6 Quebec Nordic spas you must try!

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Sometimes, when life gets too crazy, you just want to spend the day meandering between hot tubs, cold pools, saunas and hammocks at a Quebec Nordic spa—am I right?

If that’s your idea of hedonistic bliss, one of the many, many Nordic spas in Quebec will be just your cup of tea. From the outdoorsy Nordik Spa-Nature near Gatineau Park in Chelsea to the ultra-modern Strøm Spa overlooking the St. Lawrence River in Quebec City, there’s one for just about every taste.

So what, exactly, is a Nordic spa?

Each has its own variations, but they all involve meandering around a “spa circuit.”

The circuit begins with something hot to warm up your muscles (a hot tub, sauna or steam room, usually), followed by a quick blast of cold (often a dip in a cold pool or a quick splash under a frigid shower) to bump up your heart rate and close your pores.

Next, you relax for a while—next to a fire, curled up in a hammock, sprawled on a lounge chair or elsewhere—until your teeth stop chattering and your body temperature returns to normal.

Then you do it all again, as often as you want (or for as long as your entrance fee allows). Often, you can punctuate your visit with meals, drinks, beauty treatments and other diversions.

Promoters say doing the Nordic spa circuit soothes everything from stress to rheumatism. They also advise checking with your doctor before trying it if you have a heart condition, are pregnant or have some other sort of health-related concern.

The term “Nordic spa” reflects the tradition’s deep roots in northern European countries such as Sweden, Finland and Norway. However, some of these spas also draw on influences from places as diverse as Japan, France and Hawaii to create a restful retreat, so you could also just call them “thermal spas” and you wouldn’t be wrong.

For some reason, Quebeckers seem to have taken to the whole Nordic spa trend much more strongly than other Canadians. You can’t throw a pebble in la belle province without hitting one of these outdoor spas, but their equivalents in Ontario are few and far between.

Over the years, I’ve checked out quite a few Quebec Nordic spas—all in the name of research, you understand—including Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, Bota Bota Spa in Montreal and Strøm Spa in Quebec City. Here are some of my favourites, listed roughly in order of their distance from Ottawa. They’re generally open year round, although some have shorter hours in the winter.

If you want to make a weekend of it, I’ve also made it easy for you to find nearby hotels and vacation rentals.

Disclosure: I visited many of these spas for free for review purposes. The spas have not reviewed this post, and all opinions are my own. Also note that this post contains affiliate links.

Cover photo credit: Nordik Photolux.

In the Outaouais: Nordik Spa-Nature

While I love unwinding in a sauna or hot tub and rarely say no to a Swedish massage, I’ll confess to being a bit of a skeptic about some of the purported historical roots and modern health benefits of various spa experiences and treatments. As soon as someone starts waxing on about the nourishing aspects of mud or the properties of essential oils, I can feel my eyebrow rising as though I’m Mr. Spock arguing with Dr. McCoy. And yet, I’m also compelled to try these experiences out of sheer curiosity.

So at Nordik Spa-Nature in Chelsea, when I joined a group of guests for the Aufguss “ritual”—a 15-minute sauna experience featuring spa staffers dancing to pop music, waving towels and placing what appear to be scented Sno-Cones on a griddle—my BS detectors were on high alert. However, even though I’m dubious about how much of the practice derives from ancient Germanic traditions, as per the spa’s promotional materials, I do have to concede that it was relaxing and entertaining.

At the spa, you can choose from a seemingly infinite variety of wraps, massages and other spa treatments—not surprisingly, as this is one of the largest Nordic-style spas in North America. On the large property on a hill overlooking the Ottawa Valley, you’ll find a saltwater floatation pool, all sorts of saunas and steam rooms, pools and waterfalls, four restaurants, a beer garden, and more. The spa also has two 10-person cottages for rent, as well as access to lofts in the village that can accommodate two to four people each.

