A “Therme” is a thermal bath, or thermal spring. In Austria, there are many Thermal bath complexes, called Thermen, which house mineral-infused pools, relaxation rooms, saunas, restaurants, fitness rooms, and spas (for massages and beauty treatments). 

You can visit a Therme for a few hours, all day, or even overnight, as many Thermen have attached hotels. Ultimately, spending the night in a Therme is the most relaxing and memorable way to experience an Austrian Thermal Spa. We recommend the Aqua Dome Therme Hotel and the St. Martin’s Therme Hotel. 

It’s important to think of a Therme as an upscale public bathhouse. While there are designated spaces for adults only, the main bathing complex is for everyone, including toddlers. 

Contrary to a traditional spa in the States, a Therme isn’t centered around treatments. You go to a Therme primarily to bathe, to sweat (in a sauna), and to relax. You don’t need to schedule a treatment, or massage, to gain access to the thermal bath facilities. 

---

Austrian Thermal Spas: How to Visit a Therme in Austria

---

Austria Thermen Map

There are about 40 Thermen in Austria. A spa is only allowed to use the name “Therme” (Thermal Bath) if it has its own spring, and its groundwater emerges at a temperature above 20° C (68° F).

The thermal waters of Austria are believed to have healing effects like strengthening the immune system (sulphureous water) and relaxation (brine baths).

---

Austria Therme Spa Complex

An Austrian Therme encompasses multiple spaces including:

• Thermal Baths – this is the main bathhouse, which is made up of multiple pools, of varying temperatures. Everyone is permitted in this space.
• Sauna Area – this is an adults-only, textile-free wellness area comprising of multiple saunas, relaxation rooms, pools, and showers. There’s usually a bistro, or bar, in the Sauna area.
• Relaxation Rooms – throughout the Therme, there are multiple relaxation and quiet rooms you can enjoy.
• Showers – there are showers in the Therme, Sauna Area, and Changing/Locker Area.
• Restaurant – all visitors have access to a canteen-style restaurant.
• Changing Room and Locker Room – Upon arrival, you are given a chip wristband, which gives you access to your own personal locker during their visit. You can also charge food, drinks, and extras (e.g. magazines, towels, bathrobe) to your wristband.
• Treatment & Spa – Thermal Spas in Austria typically offer a myriad of treatments and massages. Depending on the Spa, you may need to make spa treatment appointments in advance.

---

Gender-Neutral Spaces

In most Thermen, spaces (with the excepetion of bathrooms) are not gendered. That means everyone, regardless of gender, intermixes in all spaces, including textile-free saunas.

If you’re interested in an exclusively women-only Therme experience, check out La Pura in Kamptal.

---

Therme Pricing – Day Visitors

The cost of your visit depends on your age, how long you decide to stay (3 hours, all day, etc…), the time of check-in (evening tickets), and what areas you want access to (the sauna area is always an additional charge).

You will always have to pay the entrance to the Therme (the main bathhouse), even if you want to spend all your time in the Sauna World.

If you’re staying overnight in the Therme’s hotel, your room rate includes the entry to the Thermal Baths, Sauna, and other exclusive spaces for hotel guests only.

Here are some examples of how much it costs to visit an Austrian Therme.

---

St. Martin’s Therme Pricing

• Day Ticket for Thermal Spa Admission: 33 EUR
• Day Ticket for 55+ Thermal Spa Admission (Monday – Friday): 27 EUR
• 3 Hour Entry: 25 EUR, 2 EUR for each additional 30 minutes
• Evening Entry starting at 6 pm: 21 EUR (Friday – Saturday); 19 EUR (Sunday – Thursday)
• Sauna Area: 14 EUR
• Sauna Area Evening Ticket: 12 EUR (Friday – Saturday); 11 EUR (Sunday – Thursday)

---

Aqua Dome Therme Pricing

• Day Ticket (9 am – 6 pm): 42 EUR (Adults), 23 EUR (Children), 35.70 EUR (Students and Seniors)
• Day Ticket with Sauna: 57 EUR
• 3-hour Ticket:
  • 3-Hour Morning Ticket (9 am): 22 EUR for Adults, 12 EUR for Children
  • 3-Hour Ticket (12 pm, 3 pm, or 6 pm): 28 EUR for Adults, 16 EUR for Children, 23.80 EUR for Seniors and Students.
  • Flexible 3-hour Ticket with check-in between 10 am – 5 pm: 30 EUR for Adults, 16 EUR for Children, 25.50 for Seniors and Students.
• 1-hour Swimmer Ticket: 10 EUR 
• Family Ticket from 9 am – 6 pm
  • 2 Adults + 1 Child: 82 EUR
  • 2 Adults + 2 Children: 95 EUR
  • 2 Adults + 3 Children: 108 EUR

Related: Complete Guide to Visiting Aqua Dome in Tirol, Austria

---

Which Therme Entry Ticket to Buy

---

Thermal Baths Only 

When you arrive at a Therme, the first thing you have to do is purchase your entry ticket. Usually, you can decide between a 3-hour Therme ticket, or an all-day Therme ticket. Some Thermen have discounted early-bird and evening tickets as well. 

