Centralbadet, one of Stockholm's oldest spas, sits in an art nouveau building off a shopping street. Day tickets cost from £23. During winter, the spa lights candles around its pool. Visitors swim by candlelight, move through a sauna, and take an ice-cold plunge. After this sequence, many walk to nearby Fotografiska restaurant for a nightcap. The restaurant overlooks Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town, and Lake Mälaren's lights.
This excerpt is part of a reader submission series on European wellbeing breaks. The Guardian also invited tips on small European ski resorts, with the best submission winning a £200 holiday voucher.