The Best Retreats For A City & Spa Break

Sometimes you want nothing more than to arrive at your wellness destination, settle in, and immerse yourself completely. Other times, the appeal lies in combining spa time with a nearby city or cultural hotspot. This guide highlights the best retreats where you can enjoy both — a luxury spa escape alongside a city break full of discovery.

Palacio Estoril, Portugal

Just a short journey from elegant Lisbon, Palacio Estoril is a historic property that has retained its old-world glamour and service, while also housing a modern, medically focused spa.

The three-storey Banyan Tree Spa Estoril features 12 treatment rooms, a dynamic pool, hammam, Turkish bath, saunas, jet showers, sensation showers, and steam rooms. A team of doctors, nutritionists, osteopaths, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, and fitness trainers design programmes to address detox, weight loss, nutrition, and overall vitality.

Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso , Spain

Located an hour from Valencia’s museums and art galleries, Palasiet Wellness Clinic & Thalasso is a family-run, four-star retreat in a peaceful coastal setting, just 50 metres from the sea.

The Thalassotherapy Centre, in operation since the 1970s, offers extensive facilities: a seawater thermal indoor pool, hammam, vaporarium, cervical waterfalls, Vichy showers, hydro-massage baths, and body wrap cabins using seaweed and mud. Wellness professionals including doctors, nutritionists, and physiotherapists support guests with targeted health and relaxation programmes.

Ayurveda Resort Mandira, Austria

In Austria’s Styrian hill country, Ayurveda Resort Mandira combines authentic Ayurvedic traditions with therapies adapted to Western lifestyles. Directed by Christina Mauracher, the team includes Ayurvedic practitioners, complementary physicians, nutrition experts, and therapists.

Daily yoga, pranayama breathing exercises, and meditation complement comprehensive detox and rejuvenation programmes. This makes it an ideal retreat for those seeking both cultural exploration in Vienna (just 90 minutes away) and deep Ayurvedic renewal.

Selman Marrakech, Morocco

Situated just outside Marrakech’s city walls, Selman Marrakech offers a luxurious base where guests can explore the vibrant medina and souks while also indulging in world-class spa treatments.

The hotel is one of only six worldwide featuring a Chenot Spa, which follows the renowned Chenot Method blending traditional Chinese medicine with modern medical science. Set over 1,200 m², the spa includes seven treatment rooms, four hydrotherapy rooms, a hammam, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, and a plunge pool, alongside beauty and grooming services.

Sante Wellness Retreat & Spa, South Africa

Located in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, just 40 minutes from Cape Town, Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa combines vineyard scenery with advanced wellness care.

Retreat packages are highly personalised, blending medical diagnostics with holistic treatments. Facilities include detox therapies, nutrition programmes, and fitness guidance, all designed to restore balance and promote lifelong wellbeing. Santé integrates high-tech approaches with traditional healing, offering a sanctuary for re-energising and rejuvenation.

Palazzo Fiuggi, Italy

Overlooking the medieval spa town of Fiuggi, just an hour from Rome, Palazzo Fiuggi unites holistic traditions with Western medical expertise.

Programmes here include detox and weight loss, supported by nutrition plans designed by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck. Many of the ingredients are sourced from the property’s organic gardens, ensuring both health and sustainability. Guests can pair a stay here with cultural exploration in Rome’s historic centre.

RAKxa Integrative Wellness, Thailand

On the lush, tranquil island of Bang Krachao near Bangkok, RAKxa Integrative Wellness blends medical science with traditional healing systems including Ayurveda, Thai, and Chinese medicine.

Programmes range from genetic testing and gut health optimisation to detox and weight management. With Bangkok’s cultural treasures just across the river, guests can combine wellness with urban exploration before retreating back into nature for restorative therapies.

The Appeal Of A City & Spa Break

City and spa breaks offer the best of both worlds. Guests can immerse themselves in cultural exploration — museums, galleries, markets, and historic landmarks — while also restoring balance at world-class wellness centres.

Whether it’s combining Lisbon with Palacio Estoril’s medical spa, exploring Valencia before a thalassotherapy programme at Palasiet, or enjoying Marrakech’s souks before a Chenot detox, these retreats prove that wellness and culture can complement each other perfectly.