Zen on the island of Lošinj: Boutique Hotel Alhambra crowned the best spa hotel in Croatia

The Oscars of the world of relaxation have spoken

If there's one thing we take deadly seriously (aside from finding the perfect shade of red lipstick, of course), it's our time to pamper ourselves and escape the crazy world. And we're clearly not the only ones. At the recent prestigious The Global Spa Awards 2026, organised by The Luxury Spa Edit, the Oscars of the wellness industry, the expert jury had their say. When names from publications like Tatler and Condé Nast Traveller, as well as global wellness gurus, decide your fate, you know it's no joke.

The result? Stunning. boutique hotel Alhambra on Lošinj swept the competition and won the title of the best spa hotel in Croatia. But to make the triumph of the Lošinj Hotels & Villas brand complete, their neighbor, iconic hotel Bellevue, elegantly swept into the top three best spa hotels in the same category.

Breathe like 19th-century aristocrats (only with better Wi-Fi)

Forget those generic saunas that make you feel like you're at a crowded city bus station in the middle of July. The Alhambra boutique hotel, which is shyly but elegantly hidden in the fashionable Čikat Bay, is the definition of Art Nouveau and neoclassical prestige. Its Cube Spa Alhambra Spread over an impressive 660 square meters, you won't just find the usual massages here; we're talking about personalized treatments where you'll be pampered with local herbs and intoxicating Aleppo pine oils.

But what really piqued our cosmopolitan curiosity is Kurhaus Inhalation Bar. It is a brilliant and sophisticated revival of a concept from the distant 1892. Imagine: in the 19th century, Austro-Hungarian aristocrats came here simply to delicately inhale healing sea aerosols and show off their best clothes. Today, you can experience this historical ritual too. After an aristocratic inhalation, you can jump into the heated indoor seawater pool or take a healing rasul steam bath in the exclusive Spa SuiteFrom the “water paradise” to sensory showers, tepidarium-style heated benches and ice fountains – every corner here is designed to literally wipe away the stress of the last five years.

Bellevue Spa Clinic: When science meets Zen

If the Alhambra is the romantic soul of the island, its neighbor, the Bellevue Hotel, is that smart and sophisticated friend who knows that true beauty comes (also) from science. Bellevue Spa Clinic namely, it continues Lošinj's century-old tradition of health tourism, but with a distinctly modern, almost futuristic approach.

This isn't just about lying around with cucumber slices on your eyes and the sounds of whales. It's about serious, award-winning and strictly individualized wellness programs, developed hand in hand by doctors, nutritionists and kinesiologists. Combine this expertise with top spa brands, advanced technology and the natural detoxifying effect of the Lošinj air, and you have a formula for a complete renewal of body and mind. After a meeting with an expert (who will probably gently hint that you drink too much coffee and not enough water - a classic story for all of us), you can hide away in a private spa garden or simply get lost in a relaxation zone surrounded by pine forests.

It's time to pack.

Lošinj has long been no longer just a well-kept secret for connoisseurs, but with these prestigious awards, it has once again established itself as a global capital of vitality. With its portfolio of luxury hotels and historic villas, the Lošinj Hotels & Villas brand has proven that you don't have to fly to the other side of the world for ultimate luxury and revitalization.

Sometimes it's enough to drive to Kvarner, take a deep breath of the pine- and sea-salt-infused air, and let yourself be pampered by the best in the business. Admit it, you're already checking the availability in the next browser tab, right? We don't judge you - see you on the massage table!