9 hours ago
How Bucharest's Viral Therme Spa Champions Sustainability And Community
Therme Bucharest Spa
A quick Google search for 'What to do in Bucharest, Romania' will likely lead first to its cuisine: rich, indulgent, and rooted in tradition, with a reliance on meats and heavy butter. Not far behind, however, you'll find Therme Bucharest as a top result. On platforms like TikTok, it often appears as the top recommendation. Given Bucharest's deep historical and architectural heritage, one might expect Therme to be a centuries-old church or cultural pavilion. While not sacred in the religious sense, it holds a similarly revered status among locals and travelers alike, a modern sanctuary for rest, rejuvenation, and ritual soaking.
At first glance, online, Therme Bucharest might appear to be a themed water park. It's often described as a 'popular center featuring a range of mineral pools, waterslides, saunas, and an indoor botanical garden.' And, on Tiktok they're calling it the "biggest spa in Europe for under €37." While many large spas or wellness centers tend to be expensive or limited to adults, Therme stands out as one of the most affordable in Bucharest, with dedicated spaces for families and children. Despite its playful digital presence, the experience in person feels far more like a sprawling mega-spa or resort—something akin to White Lotus, but with fewer secrets and more steam.
Upon entering, it's clear why Therme is a destination for both locals and visitors. Built entirely from sustainable materials, the space combines function with environmental responsibility. And getting in is simple: Entry is managed through a wristband system that grants access to amenities and facilities based on the selected package.
The entrance leads to bracelet-activated locker rooms and open showers, with genderless pathways that may come as a surprise to some. Beyond the showers, the space opens into a scene that is sensory-rich, an spectrum of pools, loungers, and wellness rooms arranged in a thoughtful, immersive layout. Lush greenery and palm trees are carefully positioned around the communal pools, serving more than an aesthetic purpose: their roots are integrated into the facility's filtration system. Water passes through the soil, nourishes the plants, and continues underground to stock tanks where it is fully filtered and refreshed every two hours.
'At Therme, sustainability isn't just a design choice; it's central to our mission of creating spaces that respect nature's resources – with awe-inspiring architecture and design – that prioritize wellbeing," says Robert Hammond, President and Chief Strategy Officer, Therme Group US. At Therme, they utilized environmentally responsible materials that were "both durable and locally sourced wherever possible, starting with the geothermal systems that power over 80% of our energy. You'll see that reflected in everything from the FSC-certified wood, to high-SRI roofing systems that reduce heat absorption, to our advanced water recycling technologies that allow us to reuse over 92% of all water onsite." For them, these choices are part of our broader commitment to creating regenerative environments that actively contribute to both human and environmental health.
This innovative design helps heat and cool the spaces naturally, and over 80% of energy comes from geothermal sources, with most of the rest from renewables. According to Hammond, Each guest's visit creates around 14kg of CO₂, and Therme is working to lower that even more with solar panels, greener travel options, and advanced heating systems.
The nature-inspired feel of the spa extends beyond the main area, especially in the all-wood, coal-fueled sauna—which, for me, was the most relaxing spot. A close second was the Himalayan salt rock sauna. Not only does it feature a massive block of the salt to focus on as you sweat, but the walls themselves are made from the crystal, which is known for its respiratory benefits.
There are also ultra-communal saunas, where group sweating is encouraged through Banya ceremonies and guided meditation. Some rooms are designed for smaller groups of four, offering a more intimate vibe. This emphasis on shared and personal wellness carries over into the pools and tubs too—some with swim-up bars and whirlpool designs, while others, like the cold plunge pools, are all about muscle recovery and boosting circulation. TikTokers swear by these plunges, calling them a 'full body reset.'
The warm-water experiences tend to be the most crowded, popular for their respiratory and joint pain relief. Red light therapy stations are also scattered throughout, with daybeds underneath for anyone who doesn't want to get too wet or sweaty.
By the end of the day, it became apparent: Therme isn't a privatized, exclusive spa, its scale and design make it clear from the moment you arrive that it's built for the people. It's one of the few communal wellness spaces in the area, which is part of what makes it feel so different. There are designated play areas for children and families, a thoughtful inclusion at a time when the broader wellness industry often seems to prioritize exclusivity over accessibility and shared care. But, it doesn't make it any less worth the visit.
This definitely isn't the kind of spa for someone looking to pop in for a quick, quiet moment. It's more for those planning to spend the whole day there, people who enjoy hopping from one amenity to the next and don't mind being surrounded by a crowd. There's no soothing music playing in the background, no matching robes or personalized one-on-one care. But what you do get is a strong sense of community—and a really, really big slide.
