Hotels
Nature spa breaks: 8 places to unwind in Scandinavia and the Alps
Wellness in nature is one of the big travel trends for 2027. These are the spa hotels we would choose, from a seaside spa in Norway and glass igloos in Lapland to an infinity pool above Lake Lucerne.
The best part of a spa is often not the treatment but the view. A warm pool surrounded by snow, a sauna looking straight out to sea, or a bed under a glass roof with the northern lights dancing overhead.
Wellness in nature is one of the big travel trends for 2027, with more people choosing shorter trips where the goal is simply to rest. We have picked eight spa and nature hotels in Scandinavia and the Alps, all with nature as part of the treatment.
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How to choose a spa hotel
Think about what you want from your stay. For baths and treatments, choose a large spa with several pools. For calm and nature, a smaller hotel far from the city is often better. Many spa hotels offer packages with dinner and spa, which are often good value for a weekend.
Norway: Farris Bad and Hotel Union Øye
Near Stockholm: Yasuragi
Snow and northern lights: Kakslauttanen in Lapland
The Alps: Bürgenstock, Vigilius, Aqua Dome and Adler
Scandinavia
Farris Bad
Sea views from Farris Bad.
Farris Bad: a seaside spa in Larvik
Farris Bad sits right on the beach in Larvik, south of Oslo, with saunas and pools facing the sea. In winter it is especially good to step from a warm pool into the fresh sea air.
There is a spa and an indoor pool, and the Larvik museum is a few minutes away.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Farris Bad
Hotel Union Øye
The fireside lounge at Hotel Union Øye.
Hotel Union Øye: calm in the Norangsdal valley
Hotel Union Øye stands at the head of the Norangsfjord in western Norway, surrounded by some of the country's most dramatic mountains. The historic wooden hotel from the 1890s has welcomed kings, emperors and writers.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included. Here nature is the spa, with mountain walks, the fjord and silence.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Hotel Union Øye
Yasuragi
Japanese calm at Yasuragi.
Yasuragi: a Japanese spa near Stockholm
Yasuragi sits by the water at Hasseludden outside Stockholm and is built as a Japanese spa, with warm baths, Japanese rituals and silence as its guiding principles.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included. A perfect weekend if you want to combine Stockholm with a spa.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Yasuragi
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
The glass igloos at Kakslauttanen at night.
Kakslauttanen: glass igloos in Lapland
Kakslauttanen is in Saariselkä in Finnish Lapland and is famous for its glass igloos, where you can watch the northern lights from bed. There are traditional Finnish saunas too, and husky safaris close by.
Wifi and parking are included, and guests especially praise the staff.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort
The Alps and the Dolomites
Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa
The infinity pool at Bürgenstock.
Bürgenstock: an infinity pool above the lake
Bürgenstock sits on a ridge high above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, looking out towards Lucerne and the Alps. The huge infinity pool at the Alpine Spa is the hotel's pride and joy.
There are two indoor pools, and breakfast and wifi are included.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa
Vigilius Mountain Resort
Vigilius in the snow.
Vigilius Mountain Resort: car-free in South Tyrol
Vigilius sits at 1,500 metres above Lana in South Tyrol, and you arrive by cable car. The hotel is built of wood and glass, with views over the forest and mountains.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included. There are no cars and no noise, just forest and spa.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Vigilius Mountain Resort
Aqua Dome
The lounge at Aqua Dome.
Aqua Dome: thermal baths in the Ötztal
Aqua Dome is in Längenfeld in Tyrol's Ötztal valley, by the large thermal baths. The outdoor pools face the mountains, and in winter steam rises from the water.
There is an indoor pool and a restaurant, and parking is included. The ski areas of Sölden are close by.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at Aqua Dome
ADLER Dolomiti
The spa at ADLER Dolomiti.
ADLER Dolomiti: a spa in Val Gardena
ADLER Dolomiti is in the heart of Ortisei in Val Gardena, with the Dolomites all around. The spa has both indoor and outdoor pools, and in winter the slopes are close by.
Breakfast, wifi and parking are included.
Book the hotel: See available rooms at ADLER Dolomiti
When should you go on a spa break?
Spa hotels are popular all year, but winter is high season in the Alps and Lapland. Weekends fill up quickly, so choose a weekday if you can. The northern lights in Lapland are best seen from September to March.
Book weekends well in advance
Check whether the spa is included in the room rate
Choose a package with dinner if you are staying only one night
See also Tromsø hotels for the northern lights and our Christmas breaks.
FAQ: nature spa breaks
What are the best spa hotels in Norway?
Farris Bad in Larvik is one of the best known, with a spa by the sea. For more nature and calm, the historic Hotel Union Øye in western Norway is a good choice.
Where can I see the northern lights from bed?
At Kakslauttanen in Finnish Lapland you can sleep in glass igloos and watch the northern lights overhead. The season runs from late August to April.
Which Alpine spa hotel has an infinity pool?
Bürgenstock above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland has a large infinity pool with views over the lake and mountains.
Is the spa included in the room rate?
It varies. At many spa hotels the pools are included, while treatments cost extra. Check the hotel page before you book.
What is the nature wellness trend?
More travellers are choosing shorter, more frequent trips focused on rest in nature, with spa, forest and silence instead of packed itineraries.