Spa trips worth flying for
Four famous places to soak or be massaged. For each one: which ticket to buy, what it costs, how to get there from the airport, and the rules to know before you go.
- Lagoons and thermal baths
- Thai massage
- Japanese onsen
Photo: Marcelo Gonzalez on Pexels.
What are you in the mood for?
Bucket listISK 11,990Comfort ticketSoak outdoors in a geothermal lagoonBlue Lagoon, Iceland: which ticket to buy and how to get thereRead the guide 
City break13,200 FtSzéchenyi day ticket, fromGrand historic baths in a city breakBudapest thermal baths: which bath, which ticket and what it costsRead the guide 
Massage520 bahtWat Pho, 60 minutesA traditional massage at a famous templeThai massage in Bangkok: Wat Pho or a spa you can book aheadRead the guide 
Slow travelVariesBy bath and townQuiet hot springs and old bath townsJapan onsen guide: etiquette, tattoo rules and where to goRead the guide
Card photos from Pexels: It's MJ!, Domenico Adornato, Diana Light, 家豪 陳. Prices from each guide, where you can see the date we checked them.
Compare the four trips
| Trip | Good for | Price | Know before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Lagoon, Iceland | A stop on the way to or from Keflavík | ISK 11,990Comfort ticket | Minimum age: 2 years |
| Budapest thermal baths | A day of pools and saunas in the city | 13,200 FtSzéchenyi day ticket, from | Minimum age: 14 at Széchenyi |
| Thai massage, Bangkok | An easy hour between sights | 520 bahtWat Pho, 60 minutes | Book-ahead spas: From €18.65 on Tiqets |
| Onsen, Japan | A night or two away from the big cities | VariesBy bath and town | Tattoos: Varies by bath: ask first |
Looking for a longer retreat?
Yoga, detox and Ayurveda retreats have their own guide, by country.
Wellness and yoga retreats