Europe's best thermal spas from the iconic Blue Lagoon to Budapest's baths
A steaming pool on a volcanic island accessible only by swimming and a bath-hot spring looking out onto the mountains are among Europe's amazing thermals spas.
Now that the dampness and cold of January has returned and the long nights are hemming us in our homes, the prospect of a steaming hot bath is particularly tempting.
Add to that stunning views of the Aegean Seas, the moors of Iceland or the Swiss Alps, and you have the ingredients for the perfect winter warmer.
Even Britain - which is not known for its volcanic activity - has a thermal spa of its own, which has now been relaxing people for close to 3,000 years, according to some legends.
Here are seven of the best thermal spas that Europe has to offer.
Inside a TUI Skyla river cruise along the Danube - from the ship to destinations
1. Palia Kameni, Greece
The hot springs of Palea Kameni isn't easy to get to (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Palia Kameni is an island located in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Santorini which is surrounded by crystal clear waters and is the remnants of an ancient volcanic eruption.
Its main seaside spring can only be accessed by a boat ride and then a brief swim from the moored vessel.
Once you've relaxed in the warm waters then a trip to the beaches of Palia Kameni, which are renowned for their black sand, may be in order.
2. Blue Lagoon, Iceland
The stunning waters of the Blue Lagoon hot spring (Getty Images)In the rugged lava fields 30 minutes from Reykjavík is one of Iceland's most famous attractions, and one of the country's most beautiful locations.
The Blue Lagoon is known for its milky blue water and white silica mud, which are said to have healing powers.
Visitors can relax in the warm water, take a mud mask, and enjoy a massage before picking up a tub of the gloopy good stuff to take home with them.
The lagoon also has a swim-up bar and a restaurant, as well as a sauna and steam room.
Hévíz Lake, Hévíz, Hungary
The lake is the largest swimmable thermal one in the world (Getty Images)Hévíz is the largest swimmable thermal lake in the whole world.
It is only beaten in size by Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand, which - at 60C - is simply too hot for humans.
The warmth of the Hungarian lake water produces many type of interesting microscopic organism, some of which are unique to Hévíz.
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Those without a microscope may enjoy gazing along shores dotted with water lilies and at the well-maintained parks that run next to the lake.
The waters, which average about 38C in the summer, are said to be beneficial to patients with rheumatic diseases and locomotor disorders, among others.
Thermae Bath Spa, Bath, England
People have been bathing in the waters of Bath for thousands of years (Western Daily Press)While you could travel to Tunbridge Wells for a royally approved taste of (slightly metallic) spring water, you have to travel to Bath for Britain's only thermal spring.
Since they were discovered some 2,900 years ago members of every group from the Celts to the Saxons, to the modern day Brit looking to unwind, has enjoyed a dip in their waters.
The story goes that in Prince Bladud was wandering through the area in 890BC with a herd of pigs, having been banished from his kingdom after catching leprosy.
He realised that there was something different about the water leaking through the top soil when his porcine friends began rolling happily around in the warm mud.
Today the Thermae Bath Spa boasts herbal steam rooms and four thermal baths including an open-air rooftop pool.
You can really relax with a series of spa treatments, including massages, facials, body wraps, manicures, pedicures, and waxing.
Bains de Dorres, Pyrenees, France
How would you like to sit in bath-hot water at 1,450m while looking out onto a mountain range?
Bains de Dorres allow you to do just that, the small sulphorous thermal spring providing stunning views of the rolling hills beyond.
Visitors can enjoy a variety of spa treatments and a range of outdoor activities while they are there, including hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
The picturesque village of Dorres is also home to a number of restaurants, cafés, and shops, making it the perfect place to spend a very relaxing weekend.
7132 Therme Vals, Switzerland
The Swiss baths are particularly sleak (Universal Images Group via Getty Images)The 7132 thermal spa is the one of the list where you most likely to find a Bond villain having a dip.
The luxurious resort is located in the stunning Swiss Alps and is renowned for its spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Natural spring water from the nearby Valser Mountains fills the minimalist baths which can be swam in at nighttime by guests of the adjoining hotel.
The thermal baths offer a range of treatments, from hot stone massages to underwater jet massage, as well as a range of therapeutic treatments.
Széchenyi Baths, Budapest, Hungary
Szechenyi Thermal Bath complex is huge (ZOLTAN BALOGH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)If 7132 is elite and luxurious, then Széchenyi Baths are for the masses.
It is the largest medicinal bath in Europe and the third largest in the world, and is part of a complex containing 21 pools, including three outdoor, one indoor and one with a wave machine.
The neo-baroque baths date back to the 1880s and contain 38C water filled with sulfate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of metaboric acid and fluoride.
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