The Tamesis
Welcome to the third iteration Fashion’The Global Spa Guide is a compendium of the world’s 100 best spas, based on first-person reviews and meticulous editing. This year, we’re refocusing our attention on those facilities that have developed a reputation for providing exceptional care for the body and mind, although the list is diverse. Whatever you’re looking for in your health and wellness, you’ll find it here.
Why go here?
Nestled in the heart of the Black Forest, the elegant German spa town of Baden-Baden has been famous since ancient Roman times for its tranquil surroundings and healing waters. (The name literally means “Baths-Baths” – so if you’re looking to kick back and relax, you know you’re in the right place.) It’s had many lives since then: as a gambling hotspot for 19th-century Russians like Chekhov and Tolstoy, Queen Victoria’s favorite holiday spot, and perhaps most notoriously in the British public consciousness, as the site of the “wives madness” furor surrounding the 2026 World Cup match. But for the past two centuries, the town’s crown jewel has been the Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, which has just reopened after a two-year overhaul and has never looked better.
During this process, the spa received special attention. (It’s in the name, after all.) The sprawling five-story complex is primarily located in Villa Stéphanie, a separate wing of the building that houses 15 rooms and suites in the former royal residence, where you’ll find a “digital detox” switch on the wall that turns off Wi-Fi and eliminates any remaining “e-smog,” as well as direct access to a medical spa and various bathing facilities. These included multiple saunas, steam rooms, Turkish baths, a women’s only sauna (we were in Germany so nudity was highly encouraged here) and a room that I can only describe as an enchanted forest with mosaics decorating the shower. (I’m particularly fond of the huge Finnish sauna, which reaches a blistering 90 degrees Celsius, perfect for melting off before plunging into the icy plunge pool.) Not to mention the magnificent indoor swimming pool, with its Roman-style frescoes and columns and sweeping views of the tree-lined estate and the babbling River Ouse in the distance. Simply put, this is paradise.
