Where can you enjoy a spa in Romania, from Therme in Bucharest to hot springs in the mountains?

Spa and wellness: the short answer

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Romania has a long tradition of hot water. The Romans dedicated a spring in the Cerna valley to Hercules, the emperors in Vienna built grand baths there, and Empress Sisi came there to rest. Today that tradition lives at two ends: Therme București, a large thermal spa complex north of the capital, and long-established spa towns in Transylvania and the west of the country.

Alongside the water there are two more things that are hard to find elsewhere: a salt lake whose water is warmer at depth than at the surface, and ancient salt mines turned into underground attractions.

In plain words: there is one spa close to home, about ten minutes from our project in Balotești, and a whole tradition of hot water and salt waiting for a long weekend. This article explains what each place offers. It does not recommend any medical treatment.

Therme București: the weekend spa

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Therme is in Balotești, about ten minutes' drive from our project and from the airport. According to the official website, it has three zones. Galaxy is the family zone, with about 1.7 km of water slides and a wave pool. The Palm is a calmer zone, with mineral pools and a pool under a retractable roof. Elysium is the sauna and wellness zone.

The rules for children matter: according to Therme, children aged 3–14 may enter only Galaxy. Body treatments have a minimum age of 18. In autumn there is an extra reason to come: Sauna Fest 2026 runs from 5 to 25 October, with a Nordic-style sauna village from 16 to 25 October.

We covered prices, getting there and tips for a first visit in our complete guide to Therme București. And in winter, when Bucharest is cold, a warm indoor place is worth a lot. Read about the seasons in Bucharest's weather.

Băile Herculane: the baths of Hercules

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Băile Herculane lies in the Cerna river valley, in Caraș-Severin County in the Banat. According to Radio Europa Liberă, the Hygeia spring bears an inscription from Roman times: AD AQUAS HERCULI SACRAS, "to the sacred waters of Hercules". That was also the place's first Roman name.

In the Habsburg period the town belonged directly to Vienna, and the emperors funded rebuilding on the Roman foundations. Empress Elisabeth, Sisi, stayed at the Elisabeta villa near the Imperial Baths. Emperor Franz Joseph also visited the town, and in the casino hall Franz Joseph, King Carol I of Romania and King Alexander I of Serbia met. According to Radio Europa Liberă, the town's Californian sequoia was planted during a visit by Franz Joseph.

Come with the right expectations. Many of the historic buildings in the town centre have been neglected, among them the famous Neptune Baths. According to a November 2025 report, the building has been stuck for years in a legal dispute between the landowners and the town, and there is a plan to turn it into a balneology clinic. The Herculane Project organisation is working to stabilise and restore the buildings. The town itself continues to operate as a spa resort.

Băile Felix: hot water near Oradea

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Băile Felix lies about 8 km south of Oradea, in Bihor County. According to Wikipedia, the springs range from 20 to 48 degrees. The first bathing facilities were organised between 1711 and 1721.

A rare water lily, Nymphaea lotus thermalis, grows in the area's warm waters and is protected as a "natural monument". It grows in the Pârâul Pețea reserve. A study published in 2013 in Nymphaea, the journal of the Țării Crișurilor Museum in Oradea, warned that the survival of the reserve's rare species is at risk because of disruption to the springs that feed it.

Sovata and Lake Ursu: a salt lake that is warm at depth

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Lake Ursu (Bear Lake) in Sovata, Transylvania, formed in 1875. It is a heliothermal salt lake: a layer of fresh water floats on top of the salt water and keeps it warm, like a greenhouse. According to Zile și Nopți (July 2026), the surface water is about 29 degrees, and at a depth of one and a half metres it can reach about 50 degrees. According to the same source, the salt concentration at the surface is about 100 grams per litre.

The lake is open for bathing only in the warm season. The spa hotels in the town also use water and mud from the lake in indoor pools all year round.

Salt mines: Turda open, Praid closed

Salina Turda is one of the most impressive sites in Romania. According to the official website, the site lies about 120 metres deep and includes several mines and galleries, among them the Rudolf mine and the Theresa mine. There is a Ferris wheel, mini golf, billiard tables and an amphitheatre, and you can rent a boat on the lake in the Theresa mine. The site is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, last entry at 16:20. An adult ticket costs 75 lei on weekdays and 90 lei at weekends and on public holidays (October 2026, prices change).

