Guide to Romania’s Natural Thermal Springs
Romania, land of vampires and…hot springs? That’s right! The country north of Greece and Bulgaria but south of Ukraine has a rich history of mineral bathing.
Traveling to Romania for a dip in the hot springs was en vogue both during the Roman period as well as in the Cold War years. Now, the country is much more accessible than during those bygone eras.
In this place of soaring mountains, gothic churches, and truly strange waterfalls like the Bigăr, it’s almost easy to forget about the ancient mineral baths that still have locals flocking to them both in sweltering summers and frigid winters. Below we’ll highlight some of the unique thermal bathing experiences in this beautiful country.
Spas, Hotels, and Resorts
At Therme Bucharest, you can visit a bar for an adult beverage, soak in one of several hot springs-fed pools, get your heart racing down waterslides, and be primped and pampered by professional masseuses in the spa. Families are welcome at Therme Bucharest, sort of.
There are areas where children are allowed and even catered to and separate areas that are adults-only. This way, no matter what kind of experience you’re seeking, whether fast-paced or therapeutically quiet, you can find it at Therme Bucharest.
The centrally located Salt Baths of Praid are something of a historic phenomenon. People have been flocking here for healing since as early as 1715 when this area of the country was known as Transylvania.
As the name says, the water here has an extremely high rate of salinity and you cannot swim in such salty water. Instead, people float at the surface, weightless. There’s also plenty to do at the Salt Baths besides floating. There’s a ropes course, a playground for children, a restaurant, and a bar.
Other spas:
- Băile Felix
- Călimanești
- Ensana Ursina Health Spa Hotel
- Băile Tușnad Wellness Center
- Termalum Spa
- Gradina Termala
- Afrodita Resort & Spa
- Thermal Pools Tasnad
Outdoor/Rustic Bathing
There are plenty of places, both located in the Carpathian Mountains and outside of those goliaths, that offer thermal bathing outdoors. One such place is Venera Thermal Baths, just outside of the famed Herculean Baths. W
hile the ancient hot springs baths are crumbling, this man-made and maintained pool is open to visitors and locals alike. The warm water here is sulfurous, so beware that there will be a smell on your skin after bathing.
At Thermal Baths Acas you can really become one with nature. This little gem of a hot spring isn’t as popular as some of the thermal bath spas, which allows you to truly relax without social or machinery noises. You can climb out of the warm water and into a hammock, so bring a book or other activity to take advantage of the sunlight and quiet.
Other outdoor springs:
- Baile Balvanyos
- No. 1 Hot Spring
- The Fairy Glade
- Medvebarlang
- Techirghiol
Visit Romania
Romania has so many interesting sites dedicated to its spring water. In the small farming village of Tusnad, you can walk to the city center and hand scoop spring water from the fountain that holds pride of place. This is hardly the only small town that boasts curative fountains.
The therapeutic water tourism industry in Romania was once an economic boost for this Eastern European country. Though the first World War put an end to that, there’s plenty for today’s modern traveler to see and do.
Learn more about visiting Romania on our sister site, La Vida Nomad.