Thermae Bucharest Review (2026) – Is this Viral Spa Worth the Hype? 

One of the best things to do in the capital of Romania is to book a day out at Thermae Bucharest.

It’s the largest spa in the country that’s gone viral on social media due to its incredible attractions, tropical swimming pool and value for money.

But, does it really live up to the hype? Or, is it another Instagram vs. Reality moment? 

I recently spent a day here experiencing the best that this spa had to offer, including rituals, mineral-enriched pools and swim-up bars. 

Here is a complete Thermae Bucharest Review and whether this viral spa is worth your time. 

Introducing Thermae Bucharest 

Thermae Bucharest is Romania’s largest spa complex owned by the German chain Thermae.

It’s split into three zones that boast 10 pools, 10 saunas, 3 restaurants, 4 pool bars, 1600 metres of waterslides and Europe’s largest urban beach.

It can hold up to 4,000 people, has a well-maintained changing room area, and has both indoor and outdoor attractions. 

This mega spa is gigantic, and similar in size to a theme park. But the surprising thing is, it doesn’t cost a fortune to visit. 

How much does it cost? 

As Thermae Bucharest has three main areas, you can purchase individual tickets for each one. 

For example, you can buy a 3-hour ticket to the Galaxy for as little as 67 RON (£11). Or, an evening special ticket to The Palm for 84 RON (£14).

But most visitors opt for the full-day Elysium ticket, which includes all three spa areas, as it offers incredible value for money.

This ticket starts from 197 RON (roughly £30) and includes all the swimming pools, sun loungers, water rides, holistic rituals and more.

Of course, things like food and spa treatments are an extra cost, and prices do go up on weekends and Romanian holidays. 

But it’s still a bargain price for an entire day out at this legendary spa. This is why it often goes viral on social media, as it’s almost unheard of. 

When is the best time to visit?

The indoor temperature at Thermae Bucharest stays at 30 degrees all year, so it’s perfect to visit in any season.

But, as the number one thing to do in Bucharest, it’s always best to visit on a weekday, as weekends tend to be very crowded and expensive.

This is the same if you’re planning to visit during Romanian holidays.

For the best experience, I recommend getting here for opening time on a weekday.

This would preferably be Tuesday to Thursday, as its location near the airport makes it a popular arrival/departure point for long weekends.

In the morning, it’s relatively peaceful, and you can also get those gorgeous photos at the Palm pool.

It only gets more crowded throughout the day. By the evening, it’s chaotic.

How to visit Thermae Bucharest

Thermae Bucharest is located near Otopeni Airport, so it couldn’t be easier to plan a visit if you’re flying in or out of Bucharest. 

I have heard of travellers who fly here for an ‘extreme’ spa day out from London, as Ryanair flights start from £14.99. 

It’s a nice idea, but far from relaxing. I recommend staying overnight for the best experience.

From Bucharest city centre, you can take the free bus shuttle service from Piața Romană. It runs every two hours and takes 30 minutes. 

Alternatively, you can take the STB Bus 442 that stops at Bucharest Airport for just 3 RON. 

You can also opt to stay in either Bucharest or Otopeni and take a taxi there.

Uber and Bolt work well in Romania, and their fixed fares are very affordable. Local taxis have a habit of ripping tourists off.

If you have your own transport, you can drive there. There is a huge car park on site that you can use free of charge.

What to wear to Thermae Bucharest

The spa does have some rules on what you need to wear during your visit. Here’s a quick packing list. 

• Swimwear – you can rent one on arrival, but it’s always best to bring your favourite swimming costume or bikini.

• Sliders or slippers – these cannot be ones you have worn outside. So, bring a spare pair or rent some slippers at reception.

• Robe/cover-up – the spa asks you to cover up when wandering around and eating in restaurants. So, bring a cover-up or rent a fluffy robe.

• A towel – You can bring your own or rent one on the day. 

• Scrunchie/swimming cap – long hair must be tied up when swimming in the pools. 

