Spa online travel guide

Let us dive into the wonderful world of Spa in Belgium, where the term ‘Spa’ is not just a brand of mineral water; it is a beautiful town nestled in the Belgian Ardennes. Here you can literally drink ‘Spa Water’, straight from a natural spring. That is why you will find the Spa factory here, and this major producer manages to sell its water in many European countries, including the Benelux, France, Germany and the UK. Have a look at my Spa online travel guide!

Online Travel Guide

Topics

Centre Spa

Notre-Dame

Formula 1

Activities

Restaurants & bars

How to visit?

Gileppe & Limburg

Essentials for Spa

Centre Spa - Online travel guide

In case you like to visit the city centre, you will find the typical Spa man, jumping around the city in all colours brightly. While wandering around the city, you can score a cool outfit, as there are plenty of nice shops. After your shopping spree, join the lively atmosphere at one of the city’s cool bars or restaurants. If you are a big fan of Formula 1, then Spa is the place to be, In the centre you already can get in the mood at Brasserie Le Palmarès.

Did you know... The first bottling of Spa water began in 1583? But also, the Dutch use the term 'Spa Rood' - 'Spa Red' when ordering sparkling water in a restaurant? While you might not necessarily get Spa, it has become a generic term for sparkling water in the Netherlands.

Notre-Dame et Saint-Remacle church

In the bustling centre and on Place Achille Salée square, you will find the Notre-Dame et Saint-Remacle Church, a neo-Gothic gem dating back to 1885. From several points in the city, you have a great view of this church, especially the four turrets on the side stand out. This neo-Romanesque church is named after Saint Remaclus, as evidenced by the foundation of the Stavelot monastery in Belgium, which became an important religious and cultural centre. Because his work as a monk helped spread Christianity in the Ardennes, this church, among others, owes its name.

Speaking of Formula 1 - Spa online travel guide

If you are a Formula 1 enthusiast, then do not miss the chance to visit the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Nowadays, formula cars race past it one time a year. The circuit is not far from the city, as hidden in the woods you can watch the racing cars pass by on the 7-kilometre track.

Did you know... The first race in Spa-Francorchamps took place in 1924? Besides that: Formula races have been here in the listing almost annually since the fifties, Spa is with Silverstone (UK) one of the most frequently circuits used in the formula series.

Activities in this Spa online travel guide

To begin with, Spa is beautiful and its surroundings even more so, in the centre you can see the thermal springs of Spa on top of the hill. Because of a landscaped path through the woods, you can choose to walk up, and otherwise you can hop on the cable car for a small fee. Eventually, you will have a fantastic view of the city from this angle. In case you want to continue walking a bit further, you can walk through the forest further on, unless you are ready for a ‘day at Spa’, in which case you can visit the thermal baths of Spa.

Les Thermes de Spa

Pamper yourself by planning a nice relaxing day, step into the thermal baths, a steam bath or sauna and enjoy a relaxing massage and delicious food. Dating back to the 16th century, the thermal baths of Spa are famous for their natural mineral water springs.

Admire the gigantic châteaus

Particularly, to the south of the city, you will find magnificent and huge houses. If you like looking at magnificent châteaus and mansions, it is definitely worth walking around here. During my visit, it was snowing and created a fairytale atmosphere.

Discover Spa with an e-Scavenger hunt

Would you like to go on a treasure hunt in Spa? Then you can play a fun game through this beautiful city. Complete a number of tasks, which will help you learn a lot about Spa. Book your inspiring tour here.

Take a nature walk

In addition, you can also choose to take a nature walk, turn on the navigation towards Tour Jean Valière, as you can take lovely long walks from here. Subsequently, you can then climb the tower to view the ‘Malchapms Moor’ area from above.

Tip! Visit this area early in the morning or at the evening fall (at dusk) and bring binoculars and/or a camera, who knows, you might spot wildlife here.

Binoculars Camera

Tips for restaurants & bars in Spa - Online travel guide

Besides Brasserie Le Palmarés, there are other great options:

Hotel Restaurant L’Auberge: for those who appreciate a refined culinary experience. The restaurant is known for its gourmet dishes and elegant appearance.
Le Grill Du Casino: offering a mix of modern and classic dishes next to the Casino of Spa.
Restaurant la Belle Epoque: known for good food and friendly service.
Le Grand Maur: indulge in tasteful, gourmet dishes with excellent wine options.
Havana Café: ideal for a delightful evening with an extensive selection of cocktails.

Travelling to Spa by car - Online travel guide

Car rental in Spa offers you an unforgettable experience if you want to tour this area. By having a car, it gives you the chance to visit all kinds of beautiful spots such as the wonderful nature reserve near Tour Jean Valière, or places like Barrage de la Gileppe and picturesque Limburg. If you choose to rent your car from Sunny Cars, you will be well insured and on top of that, they offer free cancellation.

Barrage de la Gileppe & Limburg

Picturesque Limburg

Make a pit stop in the picturesque Limburg, it is really worth visiting the city, not the province of Limburg, but really the town. Limburg is tucked away on a hill near the Gileppe dam. Wander through the streets and admire the town hall, St George’s church and a number of houses that still date back to the 17th century, it feels like you imagine yourself back in the Middle Ages. Because the city is located on a hill, you have fantastic views.

All about Limburg

Did you know… Limburg is not only a city in Belgium, but also a Dutch and Belgian province. In addition, it is also a municipality in Germany. To make it even more confusing, the Belgian city is not even in the province of Limburg, but in the province of Liège.

Gileppestuwdam

While you are visiting the city of Limburg, you can also drop by the Gileppe Dam, since it is just around the corner. The Gileppe Dam dates back to 1878 and Lac la Gilleppe contains a mega volume of 25 million cubic metres of water. This is one of Europe’s oldest concrete dams. If you like to view the dam from above, you can take a lift into the tower and enjoy the view 70 metres high. Finally, you can take a nice walk in the surrounding area.

Did you know… You probably will not miss it, but here stands a 13-metre-high lion, it is made of 186 large stones.

Essential Spa visit items

Water bottle, to refill your bottle sustainably with the Spa mineral water. Personally, I love the brand Dopper
Binoculars, for spotting wildlife
Camera with lens to take nice pictures
Tech Pouch, to store all your charging cables, memory cards and power bank

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