Salina Praid in Harghita County was until recently a popular destination. In May 2025 the Corund stream flooded it, and the mine closed. We found no official announcement of a reopening, so as of October 2026 don't plan a visit without checking first.

Mineral water: Borsec

Romania is also a land of bottled mineral water. According to Forbes România, industrial bottling of Borsec water, in the Eastern Carpathians, began in 1806. At the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna the water was given the title "Queen of Mineral Waters". You will find the bottle in almost every supermarket.

Ana Aslan and Gerovital: a historical story

Dr Ana Aslan (1897–1988) headed the National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics in Bucharest from 1952, described as the first institute of its kind in the world. The institute is now named after her. She developed Gerovital H3, a procaine-based preparation that the foreign press called a "youth potion".

Here it is important to be precise: according to Digi24, there is no scientific consensus on the benefits of Gerovital. We tell the story as part of Romania's culture and history, not as a recommendation. For any medical question, see a doctor. We wrote about the healthcare system in our guide to healthcare in Romania.

How to plan a hot-water visit

• Check the season. Lake Ursu is open only in summer. Therme and Salina Turda are open all year.
• Check the age rules. Therme has different rules for each zone. For body treatments you must be at least 18.
• Buy tickets in advance. Tickets for Therme and Salina Turda can be bought online.
• Bring your kit. Swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel.
• Ask a doctor. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or have a small child, ask a doctor before bathing in hot or salt water.

Where, when and why

Place	Where	When	Why go
Therme București	Balotești, about 10 minutes from the project	All year	Indoor spa and water park, Sauna Fest in October
Băile Herculane	Cerna valley, Caraș-Severin	All year	Roman and Habsburg history, hot springs
Băile Felix	Near Oradea, Bihor	All year	Hot springs, 20–48 degrees
Lake Ursu, Sovata	Transylvania	Warm season only	Heliothermal salt lake
Salina Turda	Turda, Transylvania	Daily 9:00–17:00	Salt mine with a lake and a Ferris wheel
Salina Praid	Harghita	Closed since 2025	Check before planning

A sample weekend

Close to home: Saturday morning in Galaxy with the children, and two hours in Elysium in the afternoon. In October, it is worth checking the Sauna Fest schedule of sauna rituals.

A summer trip to Transylvania: one day at Salina Turda (last entry at 16:20), and a second day at Lake Ursu in Sovata, in the early morning or the afternoon. Check beforehand that the lake is open.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Therme from Balotești?

Therme is in Balotești itself, about ten minutes' drive from our project and from Henri Coandă Airport.

Is Salina Praid open to visitors?

The mine was flooded in May 2025 and closed. We found no announcement of a reopening as of October 2026. Salina Turda is open every day.

Is Lake Ursu open all year?

No. You can bathe in it only in the warm season. The hotels in Sovata use the lake water in indoor pools in winter too.

Is Gerovital a proven treatment?

No. According to Digi24, there is no scientific consensus on its benefits. It is a historical story, not a medical recommendation.

The bottom line

Romania offers spas at two speeds: Therme for a Thursday evening, and towns of water and salt for a long weekend. If you live in north Bucharest, the city's big spa is right in the neighbourhood.

Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania

Sources: Therme București, official website · Radio Europa Liberă, Băile Herculane, August 2022 (in Romanian) · Playtech, the Neptune Baths, November 2025 (in Romanian) · Wikipedia, Băile Herculane · Wikipedia, Băile Felix · Gábor Paál, Nymphaea XL, 2013, on the Băile Felix thermal aquifer · Zile și Nopți, Lake Ursu, July 2026 (in Romanian) · Spotmedia/Agerpres, Lake Ursu, June 2021 (in Romanian) · Salina Turda, visits and prices (in Romanian) · Agerpres, the closure of Salina Praid (in Romanian) · Economedia, Praid, April 2026 (in Romanian) · Forbes România, the history of Borsec (in Romanian) · Digi24, Ana Aslan (in Romanian)

This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not recommend any treatment, preparation or water source. Before bathing in hot or salt water, especially if you are pregnant or have a medical condition, consult a doctor. Opening hours, prices and entry rules change. Details are correct as of 23 October 2026.

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