If there are two things Austrians love, they are classical concerts (click for information and tickets), schnitzel and exquisite desserts, and of course, a good spa. It’s no wonder that the Vienna spa is one of the city’s most popular attractions, whether in winter or summer. If you’ve already planned a concert visit and booked a table at a schnitzel restaurant, it’s time to plan your visit to Vienna’s wonderful spa as well.
The large Vienna spa first opened in 1974 in the south of the city and was called Therme Oberlaa. In 2010, the place underwent an upgrade and its name was changed to Therme Wien, or simply – the Vienna spa. Until a few years ago, it was quite complicated to reach the spa because it’s located in a remote neighborhood, but the extension of the U1 subway line made the place very accessible (only about 15 minutes from the city center). Further on, we’ll elaborate on how to easily reach the spa by public transportation.
Therme Oberlaa is a wonderful attraction for adults and children, especially on rainy and cold days. Adjacent to the spa complex there’s a wonderful and beautifully designed park, as well as a very sweet patisserie that will enrich your visit to this lovely area of Vienna.
In this article, we’ve gathered everything you need to know about the Vienna spa, the adjacent park, and the patisserie. At the end of the article, there’s also an interesting and pampering alternative to the spa for those who want to stay right in the city center.
Is it Worth Visiting the Vienna Spa?
The spa world offers a perfect relaxation experience for the whole family. It’s a large complex with indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna world, a gym, a beauty treatment and massage area, children’s pools, slides, and more.
You can choose from 26 pools at different temperatures, 3 sauna areas with 25 sauna cabins, infrared cabins, a Solewelt area with dry saunas and steam rooms, and an area for massages and beauty treatments.
The building was designed to resemble river stones, and therefore, areas within the complex are named – Beauty Stone, Serenity Stone, Adventure Stone, Sauna Stone, and Fitness Stone. In the center of the building, there’s a large thermal pool with the option to move between its indoor and outdoor sections, which are in the open air. On cold days, it’s truly an experience to go outside the building to the heated outdoor pool. The warm water protects from the cold, and the steam gives the pool the appearance of a steaming cauldron.
On the sides of the pool, there are various stations with water jets intended for a kind of jet massage, each station designed for a different body part – back, neck, legs, etc.
Around the main pool, there are rooms with smaller pools. There’s a romantic pool intended only for couples, with dimmed lights and seating areas in the water. Another pool has water rich in salts. Another pool is shallower and suitable for children, and so on.
The Vienna spa is a very popular attraction, and sometimes there’s a crowd, whether in winter or summer. If you really want to add this attraction to your itinerary, you can book entrance tickets in advance to ensure you can enter without a problem.
Activities for Children at the Vienna Spa
For children, there are also many fun activities – 4 slides with different degrees of inclination, 3 pillars from which they can jump into the water, an in-water play area, a high-speed water channel, karaoke, and a puppet show. With these options, children are sure to be occupied while you can sit on the comfortable chairs scattered throughout the complex.
Is it Worth Visiting Therme even on Hot Summer Days?
Many think that a spa complex with heated pools is only worth visiting during the cold winter months, but in fact, it’s also worth visiting Therme Wien in the summer. Besides the heated pools, which can be very pleasant in the evening, for example, there’s an additional section that is only open in summer.
On hot summer days, there’s an entire outdoor complex called the Seasonal Garden, and it adds a lot to the whole experience. The outdoor complex includes: a 25-meter swimming pool, a saltwater pool, a beach volleyball court, a beverage bar, massages, and sunbathing and relaxation beds.
How Long is it Recommended to Stay at the Spa and When to Arrive?
The variety of activities at the spa can easily keep you occupied for several hours, and if you’ve found a spot in one of the quiet rooms, you can even comfortably nap or read. On rainy and cold days, you can even spend a whole day at Therme Wien, but usually, a visit of a few hours will suffice. The 3-hour entrance ticket is the most popular among the entrance options. A 3-hour visit to the spa will definitely help you relax after a day of sightseeing around the city or serve as a fun addition on rainy days.
If you are coming without children, it’s advisable to arrive in the late evening hours (around 7:00 PM). During these hours, most families usually leave, and the place becomes much quieter and calmer. Plus, there are discounted “After Work” tickets that make the visit more worthwhile.
Throughout the spa complex, there’s a restaurant, bar, and café with food and drinks, so you don’t have to worry about bringing food from home.
A Look at the Activities at the Vienna Spa
Additional Essential Information for Visiting the Vienna Spa
Please note: You must bring towels in advance; towels are not distributed at the spa entrance. If you arrive without a towel, you can rent one for 6 Euros per towel.
Spa opening hours: Open 364 days a year.
- Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday and holidays: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- December 24th – Closed
- December 31st – 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM (last entry at 11:00 AM)
- January 1st – 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Solewelt opening hours:
- Monday – Friday: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday – Sunday + holidays: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Spa Entrance Fees:
Three-hour ticket:*
- From 29 Euros for adults including personal locker
- 20 Euros for older children (8-13)
- 19 Euros for younger children (3-7)
*For every minute beyond 3 hours (up to 6 hours), there is a charge of 5 cents for adults and 2 cents for children.
Daily ticket (6 hours or more):
- From 38 Euros for adults including personal locker
- 23.60 Euros for older children (8-13)
- 22.60 Euros for younger children (2-7)
Additional tickets:
- After Work ticket – Entry from 6:00 PM. 33.5 Euros per person. Includes a 5 Euro voucher for the restaurant or a bag with a bathrobe.
Please note: Children under 2 years old enter for free in all cases.
For saunas, tanning beds, infrared cabins, etc., an additional fee applies to the spa entrance fee.
Email for inquiries: office@thermewien.at
To purchase online entrance tickets for the Vienna spa
How to Get to the Vienna Spa by Public Transportation?
A few years ago, the Oberlaa subway station opened, which is within walking distance of the spa. To reach this station, take the red U1 subway line and get off at its last station, Oberlaa. From there, walk directly to the spa via the pedestrian bridge. The walk takes about 7 minutes to the spa complex entrance.
The journey from the city center (Stephansplatz) takes about 15 minutes, so you can easily and quickly reach the Vienna spa.
Map: Kurbadstraße 14, 1100 Wien
What Else Can You Do in the Therme Wien Area?
There are two places worth including when visiting the Vienna spa world: Kurpark Oberlaa and the Kurkonditorei Oberlaa pastry and chocolate shop.
1. Kurpark Oberlaa – The Spa Park
The spacious park is located right next to the spa world. The park is situated at the foot of Laaerberg (Laaer Mountain). The park’s area is 860,000 square meters. The park was built specifically for an international garden design competition held in Vienna in 1974 (Vienna International Garden Show 1974) and became a public park at the end of that year.
Video from the park
The park is divided into several areas with different attractions:
- “Allergy Garden” – A botanical garden with explanatory boards. You can learn about the process of pollen dispersion.
- Baroque Fountain Garden – An area with a small stream flowing through it and various fountains in different styles, some of them historical.
- Flower Maze – A plant maze in the heart of the park, similar to the one at Schönbrunn Palace.
- Film City – In the 1920s, a variety of silent films were shot in the park, the most famous of which are called Sodom and Gomorrah and The Queen of Slaves. During the summer, there are open-air screenings of these films.
- The Japanese Garden – A garden designed in the style of traditional Japanese gardens. The garden is called Kunsaku Nakame and was designed by Takasakipark.
- The Love Garden – A garden specially designed for lovers. With romantic benches, swings, and flower beds.
- The Playground – An area with play equipment for children including bridges and slides.
- Petting Zoo – An area with small animals including goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, peacocks, and pigeons. The area is surrounded by a low fence, and children can touch and pet the animals.
Opening hours:
- November to January: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- February: 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- March and October: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- April and September: 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- May to August: 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
2. Kurkonditorei Oberlaa Pastry Shop
A very sweet shop, with a variety of cakes and pastries. This is a famous Viennese chain known for the high quality of its products. It’s a sweet treat after a visit to the spa.
Kurbadstraße 12, 1100 Wien
Map:
Interested in a relaxing and pampering experience right in the heart of the city? Try the Turkish Bath located on Mariahilfer Street!
Gazelles Turkish Bath
In the heart of Vienna, there’s a classic Turkish bath! In 1997, a brick factory located right next to the Mariahilfer shopping street was converted into a luxurious spa complex.
The Vienna Turkish Bath offers a variety of relaxing treatments, as befits a traditional hammam. You can enjoy a classic steam bath at a temperature of 35 to 45 degrees Celsius. There are also a variety of beauty treatments, peelings, massages, oil applications, manicures, and pedicures. As part of the experience, you will receive bath towels, hand towels, and a hairdryer.
Please note: Generally, men and women are not in the same area, except on Tuesdays. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance.
Opening hours:
- Tuesdays: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturdays: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- The place is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
How to Get There?
The easiest way to get to the hammam is by subway. The purple U2 line goes to the Museumsquartier station. Get off there and walk for about five minutes until you reach the hammam.
Address: Rahlgasse 5, 1060 Wien
Map:
After you’ve relaxed and enjoyed the spa, it’s worth visiting one of Vienna’s magnificent palaces! The best palaces are:
You can read the most comprehensive information about each of them with all the updated recommendations.
