Head to Catalonia for an active holiday spent exploring the region on gorgeous day trips by foot or bike, breathing the fresh air of the mountains and lakes, swimming, and ending each day with a total pampering at your spa hotel: Settle in to be massaged, relaxed, and beautified. And don’t forget a trip into the onsite spa or sauna. The wellness hotels that speckle the wonderful region of Catalonia are establishments for the sophisticated and for lovers of life and pleasure. These wellness hotels come equipped with super comfortable rooms and first-rate cuisine, facilities, and amenities.

Costa Brava: Dreamy beach holiday

© Hotel Santa Marta The Costa Brava is classic, Spanish, beachy fun. Spanning from Spain’s border with France down to Blanes, located 60 km north of Barcelona, this beautiful chunk of land consists mostly of bright blue-green waters, cliffy seasides, ruined castles and churches, and seriously luxe spa hotels. The spa hotels on the Costa Brava are über romantic and über well-equipped — with some establishments located directly on the beach, granting open access to the Mediterranean Sea, and some just inland on sprawling grounds and with amazing pool complexes and wellness centers offering spa treatments and saunas galore. The city of Girona, located inland in the north, is known for its particularly big and beautiful Old City and the world’s best-preserved, 13th-century Jewish Quarter and is worth a visit for a wander through its tranquil streets. In the towns and villages that dot the untamed, unspoiled coastline, expect nothing but pure Mediterranean bliss all day long. While away a day or week or a few sunbathing and swimming in the warm waters, punctuating time with delicious Spanish wine and espresso and long dinners of paella and tapas. For some medieval sightseeing, check out the fortifications in Tossa de Mar, the monastery in Sant Pere de Rodes, the Sant Ferran Castle, or the Gala Dalí Castle Púbol.

Barcelona: Beach city fun

© Meliá Barcelona Sarrià Barcelona is all about beachside fun, soaking up the sun, drinking wine and eating tapas, and enjoying time in the deluxe wellness center at your spa hotel. Spa hotels in Barcelona provide the best of both worlds — granting an oasis of tranquility & wellness while securing great locations near the city’s best attractions like Antoni Gaudí’s La Sagrada Familia, the epic Park Güell, Casa Milà, and many more amazing destinations. A spa hotel allows you to cash in on total rejuvenation and relaxation while at the same time taking advantage of all this wonderful city has to offer. Time in Barcelona is best spent traversing back alleys and wide boulevards dotted with designer stores and sprawling market halls like the famous La Boqueria Market. Wander through the Gothic Quarter for a taste of all that is old and beautiful — this magical neighborhood spans thousands and thousands of years and radiates a once-in-a-life-time Medieval charm. Within this old, old ambiance is a myriad trendy bars, clubs, and traditional Catalan restaurants. Also in Barcelona is Can Calopa — a paradise for bon vivants, this 16th-century farmhouse is hemmed in by three acres of vineyards and hosts a quaint wine cellar where you can sample wine and olive oil. Check out La Barceloneta to hang out with locals, chill on the beach, and soak up a beach town vibe in the big city.

Tarragona Province: Pure opulence on the Costa Dorada

The southernmost Catalan province is the beautiful and understated Tarragona — filled to the brim with ancient structures, Blue Flag beaches, and charming towns and cities primed for exploration. The spa hotels that populate the coast are extremely luxurious; often resort-like establishments with well-equipped spa centers, these are destinations in and of themselves. These spa hotels operate as compliments to the Mediterranean landscape, built into the verdant, sand-covered, and open sea scenery. At certain locations, you may find yourself with a choice of 17 beaches, seven restaurants and bars, and four outdoor pools. The luxury spa centers may utilize nutrients directly from the Mediterranean in their cultivating the most rejuvenating face and body treatments. If you ever leave the hotel grounds, the city of Tarragona itself has everything one loves about the Spanish coast: the Tarragona Amphitheatre is magnificent and situated right on the sea, the Les Ferreres Aqueduct is a 250-meter-long bridge which you can walk across if heights don’t bother you, and the super romantic “Mediterranean Balcony” lookout point is worth a stop at the end of the Rambla Nova and above the lovely El Milagro Beach.

Good to know

Getting there: To get to Catalonia, the best bet is to fly into Girona (GRO) in the north or to Barcelona (BCN). Getting around between cities and beach destinations on the coast is relatively simple via train and bus connections. Renting a car also grants access to more secluded destinations including some of Costa Brava’s inland wineries.

Discover more Spa Hotels in Spain

• Spa Hotels in Northern Spain
• Spa Hotels in Andalusia
• Spa Hotels in Galicia
• Spa Hotels in Costa Brava
• Spa Hotels in Spanish Basque Country
• Spa Hotels in Costa Blanca
• Spa Hotels in Castile Leon
• Spa Hotels in Costa de la Luz
• Spa Hotels in Costa del Sol