Must Do: Multi-Sensory Spa in the Heart of Milan

This year, I brought friends with me on my annual trip to Italy, where we started out the tour in Rome. After a few action-packed days and sleepless nights exploring everything that Rome had to offer, we took a train up to Milan to continue on the second leg of our adventure. If you asked any of us after the trip, I can confidently say that we’re all in agreement, with glowing reviews on the entire experience. We could rave about QC Termemilano for hours, solidifying it as one of the top highlights of our trip. Passes vary in price based on which day you plan on booking and your party’s time of arrival. Initially, we planned to stay for the five-hour time slot, as we made plans to go to Lake Como in the afternoon, but it ended up being a rainy day — playing into our change of plans.

We started out by changing into a set of robes and slippers that were provided by the staff upon arrival, then stowed clothes and other personal belongings in our assigned lockers. All within the gorgeous and well-organized locker rooms that we were shown with clear instructions given by the front desk after checking in. We then headed over to the outdoor area to enjoy the many thermal pools that were surrounded by yurt-like structures that were actually outdoor saunas. One of the most unique areas of the spa was definitely the outdoor garden, where there was a Porta Romana train car that was restored and turned into the first bio-sauna built into a tram.

For all the cold plunge lovers out there, there was a beautiful stone bathtub between the garden and the tram, where you could indulge or watch your friends cold plunge from the seating area next to it. There was another outdoor pool with jets that you could turn on or off to target areas of your body with water pressure, as well as a specific corner that you can do a full-body treatment with the push of a button.

If you only have time to visit later in the day — I recommend checking out their “under the stars” spa pass, where you can enjoy their outdoor area under the night sky.

The entire outdoor area was blocked off from the hustle and bustle of the city by historic and beautifully preserved Spanish-style walls, that have been standing since 500 AD — for all my fellow history enthusiasts out there. Truly creating an oasis of relaxation and playing into the multi-sensory journey that they focus on as patrons go through the spa wellness journey.

We made our way inside and through the different saunas and wellness-themed rooms — some of my favorites were the salt room, stone bed shower, where the temperature of water would change from hot to cold over time, and the aromatherapy-based saunas.

While we were relaxing in the different spa rooms, we realized how bagged-down our bodies truly were from the first leg of our trip in Rome. The sleep deprivation was especially apparent after a visit to the “dream room,” where we were knocked out cold as soon as our heads hit the pillows on the waterbeds. So we paid the extra 30–40 euros each to extend our time, get a robe/towel refresh and upgrade for a wellness lunch voucher, which was 100% worth it. The lunch offered was both hot meals or cold appetizers with unlimited beverages, including a self-serve wine bar. We all laughed as we socialized throughout the meal, realizing that this may be one of the few times where we get to enjoy eating in the comfort of fluffy white robes, matching with the other patrons at the spa. It was a 10/10 experience that we all agreed needs to be me normalized as a dining option.

There were so many great opportunities for pictures throughout the spa, it was like a maze, and every new corner we turned, there was another room that was designed to target a specific area of wellness. One of my favorites was the cinematic seasons room, which was an indoor pool in the basement, with the top-to-bottom visuals surrounding it going through weather conditions. My favorite picture was taken during the thunderstorm portion, where the room darkened, rain poured down from the ceiling with sounds of thunder in the background — a perfect example of what they mean when they say a multi-sensory wellness journey.

A few other favorite photo ops were taken in the tent daybed structures, where you could lay on a cushioned bed with pillows surrounded by candles. I highly recommend buying and bringing a waterproof pouch for your phone, not only for pictures but to carry it without water damage, if you don’t feel comfortable leaving it in your locker for the entirety of your stay.

In short, QC Termemilano is one of my must-do recommendations. It’s focused on providing a multi-sensory journey through over 30 different forms of spa treatments or rooms. Regardless if you visit the Milan location, QC Terme has locations all over Italy, France and New York City. It was exactly the change of pace my friends and I needed during our trip, providing an outlet to recharge while also trying one of the many unique experiences that Milan has to offer. If you’re looking to do something outside of sightseeing the beautiful architecture or shopping in the fashion capital of Europe, without breaking the bank, I could not recommend this more for your itinerary.

Inspired by Roman culture, they offer access to their thermal baths and wellness centers with multi-level day spa passes or packaged experiences. To kick off the Milan leg of our trip, I booked QC Termemilano as a break to relax and reset before another week of being on the go. That ended up being the highlight of our trip and the best executive decision to make sure that we all didn’t burn out.

Allowing everyone on the trip, especially the people visiting Italy for the first time, to truly experience and take in every destination we visited. They have showers, lockers and an all you eat/drink lunch option for around 30 euros. That way, you can be refreshed and energized before exploring the city or taking a train up to Lake Como for the afternoon.

This location is central, close enough to be a walkable distance from the famous Piazza del Duomo and Galleria. We started our day in fluffy robes, sitting in thermal baths and sitting in either saunas or salt rooms, fueling ourselves with an assortment of cheeses and unlimited wine. We were definitely in high spirits after we got dressed and left the spa, which was the perfect way to start the day.

Their Milan location worked perfectly for our itinerary, but I bookmarked both locations in the Dolomites and Torino as future to-do’s on my travel bucket list. If you are planning a trip to Italy across multiple cities, especially in the Northern region, I highly recommend booking one of their locations.

As a person that frequently travels to Italy, QC Termemilano has earned a spot high on my list of travel recommendations. If you’re interested in personalizing an experience for your next trip to Italy, don’t hesitate to contact me, whether it be splurging at the Galleria or going off the beaten path to immerse yourself in a new city — I love curating ways to use travel as a way to transform personal experiences and perspectives of the world!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Milan. In need of further inspiration? Check out Carly Quill’s guide, 3 days in Milan and Turin.