Therme Bucharest isn’t just a spa. It’s the largest wellness and relaxation centre in Europe. With three distinct zones, more than nine pools, six saunas, four steam rooms and over 16 water slides, you’ll need a full day to make the most of it.
It was one of the highlights of my trip to Bucharest, second only to this Eat With local dining experience. If spa days aren’t typically on your travel itinerary, make this the exception. It’s like no other wellness centre I’ve been to, immersive, relaxing and totally unique. Here’s everything you need to know, including prices, zones, tips and whether it’s worth it.
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Prices, transport and opening hours can change, so always check the official Therme website before travelling.
Is Therme Bucharest worth it?
Yes, absolutely. Therme Bucharest is worth visiting if you want something different from museums, restaurants and walking around the Old Town. It’s outside the city centre, so it makes a brilliant half-day or full-day escape.
There are three zones, so you can choose between a family water park, an adults-only tropical spa or the more premium sauna experience. I would allow a full day if you can. I tried the four-and-a-half-hour option and it wasn’t enough for someone who wants to use the pools, explore the saunas, eat, have a drink and actually relax rather than watch the clock.
How to Get to Therme Bucharest
When we visited, we used the free shuttle from Piata Romana. It was straightforward, with a clearly marked Therme stop, and took around 30 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
The current public transport option promoted by Therme is STB bus 442. It runs from Piața Presei Libere to Therme București via Henri Coandă Airport. Check the current timetable and stops before travelling, particularly at weekends and during holidays.
Uber and Bolt are also easy options from central Bucharest. They’re more convenient if you’re travelling as a group, carrying luggage or don’t want to plan your return journey around a bus timetable. Fares vary with traffic, so compare both apps before booking.
Therme Bucharest prices and tickets
Therme Bucharest tickets depend on the zone, day of the week and how long you stay. You can choose three hours, four and a half hours or a full-day ticket.
These are the adult prices checked in October 2026:
| Zone | Three hours | Four and a half hours | Full day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy | 71 RON Monday to Thursday / 81 RON Friday to Sunday and holidays | 101 RON / 111 RON | 141 RON / 151 RON |
| The Palm | 102 RON / 117 RON | 132 RON / 147 RON | 172 RON / 187 RON |
| Elysium | 132 RON / 147 RON | 162 RON / 177 RON | 202 RON / 217 RON |
Galaxy is the least expensive option, while Elysium costs more because it includes the other two zones and the sauna area.
Children aged three to fourteen can use Galaxy. The Palm and Elysium are for older teenagers and adults, although Therme has specific rules for very young children, so check the booking page if that applies to you. Children under three go free with proof of age.
Treatments and massages are not included in an Elysium ticket. Availability and treatment prices vary, so ask at the Elysium reception when you arrive.
If you stay longer than your chosen visit length, extra time is charged in thirty-minute increments. You can also pay to upgrade from Galaxy to The Palm, or from The Palm to Elysium, if you decide you want more once you are inside.
Book or check the latest prices through the official Therme Bucharest ticket page.
If you would rather have your entry arranged before you arrive, you can book a Therme Bucharest ticket in advance. Check which zone and visit length you are booking, as they vary.
How long should you spend at Therme Bucharest?
You can choose three hours, four and a half hours or a full day.
Three hours is enough if you are tight on time and only want a quick pool and sauna visit. Four and a half hours gives you more breathing room, but I found it still felt rushed.
I would choose the full day if Therme is a main part of your Bucharest trip. It gives you time to arrive, get changed, find a lounger, use the pools, try a ritual, have something to eat and still sit outside with a drink without feeling as though you should already be leaving.
Which Therme Bucharest zone should you choose?
When we visited, the whole of Bucharest appeared to have had the same idea. It was the Sunday before New Year’s Eve, so perhaps everybody needed a pamper session. We had to queue separately for Galaxy and for The Palm and Elysium, so keep an eye on the screens above the desks when you arrive.
The Palm: best for an adults-only spa day
The Palm is the grown-up tropical spa section and, for most couples or friends visiting Bucharest, probably the best choice. It has indoor and outdoor pools, hydromassage beds, wet saunas, relaxation areas and pool bars, all surrounded by palm trees and tropical planting.
There are also activities such as aqua classes, yoga and live music at certain times, so check the daily schedule when you arrive.
