Bulgaria has over 700 natural mineral springs to explore, making it second only to Iceland. But most don’t even know that exist. That’s why you can take advantage of this opportunity to combine culture and relaxation.
Since as early as 4000 BC, people in Bulgaria have been soaking in them for health and relaxation, and today, bathing in these natural springs is a staple in locals’ lives.
Of these, Velingrad is one of the most visited spa towns in the Balkans. It features over 90 mineral springs and is less than a two-hour drive from Sofia, the capital.
In 2005, Velingrad was named the ‘Spa capital of Bulgaria’. In 2009 it became the ‘Spa capital of the Balkans’. The water in its mineral springs is typically between 28 and 91 degrees C.
Beyond the spas, you can take a cold plunge at the Kleptuza, the biggest Karstspring in Bulgaria, with an average discharge of 1,200 liters of ice-cold water per second. The city also has its own bottling plant, which is popular in Bulgaria.
Now, let’s get to some of our favorite spas.
Photo by Salievyuks / Wikimedia Commons
Royal Spa Velingrad and Maxi Hotel
Within walking distance of town you can enjoy two mineral water pools and the various saunas (infrared, Himalayan salt, Roman, etc) and steam rooms.
Balneo Complex & Spa Aquatonik
This place is really special and you may need to spend a week there. The mineral water treatment includes 57 hydro-massage nozzles for massage of the feet, shoulders and back and other parts of the body. Additional features include an underwater bike, an ice room with real snow, laughter-therapy lobby, and mud treatment.
Hotel Arte SPA & Park
This hotel has amazing views of meadows and wildflowers. But the real fun is inside. If you like saunas they have turkish baths, salt rooms, infrared saunas, aroma steam baths, finnish saunas, herbal saunas, ice buckets, and ice fountains. The pools include healing levels of sodium, carbonate, and sulfur.
SPA Club Bor Hotel
The hotel design is inspired by ancient Roman thermal baths. You can enjoy saunas with healing herbs, aromatic oils, salts and seaweed. You can bath in paraffin, mud, aero-massage bath tubs, a Cleopatra bath tub, pearl bath tub, and therapeutic magnet bath tub.
Maxi Park Hotel & SPA
Located at the highest point of the city, the hotel is situated within the largest natural pine park in Velingrad. It has the most mineral water pools in the region with 3 indoor pools that work throughout the year and are supplied by a 95°C spring and a salt water pool with dead sea salt.
Grand Hotel Velingrad
The springs here include 8 pools that are rich in minerals of sodium, flouride, silica and radon. When you stay you get free access to a sauna park, herbal steam bath, salt room, laconium, and a kneipp path, as well as a tranquil adults-only area.
Kashmir Wellness & Spa Hotel
A beautiful retreat tucked into a centuries-old pine forest on the edge of town. Here you can enjoy a salt room and bath, outdoor pools overlooking the lush forest, and finnish saunas. Note, this spa is adults only, so leave the kiddos at home.
Guest Author: Marcus Griswold is a hot springs enthusiast who runs the blog Hot Spring Journeys. He is a water scientist who enjoys finding hidden spas and hot springs, talking about sustainability, and sitting quietly in nature.