Details: Nordik Spa-Nature is located at 16, chemin Nordik, Chelsea, Quebec. If you’re looking for a hotel near Nordik Spa Chelsea, you can make a booking using the map below. (Note that if you book a place using any of the hotel maps or links in this post, I’ll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

Nordic spas near Tremblant: Spa Scandinave and Ofuro Station Zen

Fans of Tremblant know that you can indulge in just about any sort of outdoor activity in and around the famous Laurentians resort. Depending on the season, you can ski, bike, swim, learn to fly a falcon—you name it.

If your muscles are achy after all that exercise, you can sign up for a day at the Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant. “Hot” options include eucalyptus steam baths, thermal showers, Finnish dry saunas and hot baths. On the cold front (see what I did there?), you can avail yourself of frigid waterfalls, showers and pools.

One of the Scandinave Spa’s unique attributes is its access to the Diable River. Keeners can walk down a long set of stairs to swim in the bracing water. I’ll admit I wasn’t one of the keeners; I was quite content to loaf dazedly in a “zero-gravity chair” (basically, a really comfy cross between a chaise longue and a rocking chair) and watch the river flow by. You can also zone out in a hammock or solarium. The bistro offers beverages and light meals, and the spa provides a range of massage options.

Details: You’ll find the Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant at 4280 Montée Ryan, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

As I mentioned, most Nordic-style spas understandably have a very Scandinavian vibe: lots of blonde wood, picture windows and roaring fires. Ofuro Station Zen in the Laurentians town of Morin Heights, while still offering the usual assortment of hot and cold options, has a different aesthetic entirely. From the Buddha sculpture that greets you at the entrance to the stone serpent standing guard over one of the outdoor pools, it has an Asian theme that is both different and relaxing.

Massages and beauty treatments are offered inside pagodas, and there’s a room specifically set up for couples’ massages. Ofuro Station Zen makes a point of noting that reservations aren’t necessary for the Nordic spa circuit, although you’d be wise to book ahead for the treatments.

The spa also offers yoga classes, and there’s a bistro serving soups, sandwiches and other light fare. Want to extend your stay? Ofuro has five onsite guest rooms, and several different accommodation packages are available.

Details: Ofuro Station Zen is located at 777, chemin St-Adolphe, Morin Heights, Quebec.

Looking for a hotel in and around Mont Tremblant? There are many! Check the map below.

A Nordic spa on a boat: Bota Bota in Montreal

The first time I visited Bota Bota Spa-Sur-L’Eau, a Nordic spa on a converted river ferry permanently moored in the Old Port of Montreal, it was February. The mercury was hovering somewhere in the range of -28 degrees Celsius. But I had a story to write, so I took one for the team.

It wasn’t so frosty at first. Much of the infrastructure of Bota Bota, including saunas and showers, is indoors. However, for the full experience, you can pick your way across a frost-dusted deck even in the depths of winter to slide gratefully into a hot tub or daringly into a cold plunge pool.

I stayed indoors as much as possible for my first circuit. I ventured into the outdoor hot tub at one point. But my curiosity got the better of me while I was out there, and I decided to climb the short ladder leading to the outdoor cold pool just to stick my toe into the water and see how cold it really was.

Unfortunately, I forgot to account for the fact that I’m an undisputed klutz. I got to the top of the ladder, stuck out my foot…and promptly lost my balance, thus immersing myself up to my neck.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might feel like to be cryogenically frozen, try this. Otherwise, I can’t say I’d advise it.

Other than that, the spa was lovely, and it’s very easy to reach from Old Montreal. There’s a licensed restaurant, too, and beauty treatments and massages are offered.

Details: You’ll find Bota Bota Spa-Sur-L’Eau at the McGill Entrance to the Old Port of Montreal, at the corner of De la Commune and McGill.

Use this map if you’d like to book a hotel near Bota Bota Spa in Montreal.

