Therme București opened on 14 January 2016, after an initial investment of more than €50 million.
Galaxy for families, The Palm with mineral pools, and Elysium for saunas and wellness.
Galaxy, the family zone, is the only zone open to children aged 3 to 14, according to Therme.
Therme is about 10 minutes' drive from Henri Coandă Airport, and about the same from our project in Balotești.
Therme's sauna festival runs from 5 to 25 October 2026, according to the official site.
Therme București: the short answer
Therme București is a large indoor thermal spa and water park in Balotești, just north of Bucharest, opened on 14 January 2016. It has three zones: Galaxy, the family zone with water slides; The Palm, a calmer area with mineral pools and palms under a glass roof; and Elysium, the sauna and wellness zone. The building covers about 30,000 m² on a site of about 250,000 m², and it is about 10 minutes' drive from Henri Coandă Airport.
Almost every buyer who visits our project in Balotești asks about the large glass building they passed on the road. That is Therme. For families, it is often the first "lifestyle" place they discover in the area, and the one they come back to in winter. So here is a practical guide, and an honest view of what it adds to life north of the city.
Therme in numbers
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | 14 January 2016 | Therme București |
| Initial investment | over €50 million | Bursa |
| Site area | about 250,000 m² | Bursa |
| Building area | about 30,000 m² | Wall-Street.ro |
| Indoor capacity | about 4,000 people at once | Wall-Street.ro |
| Visitors in the first year | over 1.2 million | Ziarul Financiar |
| Water slides | 17 | Therme București |
The three zones
Galaxy. The family zone: water slides, a wave pool and activities for children. According to Therme, it is the only zone open to children aged 3 to 14.
The Palm. A calmer area with mineral pools, an indoor pool under a retractable roof, hydromassage loungers and pool bars, surrounded by palms. Access includes Galaxy.
Elysium. The wellness and sauna zone: themed saunas, spa treatments and restaurants. Access includes Galaxy and The Palm. Body treatments have their own minimum age.
Age rules differ by zone and change from time to time. Check the current rules on the official site before you go with children; you may be asked for ID.
How to get there
| From | How | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Henri Coandă Airport | Car or taxi, about 10 minutes | Without traffic |
| Central Bucharest | Car via DN1, or public transport | DN1 is busy at peak hours |
| Compass on the Lake, Balotești | About 10 minutes by car | Without traffic |
Therme does not run a free shuttle bus from the city, despite older posts online. Tour operators sell packages with a transfer. For the wider area, see our guide to Balotești and our guide to Otopeni.
Tips for a first visit
- Buy tickets online and choose the zone and duration in advance; prices vary by day and time.
- Bring a towel, flip-flops and swimwear; towels can also be rented.
- Weekday mornings are quieter than weekends.
- Plan by zone: with young children, the day is spent mostly in Galaxy.
- For sauna lovers: Therme runs its Sauna Fest from 5 to 25 October 2026, with sauna rituals and guest sauna masters, according to the official site.
Therme as part of life north of Bucharest
For someone living in Balotești, Otopeni or Corbeanca, Therme is a ten-minute drive, not a day trip. In practice that means:
A spa is not a reason to buy a home.
- A winter alternative. Bucharest winters are cold; see our article on weather and seasons in Bucharest. A warm indoor place for children on a February weekend is worth a lot.
- Guests. Family visiting from Israel almost always ask to go.
- Part of a wider picture: lakes, the Snagov forest and lake, the A0 ring road and the airport; see our guide to Corbeanca and Snagov.
A spa is not a reason to buy a home. But for a family weighing the northern suburbs, it is a real piece of everyday life, not a brochure promise.
Where we fit in
To be clear about my angle: Compass on the Lake, our project of 29 villas by a lake in Balotești, is about 10 minutes from Therme. Prices start from €299,900 all-inclusive, with handovers planned from December 2027. I mention it once, so you know where I am writing from.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Therme București?
In Balotești, Ilfov County, just north of Bucharest along the DN1 corridor, about 10 minutes' drive from Henri Coandă Airport.
When did Therme București open?
On 14 January 2016, after an initial investment of more than €50 million.
Can children go to Therme București?
Yes. According to Therme, the Galaxy zone is the only zone open to children aged 3 to 14. Rules for The Palm and Elysium differ, so check the official site before your visit.
Is there a free bus to Therme from Bucharest?
Not currently. Visitors arrive by car, taxi or public transport, or with tour packages that include a transfer.
What is Sauna Fest at Therme?
An annual sauna festival. In 2026 it runs from 5 to 25 October, according to Therme's official site.
The bottom line
Therme București is one of the best-known places north of the capital: a large thermal spa and water park, ten minutes from the airport, that turns a winter weekend into an outing. For families considering the northern suburbs, it is part of everyday life, not just a tourist stop.
If you are coming to Romania and want to see the area, Therme, the lakes and the homes, book a 30-minute call with me. We will plan a visit that shows you what living here is really like.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources and data: Therme București, official site · Bursa, 14 January 2016 · Wall-Street.ro · Ziarul Financiar.
This article is for general information only. Opening hours, prices, age rules and events are set by Therme București and change; check the official site before you visit. Drive times depend on traffic.
Now you know more.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