• Suncream – when enjoying the outside areas in summer, it’s best to bring suncream as it’s largely exposed to the elements.

What to expect on arrival 

When you arrive at Thermae Bucharest, you’ll notice how out of the way it is despite being close to the capital. 

There’s barely anything around it, just countryside, and so it promises a retreat of relaxation. 

When you enter the building, you’ll first need to queue up at the reception.

Then, you either buy your ticket on the day or show the ones you’ve bought.

On check-in, you’ll be given an electronic wristband that will be your best friend for the day. 

This wristband gives you access to all the areas you’ve paid for, opens your storage locker and pays for food and drinks. 

Also, make sure to rent anything you need while you’re at the front desk. They have costumes, robes, slippers and towels for hire.

Changing rooms

The spa has enough capacity for over 4000 people, and so the changing room area is humongous. 

You’ll be assigned a storage locker on the day, and you can follow the numbers on the wall to find it. 

I have to admit, it did take me a while to find mine, as it’s like an endless locker labyrinth. 

Once you find your storage, you simply open and close it with your wristband. It’s easy peasy. 

The changing rooms here are super deluxe and smell amazing. They even have Dyson hair dryers to use! 

Things to do in Thermae Bucharest

There are three main spa zones at Thermae Bucharest, and these are Galaxy, the Palm and Elysium.

All three zones offer different experiences, and you can pay to visit them individually. 

I recommend purchasing a ticket to have unlimited access to all three. It makes the day out so much more varied and interesting. 

Galaxy (all ages)

Galaxy is the fun part of the spa, which is perfect for families with children or big kids alike!

They have a heated pool, sun loungers, a plethora of water rides for all ages, a wave pool, and a play park.

If you were looking for a bit of relaxation, I recommend heading outside to the beach terrace (summer only). 

They have a public lounge area and the secluded Galaxy Horizon, where you can rent private huts and canopy beds for an extra cost. 

The Palm (+14 years)

This is the giant tropical pool you’ve most likely seen on social media. 

It really is a gorgeous area with over 1,500 plants and trees. It was my favourite place to relax!

Although the pool is the main attraction, there are lots of other things to do here, like saunas, steam rooms, massage beds and a jacuzzi.

I absolutely loved their swim-up bar, where you can enjoy iced coffees and a range of beers and cocktails.

They also have a heated outdoor swimming area and a beach to enjoy in the summer months (more on this later). 

Elysium (+14 years)

If you want to truly relax, then Elysium is the place for you. This area has so many unique and premium rooms to enjoy.

They have 10 themed dry saunas, including the Amazon and Himalayas. There’s even a sauna that plays movies throughout the day. 

Many of these rooms have ‘Aufguss Rituals’. Some include a meister who fans you with essential oils, and it’s meant to enhance your revitalisation. 

You can relax on beds under infrared lights, sit in a salt library or bathe in a pool enriched with selenium and zinc. 

It really is heaven on earth for those who want to feel refreshed.

Outdoor Beach 

In the summer season, Thermae Bucharest have an outdoor beach to enjoy in the Palm zone.

This is the largest urban beach in Europe, and there is plenty to do here.

They have heated pools, jacuzzis, a beach bar, volleyball areas and over a thousand sun loungers to choose from. 

It feels like a tropical paradise even though you’re just a few kilometres from the capital city.

The Palm at night time

My favourite time at Thermae Bucharest was actually at night! The entire spa lights up, and it completely transforms.

It was so colourful and even the outdoor swimming pools had a fountain show that you could watch. 

But, if you only visit one place in the evening, make it The Palm. It looks utterly magical once the sun sets.

The pool turns a vibrant turquoise, the hot tubs light up purple, and the palm trees glow.

The twinkling lights reflect on the glass ceiling, and it looks like you’re floating under a blanket of stars.

Honestly, swimming here at night was so enchanting and something I’ll never forget!

