What to Expect at Strom Spa: Quebec City’s Best Nordic Spa
If you’re somehow traveling to Quebec City anytime soon, you NEED (and I can’t emphasize this enough) to visit Strom Spa at least once for a little R&R. While you’re exploring the steep, hilly streets of Old Quebec, your feet, legs, hips, and back will ache.
I spent 5 nights in Quebec City to attend my first TBEX conference, and the highlight of my trip was taking a dip in Strom Spa’s many pools (just not the cold plunge pools), showering while rubbing salt scrubs all over my skin, and lazily swinging on the hammock with my eyes closed.
Quebec City is well-known for its Nordic Spa culture, with a handful scattered across the town (and even the province of Quebec). But Strom Spa is the most well-known spa in the town…actually, in the country. They won the title of Canada’s Best Day Spa from the 2024 World Spa Awards.
In this guide, I will share with you what to expect at Strom Spa and some tips to make the best of your visit!
Disclaimer: This post uses affiliate links, which means I make a commission if you book through this post. If you do decide to book using my links, thank you so much for your support!
A Brief Overview of Strom Spa
Locations
Strom Spa has 5 locations in the Quebec area (between Quebec City and Montreal):
- Old Quebec
- Nuns’ Island
- Saint-Saveur
- Mont-Saint-Hilare
- Sherbrooke
I visited the Old Quebec location (their main and most visited location), which overlooks the St. Lawrence River. There’s nothing like taking a dip in the infinity pool, watching the boats sail by on the river. While it’s a little further away from most of Quebec City, you can still walk there or take an Uber (which is what I did).
I recommend the Old Quebec location if you are specifically staying in or near Quebec City. If you’re closer to Montreal (note: Montreal is 3 hours away from Quebec City), then I suggest visiting the other locations.
Pricing
I can’t share set pricing here because it varies throughout the year. Peak season in the summer is going to be more expensive.
There will be some deals, though, like “børn mornings” where children ages 5 and over can enjoy the thermal experience with an adult. Or “drøm evenings” where admission in the late afternoon to evening will be significantly cheaper than in the morning or early afternoon.
If you want to reserve and see the most up-to-date pricing, click here.
Pricing for the thermal experience includes renting a robe and keys for your locker to store your stuff. It also includes being able to use the showers and locker room facilities.
You also have the option to purchase a package that includes admission to the spa, flip-flops, a reusable bag, and a water bottle, all for you to keep!
#1 TOP PICK
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Quebec City Strom Spa Package
✅ Admission to Strom Spa for the Thermal Experience
✅ Flip-flops
✅ Reuseable water bottle and bag
What to Expect at Strom Spa
Clean, minimalistic design
Strom Spa models after Scandinavian design, which is known for clean lines, simple shapes, and natural elements. It’s apparent the moment you step inside; parts of the floor are made with stone, with pops of wood all along the interiors. The space is organized and open, giving visitors a calmer experience while checking in and scoping out the spa.
The lobby also has floor-to-ceiling windows, where guests can have a full view of the activities in the spa and the St. Lawrence River. There are also plants and fire pits outside near the pools, and some of the pools have waterfalls, making you feel like you’re deep in nature (and not in a city).
While they don’t say they do, Strom Spa adopts the principles of Feng Shui, connecting visitors with the physical environment they are harmoniously. In other words, also making the environment as comfortable and calming as possible with thoughtfully placed design.
You may not think about it upon walking in, but subconsciously, the sights and sounds do help you relax for the ultimate pampering experience!
Even cleaner facilities (with added touches!)
No need to worry about hygiene in Strom Spa, because the facilities are squeaky clean. I didn’t have any qualms changing in the locker room or taking a shower after spending 3 hours in the spa.
For the women’s locker room, there were mirrors with hair dryers and straighteners, which I used after showering; it gave me a nice blowout, too! On the side, there are jars of makeup sponges and Q-tips. These little details elevate the spa experience and show that they know what the ladies need.
Circuit-style hydrotherapy
A Nordic spa typically has you cycle through circuits of heat, cold temperatures, and rest. And you repeat it. Strom Spa is laid out where you can swim in a heated pool, step into the sauna or steam room, dip in a cold plunge, and rest on a beach chair or hammock.
If I’m being honest, most guests didn’t follow that circuit. Hell, I didn’t. Instead, we mostly either stayed all our hours in the heated pools (including the lazy river, infinity pool, or any pool identified as dark blue in the map) or lounged on the hammocks and chairs. There were only a few people who jumped into the cold plunge.
Did I not get the full Nordic experience? Probably. Do I care? No, I just wanted to soak in the infinity pool and lazy river or lie in a hammock. I did dip my toes in some of the cold pools, though (although a dream of mine is to do a cold plunge in Antarctica. If I can’t do it in a spa or a regular pool, how the hell am I gonna be able to do it there?).
The idea of circuit-style hydrotherapy is supposed to give you a burst of energy, soothe muscles, and strengthen your immune system.
Dry saunas and steam rooms
To counteract the frigid cold plunges, Strom Spa also has two Finnish-style dry saunas and two steam rooms. I could only last a few minutes in both of them, otherwise, I was starting to suffocate if I lingered longer. And yet I’m able to handle an hour-long hot Pilates session!
Outside one of the saunas, there was a bowl filled with ice; you could grab a handful of ice and bring it inside the sauna and massage it over your body to help cool you off. It helped me for a brief moment before I felt suffocated again.
