The Best Thermal Baths in the World

Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Seventeen of the 22 thermal baths are in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The usual layout is a hall of warm mineral or brine pools, indoors and outdoors, and next to it a sauna area where swimwear is left off and infusions run to a timetable. Obermain Therme in Bad Staffelstein has brine pools and a sauna garden with log cabins and a bathing lake. At Kristall Therme trimini guests swim from the grounds into Lake Kochel. Palais Thermal in Bad Wildbad is built around a historic bathing hall in Art Nouveau and Moorish style.

Elsewhere in Europe

The highest placed thermal bath is outside that group: Infinit Maximus on the Brno Dam in Czechia, at number 2 on the list, with a large sauna world and ceremonies led by sauna masters. Thermen Katara in Belgium, Terme Olimia in Slovenia and Pulse Therme in Bulgaria are on the list as well. The Giardini Poseidon on Ischia are thermal pools in a garden above a beach.