16 Best Hot Springs in the World With Incredible Views

There's nothing better than taking a dip in a relaxing hot spring after a long travel day. Hot springs, the result of geothermally heated water emerging from the Earth's crust, offer relaxation and health perks like stress relief and skin detox. Even better, many of the planet's best hot springs are found in dazzling destinations that may already top your travel list.

From Iceland to Italy and Turkey to Tibet, here are 16 of the best hot springs in the world.

1. Pamukkale Thermal Pools — Turkey

More than a dozen thermal springs decorate the hills of Pamukkale Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southwest Turkey. Striking turquoise water, made even more vibrant by the stark-white limestone terraces that hold it, allured royal soakers throughout history, allegedly including Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Visitors still seek tranquility and healing in these therapeutic waters, which are believed to aid everything from cardiovascular disease to blood pressure issues. The water here remains around 97 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Kerosene Creek — New Zealand

Like all of New Zealand's nature, the country's hot springs don't disappoint — starting with the paradise of Kerosene Creek in Rotorua. This heated creak, warmed to around 85 degrees Fahrenheit by a natural subterranean spring, puts swimmers in the thick of the North Island's wilderness, from the lush jungle backdrops to a waterfall gently cascading into the creek. It's free to swim in Kerosene Creek, but getting here requires knowing where to go — and finding the right gravel road — something the New Zealand tourism board has directions to help with.

3. Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs — New Mexico

Superlatives abound across the historic Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort, home to the world's only sulfur-free hot springs with healing mineral waters that run from 98 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. These springs, deemed sacred by Indigenous communities of northern New Mexico, brim with Southwestern charm: think a backdrop of shrub-speckled cliffs and subtle decorative touches that play off of the sandstone surrounds. In addition to the hot springs, Ojo Caliente features a popular Mud Pool where bathers can slather themselves in full-body healing with brown clay mud masks.

4. Kraus Hot Springs — Canada

There's driving to a geothermal pool, then there's paddling 20 mountain-flanked miles to a secluded hot spring — and the latter is what Kraus Hot Springs in Canada's far-flung Northwest Territories has to offer. This secret oasis is accessible via the Nahanni River, a multi-week paddle trail that weaves along dramatic canyons and thundering waterfalls, with a stop at these sulfuric hot springs. Natural launch sites make it possible to stop, soak, and unwind. And licensed raft and canoe guides ensure visitors explore this wild river safely.

5. Chena Hot Springs — Alaska

When it comes to aurora hunting, Chena Hot Springs offers one of the coziest seats in Alaska. The serene getaway just outside Fairbanks is the state's most accessible and developed interior hot spring resort. It's the perfect blend of Alaskan beauty, with steamy water and ice-laden winter scenery, including the resort's own year-round Aurora Ice Museum and the onsite Ice Bar (ice-carved martini glasses very much included). The northern lights dance above Chena Hot Springs' 106-degrees-Fahrenheit water from late August through April.

6. Uunartoq — Greenland

Hot springs abound across Greenland, but the only springs warm enough to bathe in lie on Uunartoq, an uninhabited island off the territory's southern shores. Nestled among mountain peaks with views of drifting icebergs and breaching whales, Uunartoq itself is the definition of Arctic beauty. The hot springs stay toasty year round, at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Given their isolated locale, a private boat tour is the best way to snag that coveted soak.

7. Banjar Hot Springs — Indonesia

Few hot springs boast the tropical serenity of northern Bali's Banjar Hot Springs, a palm-fringed oasis with steamy 100-degree-Fahrenheit water and traditional Balinese décor. The turquoise Banjar springs have two levels for swimming, with eight intricate dragon spouts, one family pool, and one central pool for all guests. The water's sulfuric content promises a restful, therapeutic experience — with lush gardens, towering palm trees, and charming bird chirps further transporting visitors to their state of Zen.

8. Cascate del Mulino — Italy

Cascate del Mulino is Tuscany's Instagram-famous hot springs waterfall, although it's often confused for the luxe Terme di Saturnia hotel and hot springs next door. While Terme di Saturnia is a restful stop, there's no beating the baby-blue water at Cascate de Mulino, where entrance is free and open 24 hours daily. Here, a thermal stream of water seeps through the natural limestone pools to create a sublime experience, with temperatures staying around 99 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The Springs Resort & Spa — Colorado

Colorado's Pagosa Springs is more than your average hot spring getaway. Hot water in this stretch of southwest Colorado is fed from the Mother Spring aquifer, certified as the world's deepest aquifer by Guinness World Records. And The Springs Resort & Spa, which has the most geothermal hot spring pools in the state, is the best way to soak up this world-renowned water source. Try one of 25 thermal pools with varying temperatures; the pools are open to the public, with mineral-rich waters that promote healthy skin and help heal sore muscles.