But that’s just me; I know some people LOVE the sauna and could spend hours there!
A large exfoliation room
Right next to one of the saunas lies a spacious room with a bowl of salt scrub in the middle. You’re supposed to grab a handful of the scrub and massage it all over your skin in circular motions to shed dry, dead skin. The exfoliation room also has showers, which you’re supposed to use to rinse the scrub off your body.
A floatation pool (which costs extra to use)
Strom Spa also has a large floatation pool that is closed off to the public, because unlike the other pools, it is not included in your reservation fee. It was a bit of a bummer because I’ve soaked in a few float baths (including in AIRE Ancient Baths in Copenhagen, which is an ancient Roman-inspired bath spa), and I found it so relaxing. I can’t remember how much it was to swim in the floatation pool, but I’m going to give it a ballpark of $50 USD.
The floatation bath is inspired by the Dead Sea with Epsom salt dissolved in the water. It has a salinity (salt density) of 25–27%.
Massages and beauty treatments
No spa is complete without pampering treatments, but of course, that also comes at an extra cost.
Strom Spa offers treatments such as massages, facials, mud wraps, manicures, pedicures, and exfoliations. Next time I ever go back to Quebec City, I would love to come back to Strom Spa and get a massage after a few hours in the pool (especially the floatation pool, which I’m willing to splurge on) and sauna.
Nord the restaurant
You’ve heard that right; Strom Spa also has a restaurant, Nord, which features a fusion of Scandinavian and Quebecois dishes, made with local ingredients and products. It’s Quebec’s take on farm-to-fork cuisine!
Nord is open everyday, on Sundays to Wednesdays from 11 am–8 pm, and on Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 am–9 pm.
Tips for Visiting Strom Spa
No loud voices (whispers only allowed)
A spa is supposed to be a calming environment; that means you cannot be boisterous. It disturbs the other guests and makes for an anything-but-relaxing atmosphere. Talking is permitted, and even encouraged, as long as you whisper or use an inside voice.
Reserve in the late afternoon or evening for cheaper prices
While I was pleasantly surprised with how affordable Strom Spa is (and Canadian spas in general compared to their American counterparts), the prices are even cheaper for the evening time slots! Also, evenings are a fantastic time to enjoy the spa after a long day of exploring the city and hiking the trails nearby, soothing achy muscles.
Don’t forget to bring a water bottle and tote bag
You’ll lose fluids when you’re in the sauna and steam room, so hydrating is a must! And your entry fee includes a robe and towels to rent, so you can put your towel in the tote bag in between circuits. But also make sure to store any valuable items in your locker.
Plan for 3–4 hours in the spa
This shouldn’t be too difficult, but plan for a few hours in the spa for the ultimate relaxing experience. Especially if you actually follow the circuit cycles of going through the heat, cold temperatures, and rest. There is absolutely no need to rush. The time goes by super quick!
Wear swimsuits only
Strom Spa is not a nude spa. You also cannot wear t-shirts in any of the pools or saunas. Therefore, you can only wear bathing suits (for women) and swimming shorts (for men).
Ladies, are you looking for a cute, flattering, and affordable swimsuit? Grab this exact one I am wearing, which I have received SO many compliments on!
My honest opinion of Strom Spa
I try to be unbiased when forming my opinions, and not always look at everything I love through rose-colored glasses. But I honestly, genuinely loved Strom Spa, and it was the highlight of my stay in Quebec City.
My favorite part was swimming through the lazy river, where it starts inside one of the buildings and has an open door that leads to the outdoors. There were also two bubbling jacuzzis in the middle of the river. I also loved dipping in the infinity pool and watching the ferries sail through the St. Lawrence River.
I only wish there was more information about the floatation pool on their website, because there wasn’t any other information besides a photo. There was no information about it being an add-on expense or how much it cost, because I would’ve budgeted for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strom Spa open all year?
Yes, Strom Spa is open all year. Winter is also a pretty popular time to visit. However, they do close the outdoor facilities during impending thunderstorms.
Can you walk in without making a reservation?
You can walk in, but I wouldn’t suggest it. The spa gets full, especially during the summer months. Once it gets full, you won’t be able to get in until a few people leave, or you’ll be on a waitlist.
Let me help you plan your trip to Strom Spa (and a custom Quebec City itinerary)
No trip to Quebec City is complete without a stay in Strom Spa. Consider even dedicating the whole evening there, especially since you can take a shower, primp yourself, and have a nice dinner at Nord!
Making reservations through their website is easy, or you can purchase the package that gives you entrance to the thermal spa experience along with other goodies.
If you want to skip the hassle of making reservations and want a custom Quebec City itinerary including half your day in Strom Spa, I’m here to help! With my Custom Travel Planning Services, I can craft an itinerary based on your interests, budget, and lifestyle with Strom Spa built in! If you need guidance with your trip, fill out the form, and I will be there every step of the way to help you create wonderful memories in Quebec City.
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Hannah is a travel writer, graphic designer, and the founder/editor of Hannah on Horizon. She is based in Sacramento, California, living with her husband and two adorable dogs. She shares tips on how to experience luxury travel on any budget, and how to maximize time at each trip or destination, no matter what your budget or amount of vacation time at work. She enjoys making you feel like you have visited each destination with her through her storytelling and informative writing style.