Spas Archives ⋆ The Passenger

July 12, 2024January 30, 2025

Upper Hot Springs

The Banff Upper Hot Springs is a historic and relaxing destination nestled in the heart of Banff National Park, offering visitors the chance to soak in naturally heated, mineral-rich waters while enjoying breathtaking mountain views. The hot springs have been a popular attraction since their discovery in the 1880s, with Indigenous peoples long recognizing their healing properties. The temperature of the water varies seasonally, typically ranging between 37°C and 40°C, making it the perfect spot to unwind after a day of exploring the Rockies.

July 10, 2024January 30, 2025

Miette Hot Springs

Looking for a warm bath while enjoying great views? Miette Hot Springs (located in Jasper National Park) is one of the hottest mineral springs in the Canadian Rockies, with water temperatures reaching up to 54°C at the source. The springs have a rich history, with Indigenous peoples using the waters for centuries for their therapeutic properties. In the early 1900s, the hot springs became a popular destination for tourists, and the current pool facility was built in the 1980s, offering visitors a chance to relax in the healing waters while surrounded by breathtaking mountain views.

March 3, 2024March 17, 2024

Illuminated

The region around Lake Constance is one which offers a lot for tourists and especially for the cold and rainy days that happen throughout the year multiple spas have been created along the shore of the lake. The one closest to Konstanz is the Bodensee-Therme, an indoor and outdoor pool as well as a sauna three kilometers afar from the city center. In summer times you can also jump into the lake for relaxation. The Bodensee-Therme is beautifully illuminated at night and the best feature is the nice view on the lake from the outside pool.

February 3, 2024February 6, 2024

Rosenquelle

The reason to found the city of Aachen in exactly its current position and to create a Kaiserpfalz there is the existence of hot springs. Water is heated up in the underground and appearing in different places of the city center – the most obvious of one of these is the Kaiserquelle, today mostly named Elisenbrunnen. A hidden one is the Rosenquelle which is hidden today: its waters are 47 degrees Celsius hot at the surface and it is transported from the city centre to a spa, the Carolus-Thermen.

January 6, 2024January 10, 2024

Vierordtbad

The oldest bathhouse of Karlsruhe can be found close to the congress center and the Zoologischer Stadtgarten in a historic building made of red bricks. It dates back to the year 1873 and was realised with money donated by the banker Heinrich Vierordt. When he died he inherited 60,000 Gulden to the city which were planned to errect a market hall – but the sellers on the market of Karlsruhe protested against.

October 6, 2023December 19, 2023

Chreli Abano

One of the delights of a visit to თბილისი are the different sulphur spas that were formerly found throughout many parts of the city. Today you can find different of them at the bath district close to the city center, opposite to Metechi. The most famous nowadays is Chreli Abano, the luxurious one with the impressive facade giving it an oriental look.

October 2, 2023November 12, 2023

Sulphur baths

The legend says that თბილისი was founded exactly at its current location because of hot springs that existed in different places throughout the city. The water coming from these springs contains sulphur and iron and is therefore a bit smelly, but it is also said to be healthy. I cannot prove that, but at least it is relaxing to hang out in hot water. 😉 The hot springs of თბილისი are typically between 24 and 45 degrees Celsius warm and today you’ll find the spas using them only in one place: the spa quarter underneath the Nariqala fortress next to the old city center.

September 9, 2023September 14, 2023

Calypso

In need for a break while being at Saarbrücken, Germany? Close to the Deutsch-Französischer Garten (DFG) you can find the Calypso Bade- & Saunawelt; a nice spa and sauna. Families will enjoy the bathing section with a special children’s area, a diving section with a reef and a sunken submarine and a wild river. The sauna part of the Calypso offers relaxation in different kinds of saunas, a nice outdoor pool and at the great bar located within.

August 21, 2023September 8, 2023

SALT

When you’re walking from the Operahuset of Oslo along the fjord and the Langkaia road you will see an improvised cultural center with pyramid shaped houses, the SALT. It is a nomadic art project created in 2014 that was already set-up at Nordland and Bergen, currently it can be found at Oslo. The current allowance guarantees its perfect location until 2027, but you never know whether it is going to be extended. It hosts six stages used for a colorful mix of art and different food trucks; you can order drinks and food via smartphone and they get delivered to the tables next to the water.

July 10, 2023July 24, 2023

Sky Lagoon

When you’re at Reykjavík and searching for the right spa to relax you have a tough choice to make. You can drive by car to the Reykjanes peninsula and visit the famous blue lagoon (Bláa Lónið). They market it as one of the wonders of the world, but actually it is just a (beautiful!) lake in a volcanic environment filled with water from a geothermic plant. If you want to skip this often overcrowded place you should have a look at the sky lagoon directly in the capital city. It was opened in 2021 and is located directly at the shore.