Where to eat in Thermae Bucharest

Thermae Bucharest doesn’t allow you to take your own food and drinks inside, but they have lots of restaurants to choose from.

The three main areas have their own restaurants, plus there are smaller counters throughout serving drinks, coffee, cakes and ice cream. 

You’d think that the food would be expensive and of poor quality, but the prices were actually really reasonable, and what I ate tasted great!

I tried two places while I was here. Firstly, I ate at Restaurant Humboldt in The Palm. 

This is a self-service restaurant where you order your food via touch screens and collect it at the counter.

I was initially thinking it was going to be burgers and fries. But I was pleasantly surprised that it offered a range of international cuisine.

They had salads, wraps, Tex-Mex, Romanian, Lebanese, and even Korean food. You name it, they probably have it. 

They have a similar restaurant called The Greens in the Galaxy area.

The Mango Tree

My favourite place was The Mango Tree in Elysium, which served up some delectable a la carte Thai cuisine. 

I enjoyed a wonderful prawn Pad Thai and a Hugo Spritz. The service was friendly, and I loved the inspired decor inside.

They also have an outdoor seating area. It must be so lovely to dine at sunset in the warmer months. 

It’s important to know that you don’t pay for food at the restaurants. After you’ve ordered, you scan your electronic wristband.

When you leave the spa, you pay for what you’ve consumed at the tills.

How long do you need in Thermae Bucharest?

I think this really depends on what you’re interested in. They do sell tickets for as little as 3 hours if you want a taster.

But I recommend purchasing the full-day ticket. You could easily spend an entire day at Thermae Bucharest and not get bored. There’s so much to do!

I visited by myself and got here for opening time and didn’t end up leaving until late evening; the time just flew by. 

After a few weeks of busy travel, it was so refreshing to simply relax, and I left feeling fully revitalised.

I also wanted to see the pool lit up at night, and it was so worth the wait!

Where to stay near Thermae Bucharest 

As this is a day spa, Thermae Bucharest doesn’t currently offer any on-site accommodation. 

It’s located near Otopeni Airport, which is around 17 kilometres or 30 minutes from the centre of Bucharest. 

So, you can opt to stay in the city centre or in Otopeni itself. 

I recommend The Marmorosch Hotel in central Bucharest, which is my favourite accommodation. It’s so luxurious and peaceful.

In Otopeni, I stayed in the Ibis Styles Bucharest Airport and found it more than comfortable. Here are some more recommendations;

• Vienna House by Wyndham
• Hilton Garden Inn Otopeni

Is Thermae Bucharest worth visiting?

It’s pretty obvious by now, but, yes, I think this spa is worth visiting and lives up to the hype it gets.

I travelled here alone and genuinely thought I would leave after a few hours. 

But I ended up spending well over 12 hours here without getting bored!

I even brought my Kindle with me and didn’t crack it open once. It’s that good. 

Granted, it can get very busy inside the spa. But there is plenty of space to spread out, and you can visit early morning to avoid larger crowds.

Thermae Bucharest is the perfect place to relax for the day. So, make sure to add it to your travel bucket list. 

Important things to know before planning your visit 

• Thermae Bucharest is the number one attraction in Bucharest, so expect it to be very crowded. Queues to enter can be very long. 

• Try to avoid visiting on a weekend or a Romanian bank holiday. Ticket prices go up, and it will be uncomfortably crowded.

• Consider visiting earlier in the morning for a more relaxing time. The evenings are by far the busiest as there are discounted tickets. 

• Another reason to go early is to guarantee spa treatments. You can’t reserve these online. It’s on a first-come, first-served basis.

Read more of my Romania travel guides

How to visit Dracula’s Bran Castle in Romania

How to visit Nevermore Academy from Wednesday

How to visit Corvin Castle in Hunedoara

The best things to do in Brasov 

How to visit Peles Castle in Romania

How to visit the Brasov Hollywood Sign

A complete guide for Rope Street 

Is Caturesti Carusel the prettiest bookshop in Romania?

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