City of light, city of love, city of spas.
The last may not be the title most often associated with Paris, but perhaps it deserves a place among the city’s many accolades. Its exceptional wellness offerings certainly make a compelling case.
Hidden in the subterranean layers of some of the grandest hotels or arranged around a pretty and unexpected interior garden, Paris’s spas are a welcome respite – especially after a little too much time pounding the pavements of the Champs-Élysées. Here, relaxation often comes with a distinctly Parisian flourish: some treatments end with a delicate macaron and a glass of champagne. This is Paris, after all.
Best luxury spas in Paris
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The Peninsula Spa
City spas, especially those in Paris, can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The scale of The Peninsula Spa, the largest in the city, is utterly enormous — 19,000 sq ft, to be precise. There’s a 65-ft swimming pool, eight treatment rooms, a hammam, sauna, and vitality pools. Facials are by La Maison Lutétia — the Plasma Botolift Facial uses a PlasmaGun which helps to decrease hyperpigmentation, reduce scarring, and reverse signs of aging.
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Le Spa du George V
A few steps away from Champs-Élysées, Four Seasons Hotel George V was first built in 1928 and is a landmark in the city. Le Spa du George V was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon and has a 55-ft vitality pool heated to a soothing 86 degrees Fahrenheit; two hammams; beauty and hairdressing salon; and a well-equipped gym that overlooks the aforementioned pool. The George V Escape by Dr Burgener Switzerland is a 130-minute body scrub, full body massage, and a facial that uses gold, Chardonnay grapes, and green caviar. It ends, as all treatments should, with macarons and champagne. If you’re fresh off a long flight, the Parisian Body Experience uses a ‘French Stretch’ to soothe muscles and relieve tension.
See also: A Guide to Paris’ Private Jet Airports
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Ritz Club & Spa
While The Ritz Paris is perhaps one of the most famous addresses in the world, The Ritz Club & Spa has its own dedicated entrance on Rue Cambon so guests can discreetly slip in. Enter through the grand arched doorway and descend a staircase to the club (unless you’re staying at the hotel, then you can nip down in your robe and slippers). There’s an enormous Neoclassical swimming pool made from some 600,000 mosaic tiles, with a stunning trompe l’oeil sky fresco; a David Mallett hair salon; gym; and a long menu of treatments — La Prairie is used for facials and body care. There’s a nail bar, too — go for Ritzy, a custom shade by Kure Bazaar.
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Dior Spa Plaza Athénée
The all-cream spa at Plaza Athénée with its soft, warm lighting gives a bit of a heaven-esque vibe, especially if you picture heaven as having a few Dior Toile de Jouy furnishings scattered about. The treatment list is interesting – a mix of high-tech (like the micro-abrasian and photostimulation facial) and more woo-woo, like the cosmic sound bath, inspired by Christian Dior’s fascination with astrology.
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Spa Le Bristol by La Mer
For those who like their spa with a little shrubbery, look no further than Spa Le Bristol by La Mer. The spa opens out onto an interior garden; some of the treatment rooms have direct access. The rooftop pool has a charming sailing mural, and the gym has three zones — one filled with Technogym, one with free weights, and a studio for yoga or Pilates. Treatments naturally use La Mer. Each one is personalized but the brand’s cult classic Miracle Broth makes an appearance — the bio-fermented liquid is derived from giant sea kelp which helps with regeneration.
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La Maison Valmont pour Le Meurice
On the Rue de Rivoli in the first arrondissement, Spa Valmont at the Le Meurice hotel is a touch more petite than some of the other spas in this list at 3,660 sq ft. But size isn’t everything as the spa has four treatment suites, landscaped terrace, gym, an area for manicures and pedicures, separate his-and-hers saunas, a hammam, and an ice fountain in a nod to Valmont’s Swiss roots. Treatments use Valmont products and there’s a facial especially designed for men which helps soothe irritation and relax facial muscles.
How we chose the best spas in Paris
Each spa featured is independently selected by Elite Traveler’s editors and contributors, informed by first-hand reviews where possible and in-depth research where not. Our curation spans the world’s most luxurious properties, chosen for their uncompromising quality and exceptional service.
