Some hotels reserve their wellness areas exclusively for guests. However, some of our Green PearlsⓇ partners also open their spas to outside visitors. This is ideal if a full wellness vacation isn’t feasible for you right now due to time or financial constraints. But does a spa day fit with your mindful lifestyle?
Can wellness be sustainable?
Heated pools, saunas, steam rooms, and certain spa treatments can require significant amounts of energy and water. That’s something we can’t simply ignore. But sustainability doesn’t have to mean choosing between two extremes—either enjoying these comforts without limits or giving them up altogether.
Hotels and vacation homes in the Green PearlsⓇ network show that there is another way. Even in the spa, it is possible to combine comfort with a more responsible use of resources. Many of these properties use energy-efficient technologies, heat recovery systems, renewable energy sources, and water-saving measures to reduce their environmental impact—without compromising the guest experience.
Ways to Experience Green Wellness—How to Spot Eco-Friendly Spas
Use of self-generated electricity, e.g., from solar panels or a geothermal system
Alternatively, use of genuine green electricity from a local utility provider
Heating of pools (including outdoor pools) using a heat pump system that utilizes waste heat from the hotel kitchen, cold storage facilities, air conditioning systems, or the server room
Modern pool covers that retain heat overnight
Modern filtration systems that purify and reuse the water
Natural swimming ponds without chemicals
Limiting sauna use to specific times or heating as needed
Use of natural and regional materials; e.g., regional wood from sustainable forestry and natural stone
No constant availability, for example, for private hot tubs (instead, these are freshly filled at the push of a button and then emptied again so that the warm water can be centrally purified and stored)
Additional ways to recognize a sustainably managed day spa:
You may bring your own slippers, bathrobe, and towels from home. (While this may not look as uniform, it reduces laundry and eliminates mountains of waste from disposable slippers.)
Because wellness has a mental side, too, a visit to the spa can be a wonderful opportunity to pause and step away from everyday life. Put your phone aside, leave your workday behind, and simply enjoy the warmth, water, soothing scents, and tranquility. Sometimes, truly unwinding means giving your mind a chance to slow down, too.
5 Day Spas in the DACH Region That Are Mindful of Their Resource Use
We’ve selected a few day spas in the DACH region and, in addition to their offerings, we’re taking a look at what goes on behind the scenes to ensure your wellness day has the smallest possible environmental footprint.
Unwind in a unique atmosphere at the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld
The YOUNIQUE Spa at the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The spa features a spacious sauna area with seven themed saunas, as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor pools that are open year-round. One of the highlights is the heated rooftop pool, where you can relax while taking in the surrounding mountain panorama. A hand-carved wooden sauna and the 500-year-old monastery walls add to the unique atmosphere. Spanning 3,500 square meters, the wellness area offers everything you need for a relaxing day away from everyday life.
Energy & Water: The hotel uses Seefeld’s bio-district heating system, which generates heat from biomass and wood, to heat the hotel as well as its pools and saunas. A 60-square-meter solar system supports hot water production in the wellness area, while the hotel’s own 150-kW photovoltaic system generates electricity on-site. In cooperation with Siemens, the hotel also uses a digital solution to monitor energy consumption and optimize energy use.
Price: The Day Spa costs €115 per person and includes lunch and cake. Guests who book a wellness treatment of 50 minutes or longer pay a reduced admission price of €75, plus the cost of the treatment. Those who would like to begin their day with breakfast pay €145, or €105 when booking a treatment. The offer is available to guests aged 16 and over.
Info: The Day Spa will reopen on January 7, 2027, following renovations.
Day spa packages in South Tyrol on the Ritten
The boathouse sauna with a view of Lake Wolfsgruben @ Hotel Weihrerhof
The Hotel Weihrerhof is set in a beautiful location on the shores of Wolfsgruben Lake, at an elevation of 1,200 meters on the Ritten Plateau. From the boathouse sauna, you can look directly out over the water. It is a particularly magical experience in winter, when the lake freezes over and the surrounding landscape is covered in snow. For those who enjoy a refreshing challenge, there is also an ice-swimming hole that is checked daily. The spa features an indoor pool as well, while in summer, guests can relax on the spacious sunbathing lawn and swim in the lake.
