Why visit Romania for its spas? Because this is where you find more than one-third of Europe’s mineral and thermal springs. And since archaeologists have discovered two-thousand-year-old vestiges of ancient Roman baths here, the Romanian tradition of mineral and thermal spas is not negligible.
Depending on the location, the resorts offer different procedures and treatments, including spring water cures, mud packs, inhalation and aerosol therapy, salt water, mineral water or thermal water bathing, and more. Each of these procedures alleviates specific illnesses.
Today, the country boasts numerous recuperative centers, some completely new and modern, some with tradition and unbeatable expertise. What is more, these centers are fantastic vacation destinations for anyone, not only adults looking for natural therapy but extended families and children.
1. Therme, Bucharest
Europe's largest wellness and relaxation center is under a giant glass dome, just 10 minutes outside Bucharest. Warning! This destination is so popular that it might be crowded even on weekdays.
Who will be pleased with a visit to Therme? People are looking for a waterpark, relaxation in thermal pools and saunas, and fun in a pool bar or a heated outdoor pool all year round. In summer, the luxurious escape domain extends, offering visitors access to the biggest urban beach.
There are three areas and three admission levels:
- The waterslides, the wave pool and the children's pool are in the Galaxy zone;
- The Palm is for relaxation at the indoor pool with a swim-up bar;
- Elysium is part of the spa with the 10 fancy saunas.
There is more to each zone than I mentioned in this brief presentation, like restaurants, lounge areas, a movie theatre in a sauna in the Elysium sector, and the urban beach in the Palm zone.
Make sure you check what type of access you are looking for. A one-day holiday admission ticket to the Elysium zone (which includes access to the other areas) is 173 Lei for adults on weekdays and 193 Lei on weekends and holidays. Check the website's ‘Plan my visit’ section for updated information.
Therme impresses its visitors with its construction, balmy temperatures all year round, and fun and relaxing activities. Oh, and the most extensive interior botanical garden in Romania, with over 800,000 plants, including over 1,500 palm trees.
Bucharest Street Food Tour: Farmers' Markets & Hidden Streets
Start from: University Square
Suppose you travel to Bucharest for the spa experience. In that case, you can fill the time left with a visit to the Arch of Triumph, Casa Poporului – the second largest administrative building in the world, The House of Ceausescu or the Village Museum, among other attractions, depending on how much time you have.
2. Baile Felix
Just outside Oradea City in Bihor County, this resort became popular in the 18th century for its thermal waters rich in oligo minerals and sapropelic mud. Today, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the blend of modern and traditional hotels, relaxing spas, and scenic parks, all promoting well-being.
Visitors come for both wellness and relaxation, with treatments for rheumatism, paralysis, gynecological, and nervous disorders. Accommodations range from pensions with thermal pools to large hotels with full-service spas, such as Felix Spa, Hotel President SPA, and Lotus Therm.
The family, including the younger family members, will enjoy a trip to Baile Felix. Since it has a unique microclimate, the resort hosts the Water Lilies Pond Natural Reservation.
Kids can also enjoy horseback riding at Il Cavalino, take a trip to Happyland Dino Park, or have more water fun at Nympheea Park in Oradea City. The Museum of the Cris County, the Black Eagle Palace and Arcade, the ruins of Biharia Castle, and the wooden church in Brusturi are just some other places you will not want to miss out on.
3. Baile Olanesti
The renowned spa town of Baile Olanesti located a 30-minute drive away from Ramnicu Valcea City in Valcea County, is also known as the Golden Springs. The waters here are rich in minerals such as iodine, bromine, sodium, calcium, and sulfur, and they are great for treating renal and hepatobiliary, dermatologic, and neurologic complaints, among others.
Accommodation options range from 3 and 2-star hotels to pensions, motels, and villas. Some of the most popular accommodations are the Tisa Spa & Thermarium Resort and the Imperial Hotel Spa.
The town is surrounded by hills covered with beech and oak forests, making it an excellent place for outdoor activities, which can be alternated with spa treatments and wellness therapies. Other attractions include the Saint Pantelimon Church, the Water Lillies' Pond, the Valcea Region Museum in Bujoreni, the Cave of Bats, and the Trovanti (rocks that grow) Museum.
4. Baile Herculane
Romania’s oldest treatment resort, Baile Herculane, dates back to 153 AD, when the Romans discovered the area's curative thermal springs. They built baths, temples, and statues honoring Hercules, Aesculapius, and Hygeia, giving the resort its name.
Set along the Cerna River, the resort offers thermal spas, cryotherapy, balneotherapy, sulfur baths, mineral water cures, kinesiotherapy, and massages. Larger centers like Afrodita Resort & Spa, Minerva Resort & Spa, and Versay Hotel provide a wide range of treatments.
For outdoor lovers, Crucea Alba (White Cross) hike, the 143-meter-long Outlaw’s Cave, and the Steam Cave are must-sees. History buffs will enjoy strolling through town, where Roman baths and a Hercules bas-relief stand alongside Austrian-era landmarks like the imperial baths, Baroque railway station, Casino, and hunting lodge.
5. Alma Health & Spa Retreat, near Braila
Next on our list of excellent Romanian spa resorts is the new and elegant Alma Resort, part of the Lacul Sarat Spa Complex in Braila County, only a 15-minute car ride from Braila City. The center is surrounded by lush forests and near the lake, whose sapropelic mud and saltwater have extraordinary therapeutic properties and have been included in spa rituals.
