeutic purposes.
Sounded pretty good.
Perched on a quiet hillside overlooking the Mediterranean is Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso, a graceful mansion nestled among pine trees just a short walk from the beach. The province of Castellón is known for its natural springs and long-standing spa traditions, with several towns in the region developing wellness resorts around their mineral waters.
El Palasiet has been offering thalassotherapy treatments for more than forty years. The therapeutic use of seawater in Spain was pioneered in 1963 by Dr. Joaquín Farnós, who helped introduce modern thalassotherapy programs to the country. Today, Palasiet is considered one of Spain’s oldest and most established thalassotherapy centers.
The concept itself is far older, tracing back thousands of years to Roman bathing culture and later spa traditions throughout Europe.
Perched on a quiet hillside overlooking the Mediterranean is Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso. Photos: Palasiet Wellness Clinic
The Thalasso therapy program offered at Palasiet is touted to:
- Relieve pain and physical discomfort by reducing muscle tension, inflammation, and joint pain.
- Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
The setting alone invites relaxation. Pine trees shade the hillside, the Mediterranean sparkles below, and the beach is just a two-minute walk away.
Guests can enroll in longer wellness programs that combine medical supervision, nutrition guidance, and exercise sessions, or simply choose individual treatments.
Options range from massages and mud baths to shiatsu, reflexology, and marine-based facials—including one called the “facial vitalift,” described as a global age-defying treatment designed to smooth wrinkles and reduce puffiness.
The spa also offers multi-day wellness programs. One five-day “Slimming” package includes medical and dietary supervision, hydrotherapy treatments with marine algae, exercise sessions, and more.
But perhaps the most entertaining experience is the biomarine circuit, which reminded us somewhat of circuit training in a gym—except far more relaxing.
The circuit begins in a salt-water indoor pool heated to a soothing 96.8°F, then moves to waterbeds in the pool, massage jets to help with stiff necks and tired backs, a sauna, and whirlpool baths before returning to the pool.
We tried the massage—wonderful—and soaked in both the indoor and outdoor salt-water pools. At one point, we joked that perhaps we had stumbled into the movie Cocoon, wondering if we might emerge looking years younger when we left.
Whether or not that happens, the immediate effect is undeniable.
We left the spa with tingling skin and pleasantly wobbly legs and decided our final dinner in Benicàssim should be very close by.
Hotel Volamar. Photo: Courtesy of the hotel
From our balcony, we had been watching a steady stream of guests arriving each evening at a stately beachfront hotel just down the promenade. Taxis pulled up beside gleaming Bentleys, delivering well-dressed diners.
It was the Hotel Voramar, the grand dame of Benicàssim.
Naturally, we had to go there for our final dinner. Wonderful!
Spain’s Spa Towns: More Places to Experience Healing Waters
What makes Spain special from a spa-seeker standpoint, each region offers its own interpretation of wellness—from riverside thermal springs and mountain balnearios to Moorish hammams and modern spa retreats. In addition to Valencia, here are other places to explore for those seeking a true wellness vacation:
(Clockwise, top) Ponte Romana, Ourense; beloved octopus dish pulpo a feira; region’s signature almond cake, tarta de Santiago. Photos: Deposit Photos
Galicia: Steam Rising from Ancient Stone
In northwestern Spain, the region of Galicia is synonymous with thermal waters. The provincial capital of Ourense proudly calls itself the “City of Water,” thanks to the hot springs that bubble up along the Miño River and throughout the surrounding countryside.
Visitors come not only for the soothing mineral baths but also for Galicia’s renowned gastronomy. Fresh Atlantic seafood is a highlight of the region’s cuisine—Dublin Bay prawns, scallops, mussels, lobster, crab, and the beloved octopus dish pulpo a feira, traditionally served with potatoes and paprika. For dessert, the region’s signature almond cake, tarta de Santiago, is a must-try.
Among the region’s most inviting spa destinations are:
Arnoia Caldaria Spa Resort in Galicia combines thermal waters, forested landscapes, and peaceful terraces overlooking the Arnoia River valley. Photo: Courtesy of (c) Balneario Arnoia
Arnoia Caldaria Spa Resort – Located in a peaceful natural setting where the Miño and Arnoia Rivers meet, this resort combines thermal treatments with scenic landscapes and opportunities for outdoor exploration.
Termas de Cuntis – One of Galicia’s most historic spa complexes, located in the charming village of Cuntis. The spa and hotel are surrounded by large private parks along the banks of the Gallo River, creating a tranquil environment for relaxation.
Hot springs Muiño da Veiga, along riverbed in Ourense, Spain. Photo: Deposit Photos
Both destinations reflect Galicia’s long tradition of combining natural landscapes, thermal waters, and restorative travel.
