Top 4 Central Europe destinations for spa breaks and adventure travel

With summer beckoning, it’s time to start planning your next active getaway. 

Whether you are looking for a beach holiday, a city escape, or something closer to home, Ensana Hotels make it easy to combine travel adventures with rejuvenating health and wellness treatments.  

The hotel group – Europe’s leading operator of health spas – is known for its preventive health programs and customized rehabilitation therapies in some of the region’s most popular spa towns. Checking in with Ensana offers a great starting point for travelers interested in mixing adventures with pampering. 

We’ve rounded up four top destinations for adventure travelers this summer, all with convenient transit connections by train or plane from Prague or Brno.     

Just two hours from Prague by train, Mariánské Lázně is more than just mineral springs and historic charm. Nestled in the middle of the stunning Slavkovský Les nature preserve, this famous Czech spa town is a gateway to high-energy outdoor fun. 

Lace up for hikes that lead to panoramic lookouts like Hamelika Tower, or rent a mountain bike and cruise forest trails that range from easy to challenging. Try Nordic walking through tranquil parks, paragliding for epic aerial views, or ride horseback through meadows and pine woods. Go rock climbing in the nearby Tepelská Highlands or spend a quiet afternoon on the links at the Royal Golf Club, one of Europe’s oldest courses.  

Once you’re done exploring, settle in at Ensana’s Hvězda hotel, the centerpiece of the town’s Goethe Square, where you can swim in the largest indoor pool in Mariánské Lázně or enjoy an expansive sauna complex at the four-star property’s Aqua Wellness Centre. The family-friendly Ensana Butterfly is a good option if you are traveling with kids, offering a playful atmosphere in a setting where health, heritage, and comfort converge to create an experience unlike any other.

From exploring the underground world of the Pálvölgyi or Szemlőhegyi caves and the hiking paths of the Buda Hills to kayaking on the Danube and ziplining in the Erzsébet Lookout Area, Budapest offers plenty to get your adrenaline going. 

At the heart of the Hungarian capital lies Margaret Island, whose medicinal waters – effective in treating chronic medical conditions like locomotor diseases, peripheral circulatory disorders, and digestive issues – have been ushering in visitors for generations. This lush, car-free island is a haven for outdoor lovers. You can jog a 5.3 km track, climb the island’s art nouveau water tower for sweeping city views, cruise around on a quad bike, or visit the mini zoo.   

Book a room at Ensana Thermal Margaret Island to soothe your muscles and recharge. The property is considered one of Budapest’s best health and wellness hotels. During your stay, you can enjoy indoor and outdoor pools as well as a sauna, steam room, aroma cabin, thermal bath, and fitness room.

Piešťany might be one of Slovakia’s biggest and most popular spa towns, but this lovely hamlet tucked in the middle of the lush Váh River valley also offers plenty to do for outdoor enthusiasts. The Sĺňava Reservoir loop is ideal for cycling, jogging, or in-line skating with 12 km of smooth paths and water views. 

If you are craving water thrills, try wakeboarding, waterskiing, or canoeing down the Váh River. Hiking fans won’t want to miss trekking up to the ruins of Tematín Castle. The town also offers horseback riding, tennis, and golfing at the oldest golf course in Slovakia.

To rest in comfort, head to Ensana Esplanade on Spa Island, and take advantage of the hotel’s unique healing and relaxation treatments. The property has outdoor and indoor pools. 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. 

Located 8 km outside Varna, Sts. Constantine and Helena – Bulgaria’s first seaside resort – packs in a surprising amount of action for summer travelers who take their beach days with a shot of adrenaline. Dive down to a sunken Soviet-era airplane wreck, windsurf along the Black Sea coast, or take a jet ski out for a spin. 

If you want a more laid-back adventure, consider yacht rentals, banana boat rides, and catamaran cruises with stunning views. Inland, you can hit forest trails on an electric dirt bike, go-kart on one of Bulgaria’s biggest tracks, or hike the clifftop paths of the Golden Sands Nature Park.

Stay at Aquahouse, one of the newest properties in the Ensana portfolio. Situated just 25 meters from the coastline, the hotel features 11 indoor and outdoor mineral water pools, including an outdoor playzone and waterslide for the younger guests. You can relax on Aquahouse’s private beach or spend time in its Finnish or aroma saunas, steam bath, salt room or hammam. The hotel’s spa treatments target a number of ailments, including gastrointestinal, gall-liver, renal, urological, and metabolic diseases.