【Hot Springs】Discover the Best Overseas Hot Spring Retreats

Discover the Geothermal Wonders of Rotorua's Hot Springs

Are you familiar with New Zealand's renowned hot spring capital? Rotorua is an industrial city situated in the central northern part of New Zealand's North Island. Situated on the southern shore of Lake Rotorua and more than 200 kilometers from Auckland, this city is celebrated for its abundant natural hot springs. It serves as a home to the Māori people and is a well-known tourist hotspot. Positioned in a region with vigorous volcanic activity, Rotorua boasts a wealth of hot springs, giving the city's air a distinctive sulfuric scent. Rotorua stands out as a magnificent natural tourist haven across the entire South Pacific.

Waiotapu Enchanted Geothermal Wonderland: A Spectrum of Geothermal Beauty

Features: Wai-o-Tapu, which translates to "Sacred Waters" in Maori, is one of Rotorua, New Zealand's most famous geothermal areas. The Wai-o-Tapu Geothermal Park, formed by volcanic activity over thousands of years, is renowned for being New Zealand's most colorful and diverse geothermal landscape, featuring boiling mud pools, mineral terraces, and geysers. The park, often enveloped in mist, feels like a surreal fairyland. Its most iconic attractions are the beautiful Champagne Pool and the Lady Knox Geyser, which erupts at around 10 AM each day.

Location: 201 Waiotapu Loop Road, Rotorua 3073, New Zealand

Blue Lagoon Hot Springs: "A Natural Beauty Spa"

Feature: Nestled in Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula of southwestern Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is a geothermal hot spring created by volcanic lava. The waters, abundant in minerals such as silicon and sulfur, bestow the lagoon with its enchanting blue color. The natural geothermal energy from beneath the earth ensures that the lagoon remains invitingly warm all year round. A favorite among locals since the 1970s, the Blue Lagoon offers a unique experience. While enjoying the warm embrace of the waters, don't miss out on applying the silica mud to your face. This volcanic mud, laden with minerals, makes for an excellent natural face mask.

Location: 9 Norðurljósavegur, Grindavík 240, Iceland

Sky Lagoon: The Convergence of Ocean and Sky

Feature: Sky Lagoon, nestled about 7 kilometers south of downtown Reykjavik in southwestern Iceland. As you enter the Sky Lagoon hot spring pool, you're immediately enveloped in steam that seems straight out of a fairy tale. Perched on the edge of the ocean, the pool is fittingly named "Where the ocean meets the sky," providing panoramic views of the vast coastline. It's an ideal spot for catching the mesmerizing Northern Lights in the winter or basking in Iceland's distinctive midnight sun during the summer months.

Location: 44-48 Vesturvör, Suite 200, Kópavogur, Iceland

Arima Onsen

Highlights: Nestled in Arima, Kita Ward of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Arima Onsen stands as one of the oldest hot springs in the Kansai region, often celebrated as "the cultural heartland of Kobe." This historic hot spring, part of Japan's trio of famed springs alongside Gero Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen, boasts a storied history of 1300 years. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Arima Onsen offers seasonal delights with cherry blossoms in spring and fiery maple foliage in autumn, making it a beloved retreat for visitors. Immersing in its warm, soothing waters, one can enjoy the serene interplay of steam and the ethereal mountain mists.

Location: Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401

Explore Beppu Onsen in Oita Prefecture

Beppu Onsen: Renowned for the "Beppu Eight Hot Springs"

Highlights: Beppu Onsen, nestled on the southwestern shores of Japan's Kyushu Island, is celebrated for its vibrant geothermal activity, featuring dramatic eruptions from areas famously dubbed as "Hell." Renowned for the "Eight Hot Springs," also known as the "Eight Hells of Beppu," this region includes the distinct hot spring towns of Beppu, Myoban, Kannawa, Horita, Shibaseki, Kamegawa, and Hamawaki. Each offering its own unique features and a variety of therapeutic options, including milk baths, sand baths, and mud baths.

Beppu Onsen Located at 16-23 Motomachi, Beppu, in Ōita Prefecture, this site is nestled in one of Japan's most famous hot spring destinations, renowned for its rich variety of thermal baths.

Noboribetsu Hot Spring Town: Hokkaido's Top Hot Spring Retreat

Highlights: Noboribetsu Hot Spring Town stands as a prominent hot spring destination in Hokkaido, encircled by mountains. The town is lined with an assortment of hot spring hotels, inns, and a variety of restaurants. Attractions close by include Hell Valley, Oyunuma, and Noboribetsu Bear Park. With its extensive selection of hot springs, featuring more than a dozen different water qualities, the town offers a unique experience. Bathing in an open-air hot spring during a snowy winter day provides an exceptionally romantic and cozy atmosphere.

