I flew to Romania and spent the day at Europe’s largest spa for LESS than it costs for a typical UK Spa Break. Therme Bucharest: all you need to know about Europe’s largest spa that’s going viral on social media for its affordability.
Bucharest, Romania’s capital city, is home to Therme Bucharest. With 10 pools, 10 saunas, 1600m of waterslides and three themed restaurants, this is a complete wellness and relaxation centre that is housed under a stunning glass dome.
Videos of the spa are going viral on TikTok and Instagram due to its impressive aesthetics and affordable prices, however we all know just how often looks can deceive! I was therefore excited to be invited to hop on a Wizz Air flight on behalf of the airline and H&N Magazine, to discover if flying to this picture-perfect destination spa for a short break would actually live up to the social media hype.
Getting there
Firstly, actually getting to Therme Bucharest is a breeze.
I flew Wizz Air from London Luton Airport to Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, for just £16.51 one way. At prices like that, the rising train fares suddenly make a weekend away outside the UK, seem very attractive indeed! Wizz Air also fly from Leeds, Birmingham, London Gatwick, Glasgow and Liverpool. Flight costs include one small cabin bag which can be placed in the overhead lockers and a small bag that can be placed under the seat in front of you. This amount of luggage was absolutely fine for me for a weekend away but extra baggage, priority and seat selection can be bought for additional fees, starting from £6.
This was my first flight with the airline and the flight was on time, my seat had the same amount of leg space as you’d find on any standard airline and the staff were very friendly, polite and helpful. There’s no fancy gadgets or extras – but for such an affordable price, I wouldn’t expect it and it provided absolutely everything I’d expect and need for a flight headed to a European city break.
During the flight I did ask various staff if passengers flying to Bucharest mentioned Therme Bucharest at all, and many member gave anecdotes on how increasing numbers of people flying to Bucharest seem to be doing so primarily to experience Therme Bucharest for a fun weekend with their partner, family or friends. Surely the epitome of ‘destination spa’!
Once you’ve disembarked, an Uber from the airport to Therme Bucharest costs about £10 and takes 10 mins. Top tip: do make sure you use an Uber, the airport taxis quoted over three times the Uber price.
The reality
Once you arrive at Therme Bucharest, you receive a wristband which works the lockers and allows entrance to whichever areas of the spa you’ve paid to access. There are lots of lockers and change rooms (though the space as a whole is mixed use) and it’s clean and spacious with plenty of lockers available. A bathrobe is also provided.
Upon leaving the changing area and first walking into the spa, you immediately see why it’s an online sensation. The initial impression certainly has the wow factor!
It is home to a massive botanical garden of over 800,000 plants including palm trees galore, orchards and foliage. The stunning palm trees frame the multiple pools, swim up bars abound and the whole place transforms at night with impressive multicoloured lighting with DJs playing music that changes with the time of day and activities.
It takes a while to even look around what is a massive inside space and a gorgeous outside range of heated pools, tropical looking beaches and the whole floor of saunas and treatment rooms. It is split into zones – some zones are adults only and some tailored more to children – so it’s suitable for all the family.
I spent most of my time in The Palm – an adults only, immense palm grove with Jacuzzi, splash showers and lighting displays, and in Elysium – the sauna area with different themes, like the Himalaya with salt walls and the Hollywood; a sauna that’s a movie room!
Let’s face it; spas in the UK just can’t compete with Therme in terms of looks, size or facilities. But size isn’t everything. What about price?
The cost
Cost for entry to Therme Bucharest all-day starts at £17.50 weekdays / £19 weekends. Entry cost excludes food and drink but includes all 10 pools, Romania’s biggest sauna complex and Europe’s biggest urban beach. Note: treatments like messages aren’t included and you’ll pay extra for replacement towels and robes if you need them, which if you are there for a full day – you very well might. See full admission prices here: https://www.therme.ro/admission-prices
You can go there and back in a day; the spa is very close to the airport. Handily, you can store your luggage at reception and there’s plenty of lockers and changing facilities. It is open 9.30am-11.30pm weekdays and 8am-midnight on weekends.
Extending your stay
However if you do want to stay longer to check out Bucharest (which I highly recommend; as it makes for a great city break, full of culture and character), then why not book into one of the many affordable hotel in central Bucharest? I stayed at Peakture Hotel which is a charming boutique hotel with gym and sauna facilities, located only 15 mins from the spa making it ideally located to explore Old Town – rooms start at £74 per night.
The verdict
Assuming a UK spa break costs £100 plus, you can see why people are more attracted to hopping on a plane to experience a spa break in Bucharest. It is actually (and surprisingly) cheaper – even with Wizz Air flights both ways at the cost of my flights*, Ubers to and from the airport to the spa, plus full access, and all day spa entry on a weekend – you’re still looking at circa £72.02 to replicate my trip. It’s a bargain in anyone’s estimation and it’s an experience you won’t forget. What a great combination. What an amazing spa. What a city.
It is definitely worth the hype, but I would hurry up and visit before everyone catches on and the price catches up to its popularity! For now, it’s still flying under the radar; making this the perfect bougee break on a budget.
*Flights taken 29th March 2024.
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Review and images by Victoria Reddington @vic_reddington
