As Canadians, we take our relaxation seriously. That’s why our country is full of places where people say time slows down a little, including mountain-side saunas & floating pools filled with salt water. We asked our readers which spas and wellness resorts are the best ones to visit, and here are their recommendations. Where would you like to spend a perfect lazy afternoon?
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Nordik Spa-Nature, Chelsea, Quebec
A few readers said that Nordik Spa-Nature looks more like a small village than a spa, which is rather accurate. There are outdoor pools steaming in the snow & wooden walkways leading to saunas. Don’t forget the giant underground salt float called Källa that everyone seems to talk about. It may be just outside Ottawa, but once you’re in, it feels far from everything.
Thermëa Spa Village, Whitby, Ontario
One visitor told us they came for an hour and stayed all day at Thermëa Spa Village in Whitby. Beyond the thermal baths, it’s the ability to move between heat, cold & total silence that many readers really enjoyed. There’s even a room covered in clay for self-applied Rhassoul masks. Somehow, the Village feels warm and cozy even in winter.
Kananaskis Nordic Spa, Kananaskis, Alberta
A reader from Calgary said that Kananaskis Nordic Spa is their no-phone escape, and that’s mostly because the spa is high in the mountains. It has pools & saunas, as well as fire pits surrounded by snow-dusted trees. You move through the different temperatures in a way that’s as simple as it is satisfying. The air up there also just feels cleaner.
Scandinave Spa, Whistler, British Columbia
One couple told us they’d been to Whistler dozens of times before they realized there was a spa hidden away in the forest. This is because Scandinave Spa Whistler focuses on the quiet. There are no phones & no talking, just water sounds & forest air. Best of all, you can stay as long as you want, and most people do.
Ste. Anne’s Spa, Grafton, Ontario
A few regulars said that they loved Ste. Anne’s Spa because it felt like visiting a friend’s big country house. The stone buildings date back to the 1800s, and guests can go between spa cottages & gardens, as well as dining rooms, in robes. Every package includes meals, so there’s zero planning involved. It’s simply rest & snacks.
Fairmont Spa at Fairmont Banff Springs, Alberta
Honestly, it’s difficult not to be impressed when you walk through the Fairmont Banff Springs. But it’s the spa underneath it that steals the show. People we spoke with mentioned the warm mineral pool & the quiet lounges where you can hear the rush of the Bow River outside. The whole place is classic Banff, down to the stone arches and that old-world hotel calm.
Sparkling Hill Resort & KurSpa, Vernon, British Columbia
Quite a few guests told us they didn’t expect a spa built with crystals, but that’s what they got with Sparkling Hill Resort & KurSpa. It sits above Okanagan Lake and has saunas themed around salt & steam. There’s even a cryo cold chamber for those who like extremes. Between sessions, everyone seems to end up staring at the lake through glass walls.
Strøm Nordic Spa, Old Quebec, Quebec
Anyone looking for a spa with a skyline should apparently visit Strøm Nordic Spa, which is set right on the St. Lawrence River. It has infinity pools that almost blend into the water below, as well as eucalyptus steam rooms & Finnish saunas. The place has a modern Scandi look that makes it feel so relaxed. It’s less resort, and more riverside hideout.
Thermëa by Nordik Spa-Nature, Winnipeg, Manitoba
A few Manitobans swore that Thermëa is even better in -20°C weather because of how the steam rises over the snow. You’re able to go from the saunas to hot pools, and then to a wood-fired rest lounge. All the food is local & the rituals are traditional there. And yes, you can do it all while it’s snowing, which is why it’s a full-day location that nobody’s rushing to leave.
Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara, Parksville, British Columbia
On the surface, the Grotto Spa looks like it’s been carved out of a rock face. But wait until you get inside. According to our readers, the mineral pool is absolutely stunning, and after soaking, you can visit a tapas restaurant that serves guests still in their robes. The whole place is unpretentious & beachy, just the kind of place where you forget what day it is.
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