Location: Noboribetsu City Hokkaido Noboribetsu Onsen Town

Travertines of Pamukkale: Celebrated as One of the World's Seven Wonders

Features:Tucked away in the Denizli Province of southwestern Türkiye, the Travertines of Pamukkale are famed for their striking resemblance to a pristine, snow-white castle and have captivated visitors worldwide. These thermal springs, with a history spanning thousands of years, feature jade-like, semi-circular white terraces that cascade beautifully one atop another. Delicate streams trickle through the hillside crevices, while warm vapors cloak the area in a soft, mystical fog.

Location: Merkez, 20190 Pamukkale/Denizli, Turkey

Széchenyi Thermal Bath: A Blend of Splendor and Nostalgia

Features:Budapest, celebrated as a historic European city, is also distinguished as a unique metropolis of hot springs. The city is dotted with numerous thermal baths, originally developed by the bath-loving ancient Romans over 2000 years ago. These springs, known locally as 'Furdo'—the Hungarian term for 'bath,' attract countless visitors from home and abroad. Nestled within the city park, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath is a highlight among Budapest's thermal offerings. With its sophisticated architectural design and springs encircled by a courtyard, it embodies a timeless classical elegance.

Location: Zoo Boulevard 9-11, Budapest 1146, Hungary

Thermal Lake of Hévíz: Abundant in Therapeutic Humic Peat Mud

Features:Nestled in the serene town of Hévíz, the Thermal Lake of Hévíz is celebrated for its biologically vibrant natural hot spring lake, a jewel of national pride. It stands as one of Europe's largest warm water hot spring lakes and is the world's second-largest by area. Given its depth, bathers are required to wear life rings. With roots stretching back to the Roman era, this hot spring lake has become a distinguished landmark in the Lake Balaton region.

Location: 1 Dr. Vilmos Schulhoff Street, Hévíz, 8380, Hungary

Sanbangsan Mountain Carbonate Hot Springs: A Haven of High-Quality Carbonate Waters

Features:Tucked away on Jeju Island, cradled by the trio of Marado, Gapado, and Brothers Islands, along with the quintet of mountains—Hallasan, Sanbangsan, Gunsan, Songaksan, and Dansan—Sanbangsan Mountain Carbonate Hot Springs emerges as one of South Korea's pioneering public hot springs. Celebrated for its unique carbonate waters, rich in therapeutic benefits, it was designated in 2004 as a World Hot Spring Source Protection Area, underscoring its global ecological and cultural importance.

Location: 192 Sagyebuk-ro 41beon-gil, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Les Thermes evian: Alpine Natural Mineral Springs

Features:Nestled behind Evian Town, the towering Alps are the origin of the renowned Evian water, derived from the meltwater of high mountains and rainfall. This pristine water is naturally filtered over 15 years through the depths of the Alps and enriched with minerals from glacial sands. It is this very spring water that ensures the French ladies who frequent these hot springs are left spotless and radiant, securing the French hot springs' title as the "Queen among spa cities."

Location: Liberation Square, Post Box 8, 74501 EVIAN-les-BAINS Cedex, France

Alpentherme: Soak in Hot Springs with Snowy Mountain Views

Highlight:The Loèche-les-Bains Thermal Center stands as a distinguished spa and wellness retreat in Switzerland. With roots stretching back to the Roman era, this spa city has welcomed historical luminaries like Goethe, Maupassant, and Wimpfen. It boasts the contemporary Alpentherme, perched at an elevation of approximately 2000 meters, and offers outdoor hot springs nestled amidst breathtaking snow-capped mountains.

Location: Dorfplatz, CH-3954 Leukerbad

Mae Kachan Hot Spring: Experience the Unique Sulfur Springs Where You Can Boil Eggs

Highlights:Chiang Rai boasts a remarkable array of hot spring pools, mainly sulfur springs, renowned for their intense heat, comparable to boiling springs. Guests can enjoy complimentary activities such as foot soaking or egg boiling in selected pools. Close to the entrance, a geyser spectacularly erupts every 7 seconds, sending a jet of water soaring into the air.

Location: 4F76+WV8 Moo 6 Pha Soet Phatthana Village Doi Hang Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57260, Thailand

The Roman Baths: Surrounded by this street, which is known as "the most noble and elegant street in Britain", there is an ancient Roman thermal bath with a history of 2,000 years. The city of Bath got its name from this. Under the bath, you can still see the spring water gushing out, flowing into the bath along the ancient channel and finally flowing into the river.

Location: Abbey Churchyard, Bath BA1 1LZ, United Kingdom

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