Do you dream of taking an open-air dip in pure, steaming waters? There’s no need to travel half-way round the planet: here are 5 destinations that are just a few hours away by train. Enjoy hot springs in summer and winter alike!
Book a train ticket
Book a train ticket
Boost your vitamin levels in the Hautes-Alpes
Calcium and magnesium
Just a 30-minute walk from Montdauphin-Guillestre train station, the Plan de Phazy hot springs are at 28°C all year round! Rich in calcium, magnesium and other iron oxides, the water in the four pools at Plan de Phazy has been renowned for its beneficial virtues since ancient times.
From the skin to joints
A dip in the water will do your skin, respiratory tract and joints the world of good, so don’t hesitate to take the plunge whatever the weather! And don’t miss a visit to the Petrifying Fountain, a naturally occurring work of art located just 2 km away.
How to get to Montdauphin-Guillestre by train
Italy: live on love and... hot water!
Between Rome and Florence
We owe the word Spa to the Romans: ‘Sanitas Per Aquam’ means ‘health through water’. So, head to Italy and stop between Rome and Florence to marvel at the Saturnia thermal baths, where waters at 37°C gush from a superb waterfall.
Here, you can bask and daydream in the hot waters for hours on end. Oh yes... we also owe the word farniente to the Italians, too!
How to get to the Saturnia thermal baths by train
Take a TVG INOUI train to Milan, then take Italian trains from Milan to Orbetello-Monte Argentario, changing at Rome. It’s a 40-minute drive to the thermal baths from Orbetello-Monte Argentario station.
Bathe in a natural setting in the Pyrénées-Orientales
Prats-Balaguer
A hot spring in the middle of the forest is a superb spot for nature lovers. Head to the typical Catalan mountain village of Prats-Balaguer to try out the hot springs there. Composed of a string of pools built over time by bathers, the water cools by a few degrees as you move from pool to pool.
Another free hot-springs site worth a visit in the area is Canaveilles, set in a river bed.
How to get to Prats-Balaguer by train
Take the train to Fontpédrouse - Saint-Thomas-les-Bains, changing at Perpignan and Villefranche - Vernet Les Bains along the way.
>> Book train tickets to Fontpédrouse - Saint-Thomas-les-Bains
The Aqua Dome: crystal clear water
Head to Austria
Fancy lounging in a flying saucer in the middle of the mountains? Discover an oasis of warmth and wellbeing in the heart of the Austrian state of Tyrol!
Längenfeld
Take a dip in the amazing outdoor pools at 34 and 36°C in Längenfeld. Here, the thermal springs, at a depth of 1,870 metres, are filtered by the rock. It’s a spectacular sight in winter or at sunset!
How to get to Längenfeld by train
Take the train to Innsbruck station, changing at Zurich. It’s then an hour’s drive from Innsbruck.
Explore Hungarian springs in Budapest
Underground
Did you know that there are over a hundred hot springs beneath the Hungarian capital? Here, bathing is part of everyday life. Whether it’s for a business meeting or a family get-together, there’s something for everyone.
The Gellért thermal baths
Les bains Gellért méritent le détour : situés sur les rives du Danube, on s’y détend des heures dans de magnifiques bains de vapeur au décor Art Nouveau. Un must-do !
Located on the banks of the Danube, the Gellért thermal baths are well worth a visit. You can relax for hours in magnificent steam baths, taking in the splendid Art Nouveau decor. A must!
How to get to Budapest by train
Take the train to Budapest-Keleti station, changing at Zurich.