Spa resorts, thalassotherapy centers, thermal getaways, and Galician landscapes

Galicia has established itself as a benchmark destination for spa tourism thanks to the fusion of age-old tradition—tracing its roots back to Roman times—and a renewed offering made up of cutting-edge spas and thalassotherapy centers. More than 300 springs, treatments combining health and leisure, routes pairing medicinal waters with marine and cultural experiences, and activities that bring wellness together with gastronomy and wine make this land a unique place for those seeking a balance between rest, nature, and heritage. As far back as the Roman times, the benefits of Galician springs were recognized, as baths and roads were built near sites such as Aquis Querquennis. During the 19th century, balneology experienced its golden age as spa resorts became meeting places for high society. Today, Galicia is rediscovering that former splendor with modern facilities for visitors hoping to relieve their ailments or enjoy a relaxing weekend immersed in nature. Galician spas are located in historic towns and prestigious hotels offering therapeutic treatments alongside beauty and wellness programs. Here, medicinal mineral waters, administered under medical supervision, coexist with fun, leisure facilities. Meanwhile, the coast presents thalassotherapy centers that harness elements taken from the sea—algae, salts, etc.—for both relaxation and health programs.

The Baños da Brea Spa (Vila de Cruces) offers sodium-chloride, sulfurous, bicarbonated, and alkaline waters that emerge at a temperature of 82.5°F © Balnearios de Galicia

Routes combining culture, nature, and gastronomy Galicia's diversity makes it possible to pair the properties of water with cultural and leisure activities. Lugo merges its Roman wall with urban thermal facilities; Santiago de Compostela offers spas and thermal baths after a day of pilgrimage; Oia combines the Talaso Atlántico with a boat trip to the Cíes; and, in Lobios, rest intertwines with Roman archaeological sites. Each getaway is complemented by local cuisine, from the seafood and wines of the Rías Baixas to the octopus of O Carballiño. A destination that broadens horizons Galician thermal tourism unfolds amid a network uniting tradition and innovation. From routes combining stages of the Way of Saint James with wellness circuits to family getaways or wine-tourism experiences, this region has transformed its waters into a driver of tourism development.