A Palm ticket includes access to Galaxy too. I would choose it if you want to spend the day floating between pools, reading on a lounger and pretending you are on a much more expensive holiday than you are.
Elysium: best for saunas and a longer visit
Elysium is the premium option. It includes The Palm and Galaxy, plus themed saunas, infrared beds, additional relaxation areas and access to The Mango Tree restaurant.
This is the ticket to choose if the sauna experience is the main event for you. It’s also where treatments and massages are offered, although these cost extra and need to be booked when you arrive, subject to availability.
If you’re going for the full day and want to make a real occasion of it, I would choose Elysium. If you mainly want pools and relaxation, The Palm is enough.
Galaxy: best for families and water slides
Galaxy is the family section, with the wave pool, water slides, playground areas, family loungers and pool bars. It’s the right choice if you’re travelling with children, although adults can enjoy it too. It’s livelier and noisier than The Palm, so I wouldn’t choose it for a quiet spa day.
What happens when you arrive?
When you arrive, you will choose your zone and visit length, pay for entry and receive an RFID wristband.
Your wristband is your locker key, access pass and payment method for anything you buy inside. Food, drinks, flip flops, towel rental and any extras are added to it during the day, then settled when you leave. You’re assigned a locker for your belongings, so you don’t need to carry your wallet around the pools. Card payment is available when you exit.
Therme Bucharest opening hours
At the time of updating, Therme is open from 10am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 9am to 11pm on Sunday. The facilities close 30 minutes before the advertised closing time, so do not arrive right at the end expecting a leisurely evening swim.
Check the official opening hours before you go, particularly around school holidays and public holidays.
Practical tips for visiting Therme Bucharest
Bring flip flops, a towel and swimwear
Flip flops are mandatory, particularly around the showers, and you need to shower before entering the pools. You can buy flip flops and rent towels or robes inside, but bringing your own is cheaper and means one less thing to add to the wristband bill at the end.
Arrive early if you want a lounger
Loungers are first come, first served and they go quickly. I claimed one with a towel and a book before wandering off to explore, and it was still there when I came back. It seems to be an unspoken system that works.
Check how busy it is before you go
The official Therme website and MyTherme app show activity information and current capacity levels, which is useful if you’re trying to avoid the busiest times. Weekends and evenings are usually livelier, so go early or midweek if you want a quieter visit. That said, I visited on a busy New Year’s Eve weekend and still enjoyed it.
Don’t miss the free rituals
During our visit, I accidentally wandered into an aqua aerobics class on my way to the pool bar and ended up loving it. Later, an attendant arrived in a steam room with a sugar scrub and algae mask for everyone who had managed to get a seat.
Therme runs activities, sauna rituals and water classes throughout the day. Some are included, some have limited spaces and the schedule changes, so look at the app or boards when you arrive. If a ritual sounds good, get there early.
You can use your phone, just not in the pools
There’s free WiFi and you can use your phone around the poolside areas, relaxation spaces and restaurants. Phones, cameras and GoPros are not allowed in the pools themselves, though, and staff are strict about it. Keep it dry, do not photograph strangers who are trying to relax and you will be fine.
Go outside, even in winter
Don’t let cold weather put you off the outdoor pools. The water is heated, and sitting in an outdoor Jacuzzi while it’s freezing around you is part of the appeal. There’s also a sandy outdoor area connected to The Palm in warmer months, so head outside whatever time of year you visit.
Yes, you can have a cocktail in the pool
The pool bars are exactly as enjoyable as they sound. You swim up, order, tap your wristband and carry on with your day. The bar staff remain sensibly dry while you sit in the water with a cocktail and feel very pleased with your life choices. Food and drinks are added to your wristband and paid for when you leave.
Is Therme Bucharest good for a city break?
Therme is an easy addition to a Bucharest itinerary if you want to balance the city’s history, food and nightlife with a proper break from walking around. I wouldn’t plan it for the final few hours before a flight, because it’s outside the centre and you don’t want a spa day ruined by clock-watching. Instead, give it the time it deserves. Spend the morning on a Bucharest walking tour and city break itinerary, then head out to Therme for the afternoon or evening.
A note for UK readers: Therme Manchester is currently under construction at TraffordCity and is expected to open in late 2028.
For the rest of your Bucharest trip, see my Bucharest itinerary and things to do in Bucharest.
Last updated October 2026