10. Yangpachen Hot Springs — Tibet

Tibet's first-known geothermal destination, Yangpachen Hot Springs, rests on the southern slope of the Nyenchen Tangula Mountains outside Lhasa. The mountain-fringed scenery here is made even more stunning by the haze of steam emanating from the springs' naturally heated waters. While some water across the geothermal field surpasses 150 degrees Fahrenheit, the Holy Medical Spring Resort offers indoor and outdoor — and safe for the public — pools at a staggering 13,700 feet above sea level.

11. Takaragawa Onsen — Japan

The forested Takaragawa Onsen hot springs flow between the snow-capped peaks of Joshin'etsukogen and Oze National Parks, just north of Gunma, offering a relaxing getaway with dramatic mountain scenery. These four open-air baths beside the Takara River flow in harmony with nature. The idyllic bathhouse and a forest setting that changes colors with the seasons make visitors feel like they've plunged into paradise. The onsite facilities include a 42-room hotel and a restaurant, with food crafted using fresh ingredients from the nearby mountains.

12. Blue Lagoon — Iceland

No "best hot springs in the world" list is complete without the beloved Blue Lagoon, Iceland's shimmering teal gem. The lagoon, just 20 minutes from Keflavik Airport, is the perfect Icelandic welcome. Its mineral-rich geothermal seawater is a relaxing way to recover from jet lag — or reflect on those Iceland memories before catching a plane back home. Blue Lagoon's toasty waters, around 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, flow along moss-fuzzed rocks with distant mountain views that are emblematic of Iceland's beauty. Visit for the water, stay for the onsite spa, and don't miss the swim-up mud mask bars for a full therapeutic immersion.

13. Castle Hot Springs — Arizona 

Arizona is known for two things: Being one of the world’s premiere wellness destinations, and the heat. So, naturally, they would have some of the best healing hot springs in the world. So famous, in fact, that they’ve been visited by the likes of Vanderbilts and Astors, as well as a future president Kennedy in the ‘40s. The geothermal waters (rich in lithium, magnesium, and bicarbonates) of Castle Hot Springs are an oasis surrounded by the rugged sandstone shades of the Sonoran desert. The mineral-rich water supports relaxation as well as helps with joint pain and reduces inflammation. The resort is all-inclusive, covering farm-to-table meals, daily activities like yoga and guided hikes, and access to the springs.    

14. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz — Switzerland

The Swiss baths are storied for the healing properties of the water found there, and they grew in popularity in the 19th century for curing the illnesses of wealthy tourists. Soaking in mineral-rich, hot water has been known to benefit blood flow, lung ventilation, blood pressure, muscle relaxation, and mobility. This luxury thermal spa is fed by the most well-known natural hot spring in Switzerland, the Tamina Gorge, which was discovered by Benedictine monks in 1242 and features 97.7 Fahrenheit waters. There are indoor and outdoor pools onsite, though the alfresco views of the Grison Alps can’t be beat. 

15. Yellowstone Hot Springs — Montana 

Once you’ve seen the Grand Prismatic Spring, the largest hot spring in the United States in Yellowstone National Park, take a drive over to Montana where you can actually soak in the geothermal waters. Surrounded by Paradise Valley peaks, the views of Yellowstone Hot Springs are as relaxing as its waters. Great for stress relief or naturally soothing sore muscles after a day of hiking through a national park, the springs also contain silica which helps soothe irritated skin. There is a hot pool (104 degrees Fahrenheit) as well as a 60-degree-Fahrenheit cold plunge — moving between the two can improve blood circulation.   

16. Termas Geometricas — Chile 

This string of more than 60 springs is most recognizable by the red footbridges that traverse the wild ravine where you’ll do your soaking. The magic of the Termas Geometricas lies in the lush landscape of Chile’s Villarrica Sur National Park. Indulge in the misty, overgrown beauty of the natural surroundings from one of the 20 stone pools heated between 95 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit.