Hot Springs Rock

It’s probably impossible to write a definitive list on the top hot springs in the world. There are just too many, and we haven’t experienced enough to do that. With that in mind, here are some great hot springs we have visited.

Budapest, Hungary is famous for abounding in luxurious thermal pools. Most of them feature gorgeous old architecture, stained glass, and mosaic tiles. The one we visited included an individual change room to lock our things in and had separate pools for men and women, as well as an icy plunge pool to dip in after the heat of the sauna. We whiled away an afternoon soaking and loved every minute of it.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa in Iceland. Surrounded by a perimeter of rocks, you soak in the open-air pool, where the contrast between the icy air and the hot water feels just right. Your feet squelch in the mineral-rich mud at the bottom, leaving them unbelievably soft, and pots of the mud supplied around the pool let you do the same to your face if you like. With a sauna, steam bath, waterfall, and in-water massage services, the Blue Lagoon is a wonderful spot to spend a day.

New Zealand is full of geothermal activity, with hot springs all over the North and South Islands. Rotorua is a hotspot for geothermal activity. The scent of sulphur lingers in the air here and you’ll see bubbling mud and geysers at their best. The city boasts some of the country’s best spas and wellness centres too. The hot springs we visited were a bit off the beaten track between Gisborne and Napier. Morere Hot Springs is situated in conservation bush land, giving you a real unique experience. There’s nothing like strolling down a wooded path in your swimsuit and then jumping into a hot pool with birds singing in the trees overhead.   

Of course, there are lots of hot springs closer to home, ranging from modern pools to holes in the ground, and they are all great in their own way. Naturally heated water flowing from the earth, who doesn’t love that? Let us know some hot springs you have enjoyed in the comments.

Image credit: Flickr user jazzlawyer

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