Aragón: Mountain Air and Mineral Springs
In northeastern Spain, the autonomous community of Aragón offers a different kind of wellness experience—one defined by mountain landscapes and fresh alpine air.
Bordered by France and surrounded by several of Spain’s other autonomous regions, Aragón is home to twelve historic spa towns, with thermal baths located throughout the Pyrenees, the Iberian mountain range, and the southern province of Teruel.
Albarracin.. a medieval town in Teruel province of Spain. Photo: Deposit Photos
Among the most notable spa destinations are:
Panticosa Spa Resort – Nestled in the Tena Valley in the Aragonese Pyrenees, Panticosa is one of Spain’s most dramatic spa settings. Surrounded by high mountain peaks and alpine lakes, the resort features historic spa buildings alongside modern wellness facilities. Guests can enjoy thermal treatments, outdoor activities, and regional Aragonese cuisine.
Balneario La Virgen – Set deep within the Mesa River canyon, this spa sits among dramatic rock walls and the rushing waters of the river below, creating a remarkably quiet place to relax.
Segura Balneario – This four-star spa resort focuses on restoring balance between body and mind through mineral-rich waters and therapeutic treatments. In addition to its thermal circuits and wellness therapies, the resort offers physiotherapy and beauty treatments using thermal cosmetics, complemented by carefully prepared cuisine designed to support relaxation.
Together, these mountain spa towns demonstrate how Aragón combines wellness travel with the beauty of its rugged landscapes.
Historic Arab baths inside the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra in Granada feature vaulted ceilings pierced with star-shaped skylights, a hallmark of Moorish hammam design. Photo: Deposit Photos
Andalusia: Moorish Water Traditions Reimagined
In southern Spain, the region of Andalusia brings another dimension to Spain’s spa culture. Centuries of Moorish influence shaped a deep appreciation for water, gardens, and architectural beauty—elements that remain central to the region’s wellness traditions.
In Granada’s historic Albaicín district, visitors can explore El Bañuelo, one of the best-preserved medieval Arab bathhouses in Spain. The vaulted rooms and star-shaped skylights offer a glimpse of the hammam tradition that once flourished throughout the city.
In Granada, Hammam Al Ándalus recreates the historic Arab bath experience with softly lit pools of varying temperatures. Visitors move gradually through warm, hot, and cool baths designed to relax muscles, stimulate circulation, and encourage deep calmness.
(Clockwise from top) Lanjaron aerial panoramic view. Lanjaron is a town in the Alpujarras area in the province of Granada in Andalusia Spain; freshly fried seafood (pescaíto frito); salmorejo, a rich tomato-based soup. Photos: Deposit Photos
Nearby, the spa town of Lanjarón, located at the gateway to the Sierra Nevada mountains, is famous for its mineral waters and long-standing balneario tradition. Ideas for enjoying the spa experience in Lanjaron with children and grandchildren include Balneario de Archena, Balneario Puente Viesgo (Cantabria) and Hotel Balneari Termes Orion (Girona).
Modern wellness facilities also complement Andalusia’s historic bathing culture. Vaho Spa Center, for example, offers a hydrothermal circuit with massage jets, bubble beds, cold plunge pools, saunas, steam rooms, and chromotherapy relaxation areas designed to stimulate circulation and ease stress.
Another tranquil retreat is Spa Wellness Grazalema, located within the dramatic landscapes of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. Here, hydrotherapy treatments use varying water temperatures and pressures to relieve muscle tension, improve circulation, and restore balance.
For something entirely different, visitors can even experience the unusual relaxation of Sanlúcar Fish Spa in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where traditional spa treatments are combined with the popular “garra rufa” fish therapy experience.
Of course, no visit to Andalusia is complete without exploring the region’s celebrated cuisine. The flavors of southern Spain range from the famous sherries of Jerez and Montilla-Moriles to dishes such as freshly fried seafood (pescaíto frito), cured ham from Huelva, olive oil, gazpacho, and salmorejo, a rich tomato-based soup.
So, Why Not Make It a Spa Vacation?
From the thalassotherapy treatments in Castellón to the riverside springs of Galicia, the mountain spas of Aragón, the Moorish hammams of Andalusia, and the seawater therapies along the Mediterranean coast, Spain’s wellness traditions share a simple philosophy.
Relaxation and renewal don’t require elaborate programs—sometimes all it takes is warm water, beautiful surroundings, and time to slow down. All elements Spain has been perfecting for more than two thousand years.
So, as you plan your next vacation, why not make restoration part of the journey? A spa experience in Spain might be exactly what you need.
This article is part of a 2026 editorial partnership with the Spain Tourism Office.
