Few things are more relaxing than spending time inside the tranquil walls of a Brussels wellness center while metropolis life rages on without you for a couple of hours. These five urban spas are tailor-made to massage the big city stress right out of you.
Mentioned before on Culture Trip, highlighting the above par yoga classes you can drop in on during your lunch break, Serendip is a longtime Brussels favorite for more than one reason. The renowned temple of relaxation in the hip Ixelles neighborhood likes to base its treatments on ancient oriental traditions, drawing on detoxifying wisdom gathered over centuries. New on the spa menu is an intriguing massage in which a mixture of pink Himalayan salt and nutritious oils is used to detoxify the body. If you’re looking to really indulge, ‘Serendipity’ – a term originating from the Sri Lankan word ‘Serendip’ – is the spa’s ultimate treatment and includes a foot bath, an extra long massage, and a fingertip facial.
Smack dab in the heart of Brussels, in one of Europe’s highest residential towers, you’ll find Brussels’ Deep Nature spa. Besides the obligatory indoor pool, jacuzzi, and sauna, the 600-square-meter venue boasts state-of-the-art fitness gear, a personalized sporting program, sensory showers, and a tea room. Yet with all these luxurious amenities, its most impressive feature remains its panoramic view of the Brussels Canal.
Looks like it's closedHours or services may be impacted due to Covid-19
The location of Aspria’s flagship venue on the chic Avenue Louise already gives away its exclusive touch. Neighbored by posh boutiques and swanky hotels, this membership club is geared towards helping adults (the Royal La Rasante branch in Woluwe is happy to welcome kids) focus on the big picture when it comes to well-being. A personalized fitness program, involved trainers, and a staff that puts the personal touch first go a long way in achieving your goals when they’re combined with elegant steam rooms and hot saunas to unwind those hard-working muscles.
A stone’s throw away from Brussels, the town of Grimbergen is more than just the origin place of a beloved abbey beer. For over 15 years, a stately manor house from the early 20th century has been home to Thermae Grimbergen, where two separate public areas exist for both nude as well as swimsuit steaming sessions. The nude section houses seven different saunas to pop in and out of – the switch-off between hot and cold is essential to make the blood flow – and to cool down you can plunge into the pool or outdoor swimming pond. Access to the thermal baths comes at a very reasonable price, as do special packages for future moms or those who want to imagine they’ve escaped to Hawaii for a day.
From public to private, Ô Siam, in the Brussels commune of Evere, draws inspiration for its amenities from all corners of the world, with its Finnish sauna, Asian Zen Garden, and Turkish Hammam. Original are its ‘Ice Caves,’ where you rub your body with crushed ice after a visit to the hammam to cause an even more beneficial thermal shock. Most praised of all are its massages, rumored to have you drift away on a cloud of relaxation while Balinese tunes play in the background.
