I’ve lived in Romania for about three months now and have already been to Therme Bucharest (or Terme Bucarest in many languages) six or seven times. It’s that good.
I’ve been to lots of spas and saunas in my day, including the historic Thermae Bath Spa when I lived in England. And let me tell you—Therme Bucharest is the best.
Continue reading down for everything you should know before your first visit, including what to bring, what they don’t tell you in the fine print and what you should avoid doing.
About Therme Spa
Therme is Romania’s number one most popular tourist attraction. Over 1 million visitors (30 percent from abroad) visit the wellness center each year.
In fact, Therme’s popularity among United Kingdom travelers specifically has skyrocketed recently. Partly due to the increase in so-called “extreme day trips” inspired by social media and partly due to increased anticipation for the opening of Therme Manchester.
These thermal baths officially opened in 2016. In addition to Manchester, the Therme Group behind this world-class spa facility announced plans to open resorts in Glasgow, Scotland, Toronto, Canada, Incheon, South Korea, Bad Vilbel, Germany and even Washington, DC in the coming years.
Therme Bucharest is still the one and only location open now though! My Instagram reel below gives a great overview of the grounds:
Where is Therme – How to Get There
Planning a holiday to somewhere you’ve never been can feel daunting. Let me ease your worries as I’ll go into detail on exactly what to expect and how to prepare.
Therme is fun and a little advanced planning can make your day all the more incredible!
Driving or Taking a Cab
Therme Bucharest is located north of downtown in Ilfov County. The fastest way to get to the spa is to either drive yourself or take a cab.
If you’re driving yourself, parking is plentiful and free! They even have 14 allocated spaces for electric vehicle charging.
Alternatively, a Bolt taxi from the city center to Therme will take anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes with traffic and cost about €15. A Bolt taxi from the Otopeni Airport (Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport) will only take about ten minutes and cost about €5.
Compared to the rest of Europe, Bolt and Uber cabs in Romania are incredibly inexpensive. Just be sure to book through the app for the best prices and remember to never hail a cab on the spot. Doing so will result in a massive cost increase.
Taking the Bus
The cheapest (but slowest) route for reaching Bucharest’s Therme Spa is to take the 442 bus from either downtown (Piața Presei) or from the airport.
The bus costs less than €1 but takes an hour or more from downtown. You can find a timetable and more route information here.
You can pay for the bus using contactless Apple Pay or Google Pay. Just tap your phone near the payment terminal and you’re good to go!
Therme Free Shuttle
Many other sites will tell you there’s a free shuttle bus to the spa from downtown, but this information is outdated. The Therme Bucharest free bus no longer operates.
Side note: If you’re visiting Therme Spa Bucharest on your way to or from the airport, not to worry! Luggage storage is available free of charge. Just ask about it at check in.
How to Visit Therme Bucharest Spa
Ticket Information
I recommend buying tickets to Therme on the official website before your visit, as the wellness center can sell out and reach capacity during busy months and on weekends.
Purchasing tickets in advance also gives you access to the much faster “online ticketing” line.
If you’re unable to purchase your tickets in advance, you’ll have to wait in the much slower (and often longer!) line for buying tickets in-person.
Third Party Tickets
I do not recommend booking your Therme Bucharest tickets through a third party, as most of these tickets are more expensive, only include access to one area or include transportation from a specific (most likely inconvenient) point.
Cost – How Much is Therme Bucharest?
Therme ticket prices start at 63 Lei (or about €12) for limited access and increase up to 193 Lei (€38) for an all day Saturday pass. The cost varies depending on three factors:
- The spa area you’re visiting
- The day of the week
- The length of time you want to spend in the facility
Therme is divided into the Galaxy waterpark section, the Palm atrium section and the Elysium sauna section.
I recommend first-time visitors buy tickets to the Elysium section, because this price tier includes access to both the Galaxy and Palm areas. With Elysium tickets, you’ll have full access to everything Therme has to offer. No areas are off limits.
Jump to my detailed descriptions of Therme’s spa sections.
How Long to Spend at Therme – Review
Therme Bucharest tickets are also priced according to the length of your visit. The base ticket rate includes three hours of access.
The clock starts when you first swipe in with your assigned wristband and stops when you swipe out after drying and changing.
