Known for the therapeutic properties of their waters, these towns have been attracting wellness seekers since the days of the Roman Empire. So, why not leave the stresses of modern life behind and do as Romans do?

Famous for its "golden" healing waters, the spa town of Baden, on the slopes of the Vienna Woods, is a short journey from the Austrian capital. As well as bathing in sulphurous water and mud to treat rheumatism, you can enjoy a dip in the soothing 36°C (97°F) hot pools.

Located in the Ardennes, Spa became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the well-to-do came to take the waters, turning the town’s name into a generic term for water therapy. Today, the modern Thermes de Spa sits at the top of a hill surrounded by nature, accessed by cable railway.

An easy bus ride away from Prague, Karlovy Vary is the most visited spa town in the Czech Republic. Rising to a height of 12 m (40 ft) and bubbling at a steamy 72°C, Vřídlo is the best known and warmest of the town’s 12 hot mineral springs. The water is said to be good for digestive disorders.

This delightful spa town lost in the forests of West Bohemia once drew royalty and celebrities to its elegant parks and spa houses. The waters here, unusually high in carbon dioxide and iron, are used to treat all kinds of health disorders.

The elegant spa resort of Baden-Baden is one of the oldest towns in Germany. The main thermal baths are the modern Caracalla Spa, with its numerous pools and Roman-styled sauna, and the historic Friedrihsbad, housed in a Neo-renaissance building completed in 1877.

Germany’s answer to Nice, Bad Ems is located right in the heart of Nassau Nature Park. This glamorous spa resort is home to 15 mineral springs that are used to treat respiratory diseases, allergies and cardiovascular disorders. The modern Emser Thermal Spa offers wellness with a view and even features a sauna floating on the river.

Located on the second-largest Greek island of Evvia, Edipsos has been revitalising visitors since antiquity: the mineral springs are referenced in the writings of Ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, Strabo and Plutarch. Voted as one of the top 10 spas in the world, Thermae Sylla Spa and Hotel is an “anti-stress” hotel with every imaginable therapeutic treatment available.

Montecatini Terme is the best place in Italy for grandiose, distinguished spas. The most splendid is the Neo-Classical Terme Tettuccio, with its circular, marble-lined pools, fountains and Art Nouveau tiles depicting languorous nymphs. Drinking the waters here is recommended for improving digestion, while wallowing in the mud at Terme Leopoldine is good for the skin.

Located in the Tuscan hills, the spa town of Saturnia attracts visitors with its milky blue pools of warm sulphur water. You can bathe here at any time, all year round, free of charge and experience health benefits such as improved circulation and muscle pain relief. Also located on the site of the springs is the Terme di Saturnia, a resort hotel with excellent spa facilities and health treatments.

While bathing is not allowed in the Roman Baths, the opening of the Thermae Bath Spa in 2006 once again made Bath a popular day-spa destination. There are three pools fed by natural thermal waters: the New Royal Bath has two baths, including an open-air rooftop pool with superb views over the city; across the road, the oval Cross Bath is a more intimate open-air bath, ideal for shorter sessions.

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