5 best destinations in Central Europe for solo travelers seeking solitude

You’re looking to restore your health this spring in an amazing location you can explore between treatments but aren’t sure what kind of trip to book. 

Ensana Hotels, Europe’s leading operator of health spas, can help narrow your choices. The hotel group is known for its preventive health programs and customized rehabilitation therapies set in some of the most sought-after spa towns across the continent.      

Whether you are in the mood for a historic city escape, lakeside retreat, salty sea air or communing with nature, Ensana offers a perfect homebase for solo travelers hoping to combine pampering, wellness and adventure. 

Here are five top destinations for spring getaways to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.   

Nestled in the middle of the stunning Slavkovský Les nature preserve, just a two-hour train ride from Prague, Mariánské Lázně is a favorite weekend retreat for those looking to ease their aches and pains with the help of the town’s famous carbon dioxide-rich spring waters, nutrient-rich peloids and fresh air. 

The pearl of the Czech spa circuit offers stunning backdrops to explore by foot or bicycle. Solo adventure-seekers might want to cruise down the Eger River by canoe before a few rounds of golf, tennis or bowling.       

After you’ve finished sightseeing, check in at Nové Lázně, Ensana’s majestic five-star hotel and a member of the Royal Spas of Europe. You can choose from a number of spa and relaxation programs, including effective therapies against musculoskeletal ailments using mineral water from the local springs combined with long-standing medical expertise. Its popular PelviPower treatment helps strengthen pelvic floor muscles and is highly recommended for sustaining health and fitness at any age.

Situated in the lush Váh River valley and easily accessible by train, bus or car, Piešťany is Slovakia’s biggest and most popular spa town. The medicinal thermal waters and unique sulfur mud are well-known for their healing effects, particularly in regard to lingering rheumatic and arthritic diseases.  

There is plenty to soak in during a visit to Piešťany if you’re an adventurous solo traveler. The town offers various sports and leisure activities like squash, tennis and golf on the famed Spa Island. With numerous trailheads to choose from, admire the town’s lovely natural surroundings by foot, bicycle or even horse.    

Take advantage of the unique healing and relaxation treatments on offer at Ensana Esplanade Hotel, which is connected by a corridor to the center of the Balnea Health Spa. The hotel features an outdoor and indoor pool. The outdoor pool includes benches with massage jets, a bubble bath, and gargoyles. A special jacuzzi with a water temperature of 36 degrees Celsius is located in one part of the pool. 

Roughly 200 km from Budapest sits Lake Heviz, a 20,000-year-old thermal lake along the northern slopes of Mount Keszthely in western Hungary. Its healing powers against rheumatic and arthritic diseases have been attracting visitors since the Middle Ages.

Once you tire of swimming in these tranquil waters, jump out and get your walking shoes on. Solo travelers in particular will delight in the area’s network of cycling and hiking paths. Golf at the Zala Springs course or schedule a hot air balloon ride.   

A five-minute walk from the lake, Ensana Thermal Heviz holds the distinction of being the first spa hotel to open in the town and offers its guests the “ultimate spa experience.” You definitely won’t regret booking a room here. Its spa programs utilize thermal water, rich in therapeutic minerals, to combat chronic health problems, while mud dredged from the lake bed is used also for face packs and other rejuvenating treatments. 

Dreaming of summer? Consider Sts. Constantine and Helena. Located just 10 km from Varna, this sea resort, the oldest in Bulgaria, is surrounded by vast greenery, enviable beaches and seven healing thermal springs, making it a top destination for balneotherapy, health prevention, rejuvenation and relaxation. 

If you’re visiting alone, enjoy a private boat tour or explore the area’s various well-routed hiking paths, including one that will take you through the Stone Forest outside of Varna.    

Located just 25 meters from the beach, Aquahouse, one of the newest properties in the Ensana portfolio, is staffed by professional therapists and specialists in physical and rehabilitation medicine, who will select the most suitable program according to your health issues. The resort’s mineral water, which plays a key role in the hotel’s spa treatments, has a beneficial influence on a number of ailments, including gastrointestinal, gall-liver, renal, urological and metabolic diseases. 

A prime year-round spot to recharge your batteries, Budapest’s meticulously kept Margaret Island offers the perfect setting for those looking for peace and solitude. The island’s healing thermal waters – effective in treating chronic medical conditions like locomotor diseases, peripheral circulatory disorders and digestive issues – have been ushering in visitors for generations.  

Beyond these bubbling hot springs, there’s much more on offer for the solo traveler. The island is a popular exercise spot, with paths for joggers and cyclists. Don’t miss the mini zoo before indulging in the thermal pools of the Palatinus Strand Baths.

Ensana’s two exclusive properties here – Grand Margaret Island and Thermal Margaret Island – will cater to all your health and pampering needs. Thermal Margaret Island boasts indoor and outdoor pools as well as a sauna, steam room, aroma cabin, thermal bath and fitness room. Guests staying at the Grand Margaret Island have access to Thermal Margaret Island’s state-of-the-art medical spa, one of the largest in Budapest.