Shorouk Express
Spain’s popular pensioners holiday scheme ‘Imserso’ offers discounted stays away. But where can you go, and what exactly is the ‘hydrotherapy’ spa scheme?
What is the Imserso programme?
Imserso is a social scheme offering holidays to the elderly. It aims to offer subsidised trips to pensioners in order to help them improve their quality of life and health, as well as to reduce their dependence on others.
The scheme also incentivises employment and economic activity, alleviating the problem of seasonal work in Spain’s tourism sector during low season.
For the 2025/2026 season, there are around 890,000 Imserso spots available with almost 200,000 of those in the ‘spa’ scheme.
For The Local’s full breakdown of what the Imserso scheme is, including who is eligible and how much it goes, click the link here or below.
READ ALSO: Imserso – What is Spain’s cheap holiday scheme for pensioners?
What is the hydrotherapy ‘spa’ scheme?
Ismerso also offers the so-called ‘hydrotherapy scheme’ that gives older people the opportunity to take a break at a balneario (a spa) rather than a hotel.
According to information from Imserso’s website: “The Institute for the Elderly and Social Services (Imserso) runs the Hydrotherapy Programme as a complementary service to the Social Security system, in order to fulfil its responsibilities and objectives in the field of active ageing. In addition to fulfilling an important function in terms of active and healthy ageing, it has an impact on unwanted loneliness in this group, a phenomenon that this Institute is actively working on as it falls within the scope of state social services plans.
This programme contributes to boosting the economic development of the thermal tourism sector, reducing seasonality and, in doing so, maintaining employment and economic activity during the low season in this sector.”
For a full breakdown (in Spanish) of the programme, including requirements, deadlines, prices and destinations, you can find the website here.
Advertisement
How long are the spa trips?
The 2026 call for applications includes 197,000 places in the programme at spas participating in the campaign.
Stays will be 10 days (9 nights) each, on a full-board basis, and will run from noon on the day of arrival until noon on the day of departure.
The programme will run from February to December 2026.
How much do they cost?
Prices range from €302 to €405 per person, depending on factors such as where in the country your spa is and the time of year you go.
Where can I go on the spa trips?
Spain’s hydrotherapy trips for pensioners are spread across the country.
The map below shows regions that are participating in the scheme, including Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque Country.
However, note that some regions, including both the Canary and Balearic Islands, do not participate in the scheme and don’t have collaborating spa resorts. The Ministry site also states that the Madrid region is not included either.
For a full breakdown of the destinations, not only a regional but a provincial level, click here.
Photo: Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales.What do the trips include?
The Imserso spa scheme includes the following services:
Accommodation in shared double rooms, full board, and basic spa treatments, which include:
A medical examination upon admission to the spa for a treatment prescription
Thermal treatments prescribed by the spa’s medical staff
Medical monitoring of the treatment
Leisure and free time activities offered free of charge by the spa
Insurance policy
Advertisement
When is the application window?
Applications to participate in the 2026 programme must be submitted between 4 November 2025 and 31 October 2026.
Applications must be submitted within two established deadlines.
To participate in the allocation process:
For trips from February-August, inclusive: until 4 December 2025.
For trips from September-December: until 15 May 2026.
For inclusion on the waiting list for places, to fill any places that become vacant due to withdrawals or other circumstances:
For February-August, inclusive: until 14 May 2026.
September-December: until 31 October 2026.
Advertisement
Where can I apply?
Ministry information on how to apply states the following:
Submit new applications online via the Imserso electronic headquarters. Note that access does not require any of Spain’s various electronic authentications (Cl@ve, electronic certificate or electronic ID).
Or download the application form to participate in the 2026 season from the website or the electronic headquarters itself. Once completed, it must be sent in a stamped envelope, not by registered mail, to the following address: Imserso Thermalism Programme, PO Box 61.285, 28080 Madrid.
