Spa by the Sea in Parnu, Estonia

Within two minutes of sitting down, my upper lip began to tingle. A minute after that, my nasal passages felt like they were being singed. A burst of steam sizzled up from the rocks in the corner.

“How long do you want to stay?” I asked my companions. “Just a few more minutes,” came the reply. “Then we do the bucket.”

Sweat dripped down the sides of my hairline as I breathed in the steamy, scorching air of the sauna and contemplated the bucket. Just outside the door, people filled a bucket with ice-cold water and dumped it on themselves. Intentionally. Occasional – and completely understandable – squeals sliced through the otherwise quiet experience.

When in Estonia, do as the Estonians do.

The sauna and bucket combination was the last step of a 10-step process for the silent spa at Hedon Spa & Hotel in Parnu, Estonia. We indulged in a sea salt footbath, luxuriated in a salt water pool, and relaxed with a facemask before trying the saunas of various temperatures – all in a facility that has recently been restored after almost 90 years.

The history of baths and saunas in Parnu can be traced to the first bathing house built on this site in 1838. It offered salt baths in the summer and sauna in the winter (sauna is a core component of every season and many social occasions in all the Baltics). The building was burned down during World War I but was replaced with the Parnu Mud Baths in 1926.

In the Soviet years, the “temple of health” became very…well, Soviet. Practitioners in white coats served the health of the working people, creating an environment that had much more to do with medicine than indulgence. But all that changed in June 2014 when the luxurious Hedon Spa & Hotel opened in the historic space.

The old Parnu Mud Baths have been completely renovated but still feature the bones of the old building, including flooring, moulding, and even some of the original decorative statues. A new extension includes 72 modern hotel rooms (with extremely comfortable beds) all just a few meters from the beach.

Thanks to the seaside location and active nightlife, the population of Parnu doubles in the summer months, and the Hedon Spa & Hotel becomes one of the most popular places to be. When in Estonia, do as the Estonians do.

Visiting the Hedon Spa

Location: The Hedon Spa & Hotel is located at 1 Ranna puiestee in Parnu.

Hours: Open daily Monday-Sunday. Silent spa is available 9:00am-9:00pm. See the website for hours for the bathing area and spa treatments.

Cost: Silent spa (including products) is 25€ during weekends and 20€ during weekdays. Prices for hotel guests are 20€ and 15€, respectively.

Website: http://www.hedonspa.com/en/

We explored the Baltics as guests of JayWay Travel. As always, opinions of the warm and relaxing are our own.

Laura Longwell

Laura Longwell is an award-winning travel blogger and photographer. Since founding Travel Addicts in 2008, she has written hundreds of articles that help over 3 million people a year get the most out of their travel. In that time, she has visited nearly 60 countries on 5 continents, often returning to favorite destinations over and over again. She has a deep love of history, uncovering unexpected attractions, and trying all the good food a place has to offer.

In addition to Travel Addicts, Laura runs a site about her hometown of Philadelphia—Guide to Philly—which chronicles unique things to do and places to see around southeastern Pennsylvania. Her travel tips and advice appear across the web.