Ancient Rome laid the groundwork for today’s spa culture with its monumental thermae – lavish bathhouses that served not only cleansing and relaxation but also social, cultural and intellectual exchange. Guests moved through the frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium, enjoying gardens, libraries and lecture halls. The Romans pioneered a holistic wellness concept that combined hydrotherapy, communal bathing, and leisure that continues into today’s modern spas. Contemporary wellness retreats still draw inspiration from these origins, offering steam rooms, heated pools and spaces built for both physical rejuvenation and social connection.

Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel literally stands atop one of Rome’s most opulent ancient baths, blending Roman hydro‑wellness with Eastern spa rituals. Set by Piazza della Repubblica, Anantara Spa offers private yoga sessions overlooking ruins, bespoke hydrotherapy, natural detox rituals and tailored treatments. Serenity, balance and inspiration define each experience – whether you’re meditating above Roman remnants or indulging in a clarifying mud wrap.

Budapest’s spa legacy stretches back over 2,000 years, when Romans built public bathhouses at Aquincum. The Ottomans further enriched this culture with Turkish hammams such as Rudas Baths. With more than 100 thermal springs, the city’s mineral-rich waters have treated joint, circulation and skin issues for centuries. Renowned bathhouses like Széchenyi (Neo‑Baroque) and Gellért (Art Nouveau) combine opulent design with therapeutic bathing, cementing Budapest’s reputation as a pivotal force in balneotherapy. They weave architecture, history and healing – defining the Western spa experience.

Anantara Spa at Anantara New York Palace Budapest Hotel is a cocoon of restoration set beneath a Belle‑Époque palace. Featuring a cave‑style thermal suite with Finnish sauna, steam, experience showers and a 15‑metre heated pool, it draws on Hungary’s thermal heritage. Signature therapies include Hungarian mud wraps from Lake Hévíz, ocean‑mineral scrubs and mineral‑rich body treatments. With five treatment rooms (including couples and Thai rooms), a tea lounge and hammocks, it offers a deep reset in a stunning locale.

Vienna’s wellness traditions date back to its Roman roots and flourished under the Austro‑Hungarian Empire. Historic establishments like the Kaiserbründl (1889) and Sanatorium Purkersdorf (1904, designed by Josef Hoffmann) offered mineral baths, therapeutic massages and restorative therapies that targeted nervous disorders and promoted holistic wellbeing. These venues introduced the blend of silence, light, air and architecture as healing modalities. Vienna’s spa culture remains steeped in this noble blend of design, therapy and environment.

At Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna Hotel, 800 m² of urban spa delivers a sumptuous hydrothermal circuit and refined treatments blending Eastern traditions with the West. With treatment rooms, a hydropool, infrared sauna, hammam, and relaxation lounge, this serene spa in Vienna offers personalised massages, hydro-wellness rituals, and traditional therapies blending East and West. It's the perfect place to unwind and restore mind, body, and spirit after a day exploring the city’s grandeur.

Oman’s wellness heritage weaves ancient Arabian customs with the serene allure of its rugged mountains and pristine coastline. From the jagged heights of the Al Hajar range to the quiet expanse of the Arabian Sea, the region is a haven where age-old healing rituals endure. At the heart of these practices lies frankincense, a sacred resin revered for its potent therapeutic and cultural essence, complemented by native botanicals such as pomegranate and coconut. These natural treasures infuse spa experiences through warming herbal compresses, fragrant massages, and restorative steam therapies, all crafted to awaken harmony and renew vitality.

This rich healing legacy comes to life at Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, where the Balance Wellness programme offers three- to seven-day retreats tailored to individual goals. Each journey begins with a wellness consultation, followed by a personalised programme of purification therapies, hammam rituals, Shirodhara, Kundalini massage and nutritious dining. Al Baleed Resort features five luxurious treatment rooms, a hammam, and hydropool. Signature Anantara Spa experiences include the Frankincense Ritual and the Revitalising Pomegranate Journey.

Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi merges natural beauty with cultural healing. Once home to Bedouin tribes who used desert herbs and sand in healing rituals, the island’s wellness ethos is inspired by Earth’s elements – grounding, purification and stillness. Ancient Bedouin traditions honoured the desert’s warmth and its aromatic botanicals for physical and spiritual wellbeing. Today’s therapies echo this legacy through date‑based exfoliation, warm sand poultices, guided breathing and sound healing in a timeless desert sanctuary.

The Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara is a tranquil wellness retreat featuring couples’ treatment rooms with outdoor Jacuzzis, single suites, a Thai massage room, and indoor–outdoor relaxation areas. Signature treatments blend indigenous ingredients with holistic techniques. Choose the Desert Rejuvenation Ritual for a full-body reset that begins with a natural date scrub, followed by herb-infused sand poultices and rhythmic massage. There’s also magnesium scrubs, mineral-rich wraps, CBD oil massages and more, each designed to restore balance in harmony with the desert’s stillness.

Beneath lush jungle canopies and swaying palms, Sri Lanka’s wellness traditions trace their roots to ancient Indian systems, evolving into a unique practice shaped by island flora and rhythm. Here, healing unfolds through touch, breath and balance in daily rituals and generational wisdom. Ayurveda remains central to local life, blending herbal therapies, dosha-based diagnostics and deep detoxification techniques. Treatments like Shirodhara, warm oil flowing steadily across the forehead, still soothe modern minds. Acupuncture and pulse reading further personalise care, while meditative yoga connects body to breath, anchoring each moment in stillness. This is not just wellness, but a return to harmony.

At Anantara Kalutara Resort, healing is curated under the guidance of a resident Ayurvedic doctor and yoga master. Bespoke programmes blend acupuncture, oil therapies, Shirodhara and breath-led yoga. Guests are invited to reconnect through daily movement, herbal teas, nutritious cuisine and the calming rhythm of the Kalu Ganga River. Whether through aquatic yoga or therapeutic massage, each ritual guides guests to balance from within.

Across Thailand, wellness pulses with the rhythm of the land, from the cool mountains of the north to the warm tides of the south. Ancient Thai medicine, a holistic fusion of herbalism, massage and spiritual practice, continues to shape healing rituals today. Techniques such as Yam Khang, the fiery art of healing with herbal oil and flame-heated footwork, remain rare and deeply restorative. Thai yoga massage works meridian lines, while traditional remedies use roots and herbs to soothe inflammation. Beyond physical restoration, wellness here is a sacred exchange that is rooted in respect, connection and the flow of energy that links together your body and mind.

Anantara Spa at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort offers a peaceful escape from the city’s energy. Set beside the Chao Phraya River, the sanctuary blends Thai philosophy with signature treatments that draw on both Eastern and Western healing traditions. Indigenous ingredients and carefully crafted therapies invite you to restore balance, calm the mind, and rejuvenate the body.

Within the same riverside haven, Anantara Wellness takes this journey further. Here, ancient wisdom meets modern science through personalised programmes that combine Traditional Thai Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, naturopathy, and advanced technology. From holistic therapies and fitness to integrative health and mindful nutrition, this riverside haven redefines urban wellness, nurturing vitality and lasting wellbeing with expert care.

Across Thailand, wellness pulses with the rhythm of the land, from the cool mountains of the north to the warm tides of the south. Ancient Thai medicine, a holistic fusion of herbalism, massage and Nestled along the peaceful shores of Layan Beach, Layan Life by Anantara offers immersive retreats from 3 to 12 nights, designed to recalibrate both body and mind. Each programme begins with detailed assessments, from physiotherapy to skin diagnostics and epigenetic analysis, and unfolds with personalised activities including Pilates, resistance training, sunrise yoga, tai chi, and singing bowl meditation.

This transformative wellness retreat in the lush landscape of Phuket uniquely blends modern practices with time-honoured traditions, including IV drips, fitness assessments, and nutritional guidance. These are all enriched by Traditional Thai Medicine therapies such as herbal compresses, tok sen massage, and medicinal teas. Located on the hillside next to Anantara Layan Residences in Phuket, Layan Life invites you on a profound journey toward enduring wellbeing, where you can awaken your fullest potential.