Spa experience in Greece highlights the country’s growing appeal as a wellness travel destination. Photo source: Visit Greece
Greece ranks among the top international destinations for spa, yoga and Pilates, according to the Self Care Index 2026 by international health insurance provider William Russell.
The index offers insights for travelers seeking wellness experiences, highlighting countries that prioritize well-being—from healthcare spending and access to mental health professionals to walking trails and broader wellness infrastructure.
Greece placed third in the “Best Spa Infrastructure” category with 5.56 points and second for its yoga and Pilates infrastructure with 0.82 points, offering preventative treatments, relaxation therapies and recovery support that complement traditional healthcare.
Photo source: Visit Greece
In the spa infrastructure category, Iceland stood out, with a spa density more than three times higher than any other OECD country analyzed, ahead of New Zealand, Australia and Ireland. Costa Rica led the yoga and Pilates ranking, followed by Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Australia.
Well-being as a key travel experience
In recent years, wellness has emerged as a key travel consideration, with many people now weighing well-being factors as carefully as career prospects and cost of living when choosing where to live.
Th
e index names Austria the top self-care nation, with a Health Care Index score of 78.9/100 and health spending equivalent to 11.8 percent of GDP. The country also has one of the highest densities of mental health professionals, with 324 workers per 100,000 people.
Europe dominates the top 10, with Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark featured alongside New Zealand, Canada and Australia.
Meanwhile, the US records the highest healthcare spending, while Germany and the United Kingdom perform strongly in healthcare investment, although broader lifestyle and workforce factors influence their overall self-care scores.
“When people think about moving abroad, they often focus on opportunity and adventure, but access to healthcare, particularly mental health support, is fundamental to long-term well-being,” said Lee Doran, International Underwriting Manager at William Russell.
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