This basic ticket gives you access to the main Thermal Bath complex, where you can swim and soak in various pools. You also have access to a number of resting/relaxation spaces, showers, a changing area with your own personal locker, and a Therme restaurant. 

---

Thermal Baths & Sauna (Adults Only) – Recommended

In my experience, the best part of visiting an Austrian Therme is the sauna complex. Adults can purchase a Thermal Bath & Sauna combi ticket upon entering. 

The Sauna Area usually contains 7 to 15 different saunas, pools, showers, resting rooms, and its own bistro/restaurant. 

---

Sauna Aufguss 

Throughout the day, Sauna Aufgüsse take place in specific saunas at specific times. A sauna Aufguss is an intensified sauna session, in which a Sauna master uses choreographed towel movements to circulate the hot air around the room.

Essential oils are often used as well. A Sauna Aufguss usually involves 3 cycles and lasts 15 minutes. After an Aufguss, it’s important to take a really cold shower to reduce your body temperature and then rest for a while. 

Note: Saunas are always textile-free zones. You are not permitted to wear a bathing suit in any sauna, for hygienic reasons. 

---

Sauna Etiquette and Tips

• Shower before/after a sauna session. 
• Always shower before entering any pool. 
• Do not wear your bathing suit, or any other clothing in the saunas
• Avoid getting sweat on wooden surfaces. Always place a towel between your body and the timber sauna surfaces. 
• Avoid talking in the saunas. 
• Speak very quietly throughout the sauna complex. 

---

Badeschluss

Access to thermal pools and saunas usually ends 30 minutes before the official closing times. This is called Badeschluss, which translates as “end of bathing.” This ensures that guests still have sufficient time to shower, dress, dry their hair, etc…, before the facilities close.

---

Therme Chip Wrist Band

After purchasing your entry ticket, you’ll be given a chip wristband. This wristband serves several functions, including:

• Unlocking/locking your locker. During your visit, you can store your personal belongings in a locker, which you can lock/unlock using your wristband. 
• Payment for Food Consumption. You can purchase drinks and food with your wristband. When you exit the Therme, you’ll hand in your wristband and pay for anything you consumed during your visit. 
• Payment for Spa Treatments. If you partake in any add-on spa treatments, the total bill will be added to your wristband. 
• Sauna Access. If you have a sauna ticket, your wristband is programmed to let you into the sauna area. 

---

Therme Hotel Guests

If you’re staying in the Therme hotel, entry to the Therme and Sauna is included in your overnight stay. Additionally, hotel guests usually have access to exclusive spaces. 

If you decide to stay in a Therme hotel, I recommend finding out when you can access the Therme/Sauna on your arrival day. When we stayed in Aqua Dome, we were able to enter the Therme as early as 9 am, even though the room check-in wasn’t until 3 pm. 

On departure days, you usually have access to the Therme before check-out. If you want to extend your Therme access on your departure day, there may be a small fee. 

---

Best Therme Spa Hotels in Austria

1. Aqua Dome 4 Sterne Superior Hotel & Therme, Tirol. Read our Aqua Dome Hotel Review.
2. Tauern Spa Hotel & Therme, Salzburg
3. Linsberg Asia Hotel, Spa & Therme – Adults Only, Lower Austria
4. St Martins Therme & Lodge, Burgenland
5. Hotel SPA Resort Therme Geinberg, Upper Austria
6. Falkensteiner Balance Resort Stegersbach – Adults only, Burgenland
7. Hotel Rogner Bad Blumau, Styria. Read our Rogner Bad Blumau Hotel Review.
8. Das Sonnreich – Thermenhotel Loipersdorf, Styria
9. Avita Resort Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Burgenland
10. Das Ronacher Therme & Spa Resort, Carinthia
11. EurothermenResort Bad Ischl – Hotel Royal, Upper Austria. Read our Hotel Royal Bad Ischl review.

---

---

Learn more about European Bathhouses:

• Palais Thermal and Friedrichsbad in the Black Forest, Germany
• Claudius Therme in Cologne, Germany. We wrote about our experience in Winter in Cologne.
• Carolus Thermen in Aachen, Germany. We wrote about our experience in Cologne Day Trips.

Plan your trip to Austria:

• Austria Travel Guide
• Vienna City Guide
• Best Places to Stay in Austria in Summer 
• Autumn in Austria: Top Fall Destinations
• Best Places to Visit in Austria

Austria Food & Wine Travel:

• Wine Tasting in South Styria 

Austria Itineraries:

• 2 Week Austria Road Trip
• 1 Week Austria Road Trip