13 Saunas, Spas and Wellness Spots Around Victoria to Feel Rejuvenated

There’s no time like the present to treat yourself to a summer self-care day on Vancouver Island. Try a sauna session followed by a few seconds (or more if you can) in a cold bath. How about booking a foot massage or facial? Whether you’re looking to take the plunge or feel the zen, here’s your extended, go-to list of the hottest (and coldest) wellness spots and spas around Victoria.

1. Aerth Saunas

 

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Set to open mid-August, this brand new open air, Nordic-inspired sauna in the heart of downtown Victoria has been three years in the making. With both communal and private sauna experiences, Aerth promises to change “the way we human one sweat at a time.” It has a slew of wellness programming based around a sauna and cold plunge circuit tailored to the user’s liking (ie., options for a silent sauna or guided movement or breathwork sessions) to go along with a slogan like that. Of course, they have drop-ins, private bookings and memberships available.

2. Brentwood Bay Spa

Located at Brentwood Bay Resort, the Brentwood Bay Spa has been offering treatments for more than 20 years. From reflexology to spirit walks to beauty services, there’s plenty on offer at Brentwood Bay Spa to unwind and recharge. Plus, there’s a pretty unique Summer Siesta series currently on offer from Mondays to Wednesdays that includes gemstone facials and local nature-inspired massage sessions.

3. Float House Victoria

Want more than just filling up a bathtub with salts to relax? Take it up a notch at the Float House in Victoria. With flotation therapy in a sensory deprivation tank, float for 75 minutes in a private bath with 1000 litres of water and 1200 pounds of dissolved epsom salts. The Float House in Victoria also offers hot and cold therapy, moving from a traditional dry sauna to a cold plunge, or massage therapy (with the option to book with a Registered Massage Therapist).

4. HAVN Saunas

As far as saunas in Victoria go, just being on HAVN’s floating sauna in the inner harbour is part of the experience. Crafted out of a repurposed 1943 marine barge, the HAVN sauna boat has a hydrotherapy circuit (using water to relax and heal through hot and cold temperatures). The several wellness experiences on offer include three saunas, two cold pools, hot tubs, outdoor showers, a relaxation cabin, an exfoliation shower and a garden patio.

5. Sapphire Day Spa

A mind, body, spirit spa experience, Sapphire Day Spa offers everything from facials, massages, wellness rituals to manicures/pedicures and retreat journeys. But what sets this spa apart is its Ayurveda treatments (an Indian holistic medicine practice), like Abhyanga massages (with warm oils) or a detoxifying Swedana Herbal Steam that can be part of rituals or massages.

6. Wildwood Saunas

Wildwood Saunas blends Nordic-style saunas and cold plunging to feel relaxed and refreshed. The company is known for its custom-built saunas and its mobile, three-day sauna rentals. There is one location a short drive from Victoria—Bilston Creek in Metchosin—but other nearby spots featuring Wildwood builds like Nyübu at Shawnigan Lake. Wildwood has other Vancouver Island locations in Ucluelet, and one coming soon in Parksville.

7. Spa Magnolia at the Magnolia Hotel

The Spa Magnolia at the Magnolia Hotel specializes in skin care treatments—specifically aging skin care—and has over 20 years of experience doing so, helping guests look and feel their best. Beyond the expert facial treatments, the Spa Magnolia has a range of rejuvenating massage services, like deep tissue, prenatal, relaxation and hot stone.

8. Ritual Nordic Spa

Ritual is a Scandinavian style spa downtown Victoria with a modern take on the Finnish sauna house experience. There are different kinds of sauna experiences on offer too, with traditional cedar and basswood saunas, infrared saunas, private saunas, a eucalyptus steam room, a cold plunge pool, Nordic bucket showers and a salt lounge. Aside from Ritual’s Nordic circuit (hot saunas and cold plunges), the spa also offers RMT massages.

9. Fairmont Spa at the Empress

 

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If you’re looking to feel re-energized, head to the Fairmont Spa at the Empress, where energy takes centre stage. With a range of massage treatments, facials, body scrubs and rituals, put on a robe to enjoy the hotel’s mineral pool, sauna and steam room to leave fresh and with an abundance of energy.

10. Haven Spa & Salon at Sidney Pier Hotel

Give yourself a bit of extra time before hopping on the ferry to stop at Haven Spa & Salon at the Sidney Pier Hotel. Haven takes a holistic approach to beauty and wellness: The spa offers facials, massages, waxing, manicures and pedicures—but you can also get in a workout at the fitness centre or have your hair done before going to the Mainland.

11. Selenite Spa

Selenite Spa offers facial massage therapy, meditation and foot and hand massages. But the restorative Japanese head massages are this spa’s specialty. A holistic renewal for your scalp, hair and mind, each session is tailored to customers’ needs to address concerns like hair loss, psoriasis, eczema and dandruff.

12. Oak Bay Beach Hotel Stargazing Sauna

The newly custom-built (by Wildwood Saunas no less) Stargazing Sauna at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel offers guests a 180 degree view of the Salish Sea—along with a glass ceiling to watch the night sky or clouds roll by. This new immersive sauna experience complements two cold plunge pools, a heated outdoor mineral pool and hot tubs to complete a hot/cold hydrotherapy circuit (spa guests can upgrade their treatment to include pool experience).

13. Emerald Day Spa

Emerald Day Spa offers a boutique spa experience at an accessible price point. With a range of the traditional treatments like facials, massages, scrubs and wraps, Emerald Day Spa also offers couples treatments and hosts wellness spa parties. Plus they offer complimentary chocolates and special treats—a very important part of wellness in my opinion.