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Before you go
Your trip to Spa.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Spa – Liège Destination Liège and Spa about 38 km from Liège
How to get there
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Spa-Géronstère 1 km
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Spa 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
From Liège, the train takes about an hour, with a change at Pepinster or Verviers, to Spa and Spa-Géronstère stations, both close to the center. By car it’s roughly 38 kilometres via the motorway and Ardennes roads.
How many days
A full day covers the Pouhon, the park, the museum and half a day at the thermal baths. Staying one night allows a relaxed visit to the Lac de Warfaaz or to include a trip to the Francorchamps circuit.
When to go
The thermal baths are open year-round and are especially popular in the cold months, from November to March. For trails and the lake, prefer May to September. In July the town usually hosts the Francofolies music festival, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Francorchamps crowds the region at the end of the European summer.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
For the town center, the thermal baths and the lake: no car is needed; everything is reachable on foot and by funicular. A car is useful for getting to the Circuit de Francorchamps and for exploring the Hautes Fagnes and the surrounding Ardennes.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Spa
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Morning
Pouhon water
Start at the Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand: taste the iron-rich water, see the Livre d'Or painting and pick up the map of the springs.
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Afternoon
Thermal baths on the hill
Cross the Parc de Sept Heures, pass the Galerie Léopold II and take the funicular up to the Thermes de Spa for an afternoon in the pools.
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Late afternoon
Museum of the city of waters
Descend to the centre and visit the Musée de la Ville d'eaux, in the Villa Royale, with its collection of jolités. Check beforehand whether it is open.
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Evening
Dinner at the Place Royale
Dine at a restaurant around the Place Royale and, if you stay overnight in town, walk the illuminated streets of the spa centre.
2 days in Spa
Day 1
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Morning
Pouhon and town centre
Taste the water at the Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand and walk through the centre to the façade of the old thermal baths on the Place Royale.
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Afternoon
Museum and park
Visit the Musée de la Ville d'eaux and the horse museum in the Villa Royale, then stroll through the Parc de Sept Heures.
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Late afternoon
Thermal baths
Go up to the Thermes de Spa and enjoy the heated outdoor pools with a view over the town.
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Evening
Night in Spa
Have dinner in the centre and try a local regional beer, in moderation.
Day 2
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Morning
Trail to Warfaaz
Leave the thermal baths via the roughly 4-kilometre forest trail to the Lac de Warfaaz and walk around the lake.
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Afternoon
Francorchamps
Drive or take a taxi to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the guided tour of the pits and the podium, booked in advance.
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Late afternoon
Return through the forest
On the way back, stop at one of the Ardennes viewpoints or at one of the signposted springs around Spa.
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Evening
Return to Liège
Take the train from Spa, changing at Pepinster or Verviers, and return to sleep in Liège.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Is Spa only for people seeking thermal treatments?
No. The town has springs to taste, a park, a museum, a lake and forest trails, which easily fill a day even without visiting the thermal baths.
Is Spa part of any UNESCO heritage site?
Yes. It is part of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, a group of eleven spa towns from various countries inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Is the Formula 1 circuit located within Spa?
No. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is in Francorchamps, in the municipality of Stavelot, just over 10 kilometres away. Without a car, getting there depends on a taxi or regional bus.
Which bottled waters come from Spa?
The town is known for table waters bottled under its name, coming from regional springs such as Marie-Henriette and Barisart.