Visiting Therme Bucharest with Kids – A Parent’s Honest REVIEW

If you’re planning a trip to Bucharest, Romania, chances are you’ve seen the viral Therme Bucharest spa all over social media. We decided to visit for ourselves to see if it truly lives up to the hype—and as always, I’ll give you my honest review!

We booked our flights through Skyscanner, which is my go-to for finding affordable flights. Our outbound flight was from London Stansted (STN) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP), departing at 07:40 and arriving at 12:45. For the return, we flew from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to London Stansted (STN), departing at 22:15 and arriving at 23:45. The total cost was £66.69 per person, and the flight time was around three hours.

For our one-night stay, we booked Otopeni Suites by CityBookings for £56.75. It’s a self-check-in hotel, meaning there’s no reception desk, but you can WhatsApp or call for assistance. One important thing to note is that there’s no luggage storage, which might be an issue if you have late flights. Our room had three single beds, a terrace, a shower, a toilet and sink, towels, a wardrobe, a dining table, a kettle, a fridge, and cutlery. The room was “clean”, but we did notice some bugs, which was frustrating.

The hotel is conveniently located near a Lidl, IKEA, and Băneasa Shopping City, a huge shopping centre with plenty of stores and restaurants.

See more on my tiktok.

When it comes to getting around, Uber and Bolt are essential. I didn’t have the time or patience to explore public transport options, and since our hotel was a bit remote, we relied on ride-hailing apps. The fares are incredibly cheap—we had one journey that only cost £3, which is unheard of! However, there is a downside. Some drivers accept bookings but refuse to take you unless you agree to pay more in cash. This happened to us multiple times. While I understand drivers deserve better pay, this is something the apps should address rather than leaving it to passengers.

Now, let’s talk about Therme Bucharest, which is absolutely adored—and for good reason. We were kindly invited to spend two days there, and yes, kids are allowed, but only in the Galaxy area. If you’re planning to visit and want to experience the adult-only facilities, make sure you go with another adult so you can take turns exploring.

You choose the area that best suits your experience. Galaxy is the ultimate family-friendly zone, featuring 1.7 km of water slides, a wave pool, and interactive activities. This is the only area where children aged 3-14 are allowed.

For a more relaxing experience, The Palm is an adults-only oasis with a stunning pool under a retractable roof, mineral pools, hydromassage beds, a pool bar, and indoor and outdoor relaxation areas. If you book a ticket for The Palm, you also get access to Galaxy.

If you’re looking for a premium wellness experience, Elysium offers thematic saunas, wellness therapies, personalized spa treatments, and fine dining. An Elysium ticket includes access to The Palm and Galaxy, giving you the full Therme experience.

Children under 3 (with a birth certificate) and those over 14 (with an ID) can enter The Palm and Elysium, but body treatments are only available for guests aged 18 and over.

We spent two days at Therme Bucharest over the weekend, and it was honestly one of the best experiences. If you’re planning a visit, I highly recommend opting for a full-day pass rather than the three or four-and-a-half-hour options. There’s so much to see and do that anything less just wouldn’t be enough. A full day pass at Galaxy starts from £20 for adults and £16 for kids aged 3-14. See the full price list here.

We noticed that the spa was much quieter early in the morning around 9 AM and later in the evening around 9–10 PM, though of course, this can vary. If you want a comfortable lounge spot, it’s best to arrive as early as possible. There are plenty of loungers both inside and outside in various sizes, but as with any popular destination, many people reserve them with towels.

Checking in is smooth and well-organized. Upon arrival, you’re given a wristband with a locker number, which you’ll use to open and close your locker, access different areas of Therme, and pay for any food and drinks. At the end of your visit, you return the wristband and settle your bill via card payment.

Robes and towels are available to rent for around £5–£6, though bringing your own will save you money. The rental robes are quite large and not suitable for children. Flip-flops or swim shoes are a must, so be sure to bring a pair along with your swimwear.

The locker rooms are spacious and well-maintained. I was able to fit two small pieces of hand luggage into one locker, and for those with larger bags, there’s a separate luggage storage area, which is really convenient. There are also plenty of changing rooms and showers, and just to note—there are no nude areas at this spa, in case you were wondering.

For families, the Galaxy area is absolutely fantastic. My daughter had an amazing time on the many water slides and playing in the wave pool. One of the standout features was the character appearances—we spotted Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Captain America, all dressed in swimwear versions of their costumes, playing in the pool with the kids. If you’re visiting with children, this is a fun little detail to keep an eye out for.

Galaxy isn’t just for kids, though. It also has some of the same relaxing facilities found in the adults-only areas, including a sauna, infrared beds, and water massage beds. This is great for those who may not want to pay for full access to all areas but still want to enjoy a bit of relaxation. There’s also a bar serving excellent cocktails and other drinks with friendly service, as well as a splash area for younger children.

For adults, the exclusive areas offer a truly relaxing escape. If you’re visiting with kids, I’d recommend coming with another adult so you can take turns exploring the saunas, the indoor and outdoor pools, the bars, and the various relaxation areas. There’s also an indoor restaurant that I didn’t get a chance to try this time, but I definitely will on my next visit—because I will absolutely be returning.

Food and drink options at Galaxy are varied and easy to order. Everything is done via touchscreen kiosks, and the selection includes pasta, cheeseburgers, chicken, wings, rice, soft drinks, hot drinks, and more. We particularly enjoyed the pasta, wings, and ribs. I didn’t check whether there were halal options, but there were fish and vegetarian choices available.

You can see more on my TikTok here.

I know you guys will ask me if I prefer Therme Erding or Therme Bucharest. Honestly, I can’t choose—I loved both and would happily return to either as a paying customer. It’s also exciting to know that a new Therme is being built in Manchester, UK, and I can’t wait to see how it compares.

If you’re staying in Bucharest for a few days and looking for other activities, Destiny Park looked like a great option, almost like Romania’s version of KidZania. Unfortunately, it was closed during our visit, but it’s worth checking out if you’re traveling with kids.