Energy & Water: “Our saunas are controlled to be energy-efficient, run on green electricity, and are scaled back during off-peak hours,” explains host Klaus Pichler. The wellness area also features the hotel’s own cosmetics line, BergSea, which combines regional ingredients with filtered water from Wolfsgruben Lake.
Price: A day pass for the Sea Spa costs €57 and includes a regional breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., as well as a spa bag with bathrobe, slippers, and towel. The “Short Day Spa” package, including the spa bag, costs just €37 for three hours. The boathouse sauna is open daily from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Hotel Das Rübezahl in Schwangau is a romantic retreat in the Allgäu, offering views of Neuschwanstein Castle and the surrounding mountains. Its wellness area features several pools, including a heated outdoor pool and a natural swimming pool, as well as a wellness garden, various saunas, and tranquil relaxation areas. To maintain a peaceful atmosphere even when welcoming outside guests, the Day Spa is limited to a maximum of four day guests at a time.
Electricity & Water: “We use water-saving fixtures throughout the hotel and provide our guests with our own mountain spring water; this eliminates transportation distances and reduces the need for external packaging,” explains Alexander Thurm of the host family. According to the Rübezahl, the saunas are primarily powered by solar energy generated on-site. When solar power is insufficient, the hotel uses green electricity from hydropower. An automated sauna control system also helps ensure that heating is only used when needed. The outdoor pool is heated with waste heat recovered through a heat recovery system.
Price: The Day Spa at Hotel Das Rübezahl costs €80 per person and can be booked Monday through Thursday, excluding holidays, from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. For €114, breakfast is included. The €169 package also includes a light lunch and a four-course dinner. Day Spa access is available to guests aged 16 and over and must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Feng Shui Day Spa Starting at €24 on the Moselle
At the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues, the wellness area is designed according to Feng Shui principles. Water features and rooms, among other elements, are arranged according to the principles of positive qi. Covering approximately 4,000 square meters, the spa features three year-round heated pools, a natural swimming pond, and a variety of saunas, steam baths, and infrared treatments.
Electricity & Water: In addition to its heated pools, the resort has a 20-meter-long natural swimming pond whose water is treated biologically and requires no chlorine for disinfection. To heat the pools, the hotel uses, among other technologies, a heat pump system that recovers waste heat from the server rooms and kitchen. The resort’s energy supply also includes solar power, geothermal energy, and four combined heat and power plants. According to the hotel, any additional electricity purchased from external sources comes entirely from certified hydropower.
Price: The Early Bird Day Spa, available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the After Work Spa, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., are particularly affordable at €24 per person each. The Early Bird package includes tea, fruit, and spring water and is available Monday through Thursday. Additional Day Spa packages start at €48, with some options including meals or fine dining experiences.
The family-run Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt enjoys a spectacular location overlooking one of Switzerland’s most famous mountain panoramas. The intimate Alpine Spa Bella Vita features a steam room, a Kneipp pool, a relaxation room, and a panoramic sauna with direct views of the Matterhorn. For those looking for complete privacy, the entire spa can even be reserved exclusively for private use—whether you’re enjoying it alone or with your partner.
Energy & Water: The panoramic sauna has a particularly interesting story. It replaced a whirlpool tub that used to occupy the same space and required 280 liters of fresh water every time it was used. “Water consumption was immense,” explains hostess Fabienne Anthamatten. In 2024, the family decided to remove the whirlpool and replace it with the sauna. According to the hotel, the sauna is powered by hydroelectricity and, during the summer months, is switched on only when requested.
Price: The Day Spa at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt costs CHF 35 per person for non-residents. The number of day guests is limited, so it is advisable to call ahead to check availability. Guests should also bring their own bath towels. For an even more private experience, the Bella Vita Private Spa allows guests to reserve the entire wellness area exclusively. It is available in two time slots, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. For non-hotel guests, the private spa costs CHF 170 for two people, with each additional person paying CHF 85.
Make Your Day Spa Visit More Sustainable
To wrap things up, take a look at our article with tips for a more sustainable spa visit. It offers simple ideas for making your next wellness day a little more mindful and resource-conscious.
And one more thought: A day spa gift certificate can make a wonderful present for someone who deserves a little time to relax and recharge.
This article was updated on December 22, 2023.
Save this article as inspiration for your next wellness day.
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