An Eastern Townships Nordic spa: Balnea

There’s a ton to do in the Eastern Townships, a sprawling region of small towns, pretty lakes, hiking trails and ski hills wedged between Montreal and the Vermont border. (Don’t believe me? Check out my imaginatively titled posts 7 cool reasons to visit Quebec’s Eastern Townships this winter and 5 more reasons to visit the Eastern Townships.)

If you want to unwind from all the hiking, eating, skiing and shopping you can do in the Eastern Townships, the thermal experience at Balnea Spa and Thermal Reserve in Bromont is a great bet. As well as four saunas, seven hot tubs, two Turkish baths, a cold waterfall and various cold pools, the spa also offers rest areas ranging from a Moroccan-themed lounge to an aquarium. (I can vouch for the meditative aspect of the Moroccan lounge, where I came this close to falling asleep.) If seclusion is your goal, two-person open tents overlooking Gale Lake are available. You can round out your visit with massages and beauty treatments. There’s also a year-round licensed restaurant and a summer-only bar.

Details: Balnea Spa and Thermal Reserve is located at 319, chemin du Lac Gale, Bromont, Quebec.

To find places to stay in the Eastern Townships, check this map, which shows hotels in Bromont.

A Nordic spa in downtown Quebec City: Strøm Spa

Like Bota Bota in Montreal, the Strøm Spa Nordique Vieux-Quebec allows you to admire the St. Lawrence River as you soak away your aches and pains. It’s weirdly hypnotizing to just watch the water flowing by, punctuated by the odd sailboat or ocean-bound freighter.

Unlike many of the other spas in this post, Strøm eschews a woodsy, natural vibe for something much sleeker, with lots of smooth stone, huge glass windows and leather couches. But it’s not all urban flash; you can also unwind in a barrel sauna. Massages and beauty treatments are available (the spa has its own line of body scrubs and similar products), and there’s a restaurant onsite, too. On certain evenings, children aged 12 to 15 are allowed to enjoy the Nordic spa circuit when accompanied by an adult.

Details: Strøm Spa Nordique Vieux-Quebec is located at 515, boul. Champlain, Quebec City. It’s tucked on a point of land just west of the walled city, right below the Plains of Abraham.

Quebec City is full of fabulous hotels, and most are a short cab ride from the Strøm Spa. Two favourites that I’ve stayed in recently are Monsieur Jean, a luxurious and quirky spot with a central location on rue Saint-Jean in the upper part of the old city; and the Monastère des Augustines, a serene property a few blocks away from Monsieur Jean, incorporated into a historic convent. You can find them and other Quebec City accommodations on the map below.

What to know before you go

Policies at each spa differ, but you’ll always need to bring a bathing suit and flip flops. Some spas may also ask you to bring a robe, a towel and/or a lock for your locker, but most provide these items.

If you have long hair, don’t forget a few hair elastics. Soap, shampoo and hair dryers are often available, but you might want to bring your own if you’re picky. A water bottle is essential, as it’s easy to get a bit dehydrated with all that soaking and steaming.

If you’d like to read something in English as you relax between circuits, bring your own book or magazine; at many Quebec Nordic spas, most of the available reading materials in French. And don’t count on reading on your phone or tablet. Most spas don’t allow phones on the Nordic circuit or in treatment rooms to keep the shared areas tranquil and private, and iPads aren’t exactly the best choice in wet environments.

A water-resistant tote bag comes in handy for bringing your gear from station to station.

These spas are very popular, so while most accept walk-ins, reservations are generally a good idea—particularly on weekends and holidays.

Finally, check the website of your chosen spa to make sure the property is a good fit for your type of getaway. Some spas have large areas where talking is discouraged or forbidden, so they’re probably not the best choice for your lively bachelorette party. Some offer vegetarian and vegan food choices; some have licensed bars. Some allow older children; others are adults only.

Whatever your taste, there’s probably a Quebec Nordic spa for you. Just watch out for those cold pools.

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.