This European Retreat Offers A Unique Spa Experience To Relax And Unwind

Just a couple of kilometers from the ancient town and UNESCO World Heritage site of Mystras, Euphoria Retreat feels worlds away. This five-star spa hotel has picked up plenty of recognition lately — among them TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best 2025 and a Michelin Key — and it's easy to see why it ranks among the world's award-winning spa hotels. Inspired by the Hagia Sophia, the design blends gracefully into its surroundings: arched stone walls and terracotta roofs framed by pine trees, with Mount Taygetos rising on one side and a citrus-filled valley on the other.

A little less than three hours from Athens, Euphoria isn't your average spa escape. The 3,000 square meter wellness center includes everything from Finnish and infrared saunas to a Hammam, salt room, and cold plunge pool. Its most striking feature, though, is the Byzantine-style pool that Euphoria Retreat says is "symbolic of spiritual rebirth." With a domed chamber, marine sounds play beneath the water as you sink as much as 13 feet deep.

Founder Marina Efraimoglou left a finance career after a cancer diagnosis in her twenties and built Euphoria around the principles that helped her heal — nutrition, movement, and mindfulness. The retreat's programs draw from both Greek and Chinese healing traditions, emphasizing the connection between mind and body in every treatment and meal.

Euphoria Retreat offers an almost dizzying range of programs, each tailored to different goals, fitness levels, and lengths of stay. Rates typically start around €300 per night, which covers accommodation and access to the spa, as well as daily fitness and wellness classes. The retreat's treatments and workshops often cost extra. 

Many programs focus on restoring balance, both physical and emotional. The five-day Relax and Destress retreat, for example, includes around 20 treatments ranging from nutritional consultations and acupuncture to a "harmonizing yin and yang" therapy designed to reset energy levels. For something more active, the Spartan Spirit of Adventure program pushes guests out of their comfort zones with daily outdoor excursions. Think trail runs, mountain hikes, and team challenges in the surrounding Peloponnese landscape.

There's even a Leadership Retreat for travelers hoping to combine self-development with wellness. Participants explore their professional paths through group workshops, theater-based communication exercises, and neuro-fascia release massages — because leaders need time to decompress, too.

Admittedly, Euphoria isn't a budget escape, but its immersive programs and holistic approach make it stand out from most luxury spa stays. Even blogger Rachel Heller, who was wary of the esoteric side of Euphoria and had never been to a yoga class, was left impressed: "Given my general skepticism about Euphoria Retreat's philosophy, would I recommend it? Absolutely...if you can afford it." Most vacationers seem to think Euphoria Hotel is a spa resort worth the splurge. 

Euphoria offers much more than just its multi-day retreat programs and a few saunas. Guests have access to a full schedule of fitness classes and outdoor activities included in their stay. Mornings might start with a circuit training program, followed by an outdoor yoga session, and an afternoon group hike on Mount Taygetos. The spa menu is just as varied — beyond the saunas and hammam, adventurous guests can try Watsu, a deeply relaxing aquatic therapy where you float in warm water while being gently massaged and stretched.

Most programs at Euphoria don't include meals, although food here is an experience in itself — plan to spend at least €100 a day if dining exclusively at the resort. The cuisine is Mediterranean-inspired and nutritionally balanced, with colorful plates featuring local olive oil, citrus, and herbs, sometimes grown on-site.

If you can pull yourself away from the spa, the surrounding region is worth exploring. Wander through the cobbled, Byzantine ruins of nearby Mystras, visit the charming town of Sparta about five kilometers away, or drive into the hills to discover traditional villages and olive groves that define the Peloponnese, one of Greece's most underrated regions.