There are saunas, jacuzzies, hammams, Vichy showers, massages, and cosmetic treatments. It also has indoor and outdoor pools, a private beach, sports facilities, and special children’s spaces. Tourists wishing to visit the area can see the Lacul Sarat Monastery and the Greek church, the 14th century Braila fortress ruins, the Ethnographic Museum, or walk along the Danube promenade.
6. Slanic Moldova
The curative springs of Slanic Moldova, discovered in 1801, led to the development of bathing facilities and earned the town its title, the Pearl of Moldavia, by the late 19th century. Located in Bacau County, just 1.5 hours from Bacau City, the resort blends breathtaking natural scenery with elegant 18th-century architecture, like the grand Casino.
Visitors have long come here for healing, drawn by the fresh mountain air, the nearby Slanic Moldova Salt Mine, and the alkaline, low-sodium mineral waters. Whether you prefer historic hotels or modern stays, Complex Cristal, Hotel Perla, Vila Teleconstructia, and Panoramic Complex offer excellent options for relaxation and recovery.
Beyond wellness, Slanic Moldova boasts ski slopes and scenic mountain trails, making it a must-visit for nature lovers. While Moldova’s monasteries are famous, this resort offers a refreshing mix of adventure and tranquility.
7. Baile Balvanyos
If you're set on this area in Covasna County, it's important to know that Baile Balvanyos is a resort with more limited accommodation options, located about an hour's drive from Sfantu Gheorghe City.
Similar to other areas in the center of the country, Baile Balvanyos takes pride in its ozone-rich air, natural baths like the Csiszár Bath, Apor Daughter’s Baths, and The Mikes Baths, mineral waters, and offers, which are carbon dioxide vents. Be careful before going inside one of those, as there are restrictions for specific health conditions.
Some of the most popular accommodation options are Balvanyos Resort with Grand Santerra Spa and Peakture Hotel Balvanyos. As usual, the larger hotels have the most spa and treatment facilities.
The popular attractions in the area include Saint Anna Lake (be cautious of bears on the road, so it's better to visit during popular times and stick to larger groups if you're walking there), Mohos Peat Bog, Pestera Sulfuroasa (the sulfurous cave), and Balvanyos Fortress.
8. Sovata
Sovata is another one of Romania's jewels. A traditional treatment resort, it has received the attention it deserved in later years. Many of the old buildings have been rehabilitated, taking a walk in the center of the resort enjoyable. The spa town is located in Mures County, a one-hour drive from Targu Mures City.
Visitors opt for Sovata for the promise of relaxation and treatments at popular facilities like Sovata Health Spa, and Bellacya Resort & Spa. Also, in summertime, you will notice many people lounging by Ursu Lake, a saltwater lake known for its healing properties. In the wintertime, you can experience the healing properties of Ursu Lake in an indoor pool filled with water from the lake. People with respiratory, muscular, bone, and joint problems, cardiovascular issues, and other afflictions come here to dip in the cooling lake waters and leave rejuvenated.
Adventure is also in the cards with a trip to Sovata, as you can visit the Belvedere plus Adventure Park, the nearby Praid Salt Mine, take a ride on an old train called Mocanita, and even ride the Alpine coaster in Toplita.
9. Vatra Dornei
The Bucovina region in the north of the country is well-known for spiritual tourism and its traditional way of life. People come here for the authentic Romanian experience. But the region is also known for its mountain retreat, Vatra Dornei, which is popular for its mineral springs and mud treatments.
You might even love this quaint little town, its lush forests, green pastures, and old buildings. It will surely make for a relaxing and fun getaway the whole family can enjoy year-round. From there, you can visit the painted monasteries of Moldova, the Painted Easter Eggs Museum, and the Ethnographic Museum and experience the beauty of the Calimani National Park on nature walks and hiking trails.
The Dorna Hotel, Carol Hotel, and Kaban Boutique Hotel are popular accommodation options.
10. Buzias
Buzias is a resort near Timisoara (only 40 minutes by car), and it should be on your list if you visit the country's western part. The town will impress you with elements of Byzantine architecture, while the wellness centers and treatment facilities are visited for mineral water springs. The Phoenix Conference Spa Hotel and Parc Hotel are among the more prominent locations.
To complete your visit, check out the wooden-covered colonnade, the Spa Museum, and everything else in Timisoara, the European Cultural Capital in 2023.
11. Ana Hotels Spa Europa, Eforie Nord
The Romanian sea coast is a popular destination for locals and foreign tourists. Located in Constanta County, only 18 minutes away by car from Constanta City, Eforie Nord is home to the Ana Hotels Spa Europa facility, a premier wellness destination.
The resort successfully combines traditional treatment methods with sapropelic mud, saltwater from Techirghiol Lake, and modern therapy procedures. Tourists can enjoy body toning procedures, indoor and outdoor pools filled with refreshing lake saltwater, massages with scented candles or hot stones, and saline baths with plants and seaweeds.
The main attractions in the area are the beaches, the various restaurants, and the seaside clubs. Constanta City is also very close by, offering a range of entertainment options, such as a dolphin show, a natural reserve, a history museum, and the old city center.
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With over 70 resort towns and a generous range of locations, from mountains to sea or lakeside, Romania is a destination worth noting for those seeking health and relaxation at the end of a trip. Based on individual needs, some locations are better than others regarding the type of conditions treated and procedures made available, so read about each place before choosing.
Otherwise, each resort has stood the test of time, and most have already been spruced up, with modern facilities added alongside the traditional units. This will make any trip more enjoyable and unique.
Your Romanian Friend,
Elena