In the summer, I recommend getting the 4.5 hour or all-day pass. There’s just so much to see and explore at Bucharest’s Therme Spa, you really ought to devote your day to the experience.
In the winter when the beach is closed, 3 hours is enough time IF you don’t plan on eating. However, if you intend to eat lunch or dinner at Therme, I’d choose the 4.5 hour option.
Not to worry though—if you do end up running past your pre-designated time limit, it’s just 8 lei (or about €1.60) for each additional 30 minutes.
So relax and enjoy! You’ll pay any overage costs at checkout.
Detailed Therme Bucharest prices are included below and here for your reference.
When is Therme Spa in Bucharest Open
Therme is open every day of the year except New Year’s Eve on December 31. Yes, they are even open during winter!
The wellness center is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Therme Bucharest turns into a bit of a party after dark, with upbeat music and multicolored lights. Not to worry though—things never get too wild!
What to Expect – Bucharest Therme Spa
When you first arrive for your wellness experience, you’ll be given a wristband with your assigned locker number. Lockers are included with the cost of admission.
If you’d like to add on a massage (for an additional fee), you must do so at check in. Massages are available on a first come, first served basis and do occasionally sell out.
Thankfully, Therme Bucharest staff are multilingual and speak both English and Romanian, so communication should be simple.
Next, walk past the check-in desks, tap your wristband and make your way through the turnstiles towards your designated locker space.
Once you’ve identified your locker, it’s time to get changed. The locker rooms themselves are unisex, but there are private changing areas for you to get in and out of your swimsuit in complete and total privacy.
The changing rooms offer hooks, a little bench and a mirror. The floors in the locker room are heated to keep things as dry as possible, which is a nice feature.
Once you change into your swim attire, return to your locker, place your things inside, shut the door and tap your wristband to lock your items securely in place.
No need to bring your wallet into the thermal bath area—your wristband acts as your payment method whether you’re ordering cocktails, wine or a hamburger and fries. Simply tap your wristband to add things to your tab, which you will pay for when you leave.
I’ve never once seen a staff member ask for age identification when ordering an alcoholic beverage, so I wouldn’t worry too much about that either.
Cell phones and photos are allowed inside Therme, but I’d recommend leaving your phone and saving pictures for the last ten minutes or so of your visit. You don’t want to risk losing your phone or damaging it by accidentally dropping it in the water.
You can come and go between the pool area and the locker room area freely as you please, so locker access is very simple.
Once your visit is over and you’re ready to leave, use one of the many showers to quickly rinse the mineral water off with the provided soap.
Then simply change back into your street clothes, dry your hair with one of the provided (powerful!) hair dryers and go to checkout.
There are self-checkout options available, or you can visit a cashier to pay your bill.
What to Bring to Therme Bucharest
Necessities
Therme requires all guests to wear clean flip-flops/sandals while inside the facility. “Clean” is the keyword here—you cannot wear sandals in from off the street. You must have a separate pair of flip flops to be used exclusively inside the atrium. They will ask you about this and verify you have an additional pair of shoes at check-in.
Proper swim attire and a clean towel or bathrobe are also a must.
If you forget any of these items, Therme Bucharest has some flip-flops, towels and bathrobes available to rent on-site for a fee. Just mention this when you arrive at check-in.
Optional Items to Consider Bringing
- Consider bringing a plastic bag for storing your wet suit when you leave. You don’t want your sopping suit getting water all over your other belongings!
- I typically wear a black shirt and black pants to help camouflage any wet spots when I’m leaving. In the summer, you’ll likely dry faster so this shouldn’t be an issue.
- You may also want to wear a waterproof watch to keep an eye on the time. Otherwise, there’s only one small wall clock inside the atrium. A waterproof watch can help you better manage your time and avoid any overage fees.
- Outside food and drinks are not permitted, though this policy isn’t strictly enforced. For example, I occasionally bring a water bottle and keep it in my locker.
- I’d also recommend bringing a hair tie, hair clip or scrunchie of your own if you have long hair. I wish someone had told me before my first visit, but all long hair is required to be tied back in a ponytail or bun in the pool areas.
Therme doesn’t list this information on their website or emails, but it is heavily enforced in-person in the swimming area.
If you forget or don’t have a hair tie, staff will provide you with one free of charge. If you don’t tie your hair back, staff will blow their whistle at you and embarrass you ever so slightly into complying.
- You may also consider bringing a pair of glasses to wear inside the swimming area of Therme Bucharest if you’re a contact lens wearer.
I’ve found if I go under the water or water gets in my eyes in the waterpark area, my contacts burn a little and are dry/irritated for the next several days. This is due to the mineral content of the water. - If you’d rather not wear glasses, consider wearing an older pair of contact lenses or perhaps dailies that you can toss out after your day at the spa.
Navigating the Spa Sections + Map
Below I’ve included two maps of Therme. The first map is of the ground floor. The second map is of the upper floor and includes a map key with location details.
The various sections of the wellness resort can get confusing! Let me simplify things:
Galaxy Section – Therme Bucharest Layout
The Galaxy area of this wellness spa is great for families with children. With over 17 rides to choose from, there’s an adrenaline rush to be had for all age levels and abilities.
My favorite slide is the Supernova, which has just enough twists and turns to pick up speed without being too scary (I’m a bit of a wuss when it comes to rides—haha).
The indoor wave pool and family lounge areas are fun, too!
Galaxy offers an a la carte dining area with tons of savory menu options, as well as a separate crepe and ice cream café!
The Palm Section
The Palm is the central attraction of Therme Bucharest and likely the image you’ve seen countless times across social media. This magical indoor atrium is filled with tropical plants, warm pools, swim-up bars and mineral waters to soothe your aches and pains.
The Palm pools are only about 1.26 meters (about 4 ft) in depth, so even weak swimmers should feel comfortable.
In the summer, an outdoor beach area with additional bars, restaurants and gardens also opens up for those with entry to the Palm.
The Palm features a large dining area called Humboldt International Cuisine on the left-hand side of the central atrium.
Everything we’ve had from here has been delicious. I’ve personally tried and recommend the salmon with steamed vegetables, barbecue ribs, hamburgers, quesadillas and chicken curry.
The pastry shop in Palm also has a wide array of coffees and desserts—even some vegan options!
Children 16 and under are not allowed in the Palm or Elysium areas of Bucharest Therme. However, infants aged 3 or under are permitted.
Free WiFi is also available to help you save on any roaming data charges.
The Elysium Sauna Section
The Elysium area is located on the second floor and includes access to all the hot saunas, an additional mineral pool with a swim-up bar and the red-light therapy terrace—one of my favorite areas in Therme Bucharest.
The elevated terrace also makes a great photo spot!
I highly recommend trying the Amazon sauna, which is the perfect balance of heat and humidity for me (a sauna novice). The Hollywood sauna is also fun because they show BBC nature documentaries on a big projection screen inside.
Remember: When inside a sauna, be sure you sit entirely on your towel—even your feet. If a staff member sees you touching the bare wood, they will correct you.
Where to Stay
Hotels Near Therme Bucharest
Unfortunately, you cannot stay at Therme Spa itself, since the property does not offer an on-site hotel.
However, the Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Airport is the next best thing! If you’re planning a quick trip in and out of the city and don’t want to stay downtown, this hotel is just 5 minutes from Therme!
My favorite feature of this affordable hotel is the hot buffet breakfast served each morning. My husband and I still talk about how good it was months after our initial stay!
Where to Stay Near Bucharest’s City Center
If you prefer to be in the center of the action, the best downtown hotels are The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection and the Radisson Blu Hotel.
The Marmorosch is incredibly dreamy. The lobby has vast ceilings, glass atrium and charming antique features, making it feel like a movie set.
The hotel also features a swanky basement bar called The Vault that used to be—you guessed it!—a bank vault for the city’s elite.
The Radisson Blu is in an excellent, walkable location, close to many trendy restaurants and bars. It’s a great base to get to know Bucharest from a local’s perspective!
Both of these hotels will beautifully compliment your stay in Bucharest.
Therme Bucharest Popularity
Romania’s top attraction continues to draw in global visitors looking for a day of relaxation and rejuvenation. I feel incredibly lucky to have such a world class facility almost on my doorstep here in Bucharest.
Save this page to remember all my tips for your next visit to the spa center!
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