City Serenity

illustration by holly wales

Viyada Thai Spa
This retreat offers traditional Thai massages, which combine acupressure and stretching techniques to relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and improve blood circulation ($135 for 60 minutes).

437 Boylston St., Boston, 617-266-0308, viyadathaispa.com.

Bella Santé Day Spa
After many years of service, this Newbury Street staple barely shows its age—just like you. The Time Eraser facial features a blend of sunflower, clove, thyme, and lemon to exfoliate, lift, and tone skin ($185 for 80 minutes).

38 Newbury St., Boston, 617-424-9930, bellasante.com.

Inman Oasis
You can choose to steep in a Japanese-style wooden hot tub or a fiberglass hot tub, but be sure to bring a friend: The facility’s private tubs have a two-person minimum ($65 for 60 minutes).

243 Hampshire St., Cambridge, 617-491-0176, inmanoasis.com.

Exhale Battery Wharf
Enjoy the detoxifying Turkish hammam, plus 12 Zen-inspired therapy rooms and a fitness studio. The Glow Body Scrub rejuvenates skin with a dry-brushing and body-scrubbing technique, followed by a massage ($160 for 50 minutes).

2 Battery Wharf, Boston, 617-603-3100, boston.exhalespa.com.

G2O Spa and Salon
This newly renovated spa offers services like Craniosacral Therapy—which may ease migraines and allergy issues while relieving tension ($120 for 60 minutes)—as well as a “brine inhalation” room and a roof deck.

278 Newbury St., Boston, 617-262-2220, g2ospasalon.com.

Brad Duncan Skin Care
Try a customized facial in a laid-back South End setting. Duncan’s LED light therapy, called a “non-surgical facial lift,” claims to improve the texture of skin and smooth out wrinkles (starting at $150 for 60 minutes).

580 Tremont St., Boston, 617-482-1700, bradduncanskincare.com.

Chuan Body and Soul
Unwind after hectic holiday travel at this Langham Hotel spa with the Flight Recovery package, which features an herbal salt scrub and a therapeutic massage ($295 for 120 minutes).

250 Franklin St., Boston, 617-451-1900, chuanbodyandsoul.com.

Dillons Russian Steam Bath
Kiss stress goodbye in the steam chamber at this venerable 130-year-old spot. During the Platza Oak Leaf treatment ($13), dead skin is removed with a broom made of olive-oil-infused oak leaves. (Women are only allowed on Mondays from 4 to 9 p.m.)

$23 admission, 77 Chestnut St., Chelsea, 617-884-9434, dillonsrussiansteambath.com.