There’s a reason Quebecers love a good thermal circuit when the temperature drops: steaming in a sauna, plunging into icy water and then lying under a blanket with the cold air on your face just hits different in late fall. Whether you want a quick Nordic spa Montreal fix after work or a full day out of town before the snow, here are six options. Hours and prices below were checked on the spas’ own websites as of Oct. 26; always confirm before you go.
How the thermal cycle works
The ritual is simple. Strøm’s visitor guide breaks it down as 10 to 15 minutes of heat (whirlpool, dry sauna or steam bath), 5 to 15 seconds of cold (a Nordic bath, waterfall or cold shower), then about 20 minutes of relaxation. Repeat. Bring a swimsuit and sandals, a reusable water bottle and, this time of year, a toque.
Nordic spa Montreal picks on the island
1. Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau (Old Port)
The floating spa moored in the Old Port is the most central option, and it’s reserved for ages 18 and over. It’s open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Water circuit prices vary by period, starting at $65 before taxes for a two-hour Pause and $75 for a four-hour Layover in the lowest-priced period; a bathrobe, towel and locker key are included. There’s an extra $10 off from Friday to Sunday after 5 p.m.
Tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 27), Bota Bota’s Ciné-Spa with the Cinémathèque québécoise screens Pascal Plante’s Nadia, Butterfly at 7 p.m. in the spa’s gardens, free with a water circuit booking. Bad weather could push it to a later date. Heads-up: renovation work on the Pavillon vessel continues until Oct. 30, with its third floor closed.
2. Strøm spa nordique (Nuns’ Island)
Strøm’s Nuns’ Island location sits on the shore of Lac des Battures and is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday. The minimum age is normally 16, but Drøm evenings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays admit ages 12 and up with an adult. Reservations are recommended but not required, and there’s no time limit once you’re in, though you can’t leave and come back. Quiet and whispering zones keep the vibe calm.
Worth the drive
3. Strøm Mont-Saint-Hilaire and Saint-Sauveur
If Nuns’ Island is booked up, Strøm also runs spas in Mont-Saint-Hilaire (daily, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and Saint-Sauveur (daily, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.), with the same hot-cold-rest format.
4. Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant
Set in the Laurentian forest along the Diable River, Scandinave Mont-Tremblant says it’s about 90 minutes by car from Montreal. Silence is the golden rule here, and electronic devices stay in your locker. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the spa suggests three to five hours for a visit, enough for three or four cycles of about 45 minutes each. (Note: Scandinave’s former Old Montreal spa is no longer part of the group and continues under a new brand.)
5. Balnea (Bromont)
In the Eastern Townships, Balnea calls itself Quebec’s largest spa domain, set in a protected 600-acre nature reserve with views of Lake Gale and the Appalachians. Expect forest saunas, Finnish saunas and a panoramic bath. Spa hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. There’s also a hotel if you’d rather not drive back in the dark.
6. Spa Eastman
Spa Eastman, with views of Mont Orford, is more wellness retreat than drop-in spa, but its day access packages include the thermotherapy area: outdoor hot tubs, infrared saunas and a natural pond.
Nordic spa etiquette: what to know before you go
Each spa has its own house rules, but a few come up again and again. At Strøm, you shower before starting the circuit, glass containers aren’t allowed, jewellery, glasses and contact lenses stay out of the saunas and steam baths, and you can only eat and drink what’s sold on site. At Scandinave, silence is part of the thermal experience, and the suggested cycle is 15 minutes in the dry sauna, 30 seconds in the cold plunge and 15 minutes of rest.
Bota Bota does things a little differently: on its Reconnexion Thursdays, quiet conversation and phone use are allowed during the water circuit. And until Oct. 29, $5 from each massage or treatment booked Monday to Thursday goes to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, according to Bota Bota’s website.
Booking tip: Strøm asks for a credit card to reserve, but nothing is charged before your visit, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours ahead. Parking at Nuns’ Island is free.
Bota Bota’s Ciné-Spa is also on our This Week in Montreal list, and if you’d rather warm up from the inside, here are the 8 best French onion soups in town.
A few fall tips
- Go at dusk. With clocks falling back on Nov. 1, it’ll be dark before supper, and steaming outdoor pools under the night sky are the whole point.
- Book evening slots early on weekends; Bota Bota charges by time slot, and going over rolls you into the next one.
- Pair a Laurentians or Townships trip with the last of the fall colours if any leaves are still hanging on.
Bon spa, and let us know your favourite circuit.
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Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sources: Bota Bota, Strøm spa nordique, Scandinave Spa, Balnea, Spa Eastman, Scandinave: the thermal experience
