Sturebadet is a very Swedish spa. Forget about floating in rose petal littered pools while sipping Champagne, this is an altogether more brisk and, well, Swedish experience. Founded by Carl Curman in 1885, the idea was to create a place to bathe and exercise for the people of Stockholm, to encourage health and well-being in both mind and body. The resulting bath-house soon grew in popularity and Greta Garbo often frequented the Ladies Turkish bath.
Despite a major fire in the mid-1980s, Sturebadet continues to thrive, offering massages, body wraps and facials in their superb new Spa suite, opened in 2006, as well as the services of a personal dietician to visitors. Classes on offer include yoga, Pilates, aqua aerobics and the popular Zenergy course, a blend of Eastern techniques. Personal trainers are also available. The main pool is a pleasure in itself, housed in an elegant, glass-ceilinged building, replete with lots of warming wood. Non-members can get day passes to experience the facilities for themselves.