Spas with affordable

Ubud, Bali

A walk-in sauna and herbal steam house in Ubud with self-service löyly, four cold-plunge pools, a fire pit and café, open daily 8am–9pm.

Banff, Alberta

A historic outdoor mineral pool run by Parks Canada on Sulphur Mountain in Banff, open daily and walk-in only, no reservations.

Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg

Modern thermal baths in Baden-Baden with indoor-outdoor pools and a Roman-style sauna garden, open daily 8am–10pm, day pass €40.

Lake Tahoe, California

Family-friendly hot springs resort near Lake Tahoe with outdoor pools, private indoor soaking rooms and saunas, open daily on a walk-in basis.

Portland, Oregon

A member-run bathhouse in Concordia with a clothing-optional salt-water hot pool, cedar sauna and courtyard, day passes from $18.

Gero, Gifu

An outdoor-only onsen in Gero with rock-built baths, a cascade bath and three-temperature pools, open daily except Thursdays.

Austin, Texas

Contrast therapy studio in East Austin with a communal garden sauna-and-cold-plunge setup, private suites, and red light sessions, day passes from $25.

Eger, Heves

Outdoor thermal bath complex in Eger with sulfurous and radon medicinal pools, family pools and a slide pool, open daily from 9am to 7pm.

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Family-friendly hot springs park near San Miguel de Allende with indoor and outdoor thermal pools, a kids' splash area, and day passes for walk-ins.

Nozawa Onsen, Nagano

A public day-bathing hall in Nozawa Onsen village with indoor hot and warm baths plus an outdoor hot spring bath, open to walk-ins year-round.

Gero, Gifu

Gero's riverside hot-spring source pool in the town center, where visitors can touch the water and take photos, though full bathing has been banned since

Saratoga Springs, New York

A floating Nordic-style sauna moored on Saratoga Lake, with a 15-person cabin, roof terrace and lake plunge, open daily except Monday.

Bursa

A historic thermal bathhouse and small hotel in Bursa's Kükürtlü district, with separate men's and women's hamams, day passes, and overnight stays.

Bishop, California

A century-old natural hot springs pool near Bishop in the Eastern Sierra, with a cooling waterfall, a separate hot soak, and simple day-use facilities.

Reykjavik, Capital Region

A tiny free geothermal footbath on the Seltjarnarnes coast near Reykjavik, good for warming your feet while watching the sunset or northern lights.

Pärnu, Pärnu County

A 193-room medical spa hotel in Pärnu with a pool and sauna complex, salt therapy, physiotherapy and water aerobics, open to day visitors.

Monroe, Utah

Natural hot spring pools fed by mineral water in rural Monroe, Utah, open 24/7 with day-pass soaking and funky bus and cabin lodging on site.

Buxton, England

Victorian hotel leisure club in Buxton with a heated indoor pool, gym, sauna and steam room, open to non-residents for an £8.50 day pass.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

A compact Ayurvedic spa and yoga retreat near Laxman Jhula in Rishikesh, offering six treatments including Shirodhara by appointment only.

Kusatsu, Gunma

A large open-air hot spring bath in Nishinokawara Park, Kusatsu, set among forest with mountain and seasonal views, open daily for walk-ins.

Flúðir, Hrunamannahreppur

Iceland's oldest natural swimming pool, built in 1891 near Flúðir, fed entirely by onsite hot springs and a small geyser.

New York City, New York

A budget-friendly Korean-style bathhouse in Queens with indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, saunas and a restaurant, open to walk-ins daily.

Archena, Murcia

Thermal spa resort in Archena, Murcia, with a 3,000m² thermal circuit, outdoor baths and a day pass from €23.

Koh Samui, Surat Thani

A forest day spa on Koh Samui built around granite steam caves, waterfalls and plunge pools, open daily with walk-in or day-pass access.