Although Croatia is primarily known for its Adriatic coastline, the country has much more to offer, especially in its inland regions where numerous natural wonders can be found. One such area is northwestern Croatia, in the region known as Hrvatsko Zagorje, home to several thermal spa locations. Similar areas offering thermal springs include Međimurje as well as western and eastern Slavonia.
Due to the high demand for thermal spas and wellness holidays, many entrepreneurs and the government have invested heavily in developing these thermal springs. Modern wellness and spa centers are gradually emerging, often rivaling established competitors in neighboring countries like Slovakia, Hungary, and Slovenia.
7 Best Thermal Baths in Croatia
1. Tuheljske Toplice, Terme Tuhelj
The Terme Tuhelj thermal spa and aquapark is among the most modern inland Croatian facilities of its kind. The spa is located approximately 6.5 hours from Prague, near the Slovenian border, and less than a 45-minute drive from Zagreb.
In a beautiful, gently rolling, and purely rural landscape, you can enjoy swimming in both indoor and outdoor pools. In total, you will find over 5,000 m² of water surface here. There are thermal and medicinal pools, recreational and relaxation pools, as well as sports, entertainment, and children’s pools.
The outdoor swimming area offers a structured and modern environment, and there is also a large waterslide system for wild water fun. Inside, there is a large swimming pool (25 m) or, for example, the TuhiLand children’s zone with an entertainment water castle and much more.
Among other attractions, a fantastic 250 m long artificial lazy river awaits you, as well as a wave pool or a water bar. The spa uses water from its own thermal spring, which has positive effects primarily on the musculoskeletal system and is also used for skin diseases.
The local wellness center and sauna world are also excellent. It includes 7 saunas and other equipment, and the craftsmanship, design, and environment deserve real praise, being at a top level not only by Croatian standards. The spa center then offers many types of massages, wraps, and other medicinal, relaxing, and cosmetic procedures.
At the spa, accommodation is available in the form of the 4-star Terme Tuhelj Hotel Well, a campsite (for your own tents or caravans), or glamping – Glamping Village with modern cabins. Overall, it is a great complex for the whole family.
2. Sveti Martin na Muri, Terme Sveti Martin
This charming Croatian wellness resort will definitely impress even the most demanding visitors. It is an exclusive resort located in the Međimurje County (Medimurje) in northern inland Croatia near the village of Toplice Sveti Martin. From Prague, you will drive for about 6 hours, but from Brno, you can arrive in just over 4 hours. Especially for residents of South Moravia, it is therefore a relatively accessible destination.
Terme Sveti Martin is set in a beautiful landscape—in a hilly area formed by a mosaic of forests, meadows, and also vineyards. You can come here for spa relaxation, but also for great wine, food, and culture. The spa uses thermal water from an 800m deep well rich in selenium, lithium, and other substances. It is used for diseases of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological diseases, and metabolic disorders.
The resort offers everything a visitor could wish for. There is a luxury thermal complex (Temple of Life) with indoor medicinal and relaxation pools. There is also the MartiLandia water amusement park for the whole family with pools and attractions, and of course, a fantastic wellness and spa center, which belongs among the best in Croatia.
Accommodation is provided by the 4-star Hotel Terme Sveti Martin or the apartment village Apartments Terme Sveti Martin.
3. Stubičke Toplice, Terme Jezerčica
Smaller, quieter, and more traditionally oriented spa that still offer activities for the whole family. You can find Terme Jezerčica between the municipalities of Stubičke Toplice and Donja Stubica. It is a complex that includes a hotel, a modern campsite, and, of course, primarily thermal baths and an aquapark with indoor and outdoor pools. In total, you will find 8 different pools here.
Although the complex is not impressively vast and feels more like a cozy place, you will find a lot here. There are two amusement children’s pools—one with a large water play system and the second where several large slides end. For swimmers, there is even a 50-meter pool available, so you can maintain your fitness with ease.
In the indoor area, there are more relaxation, entertainment, and children’s pools, as well as a swimming pool. Outside, you will also find a large dry playground, a bar, and a bistro, along with other facilities in the shade of lush greenery. There is also a wellness center with a sauna or a hammam steam bath.
Accommodation in the Hotel Terme Jezerčica **** is also at an excellent level, and overall, it is a rather inconspicuous but actually surprisingly well-equipped and nice spa located just a short distance north of Zagreb.
4. Krapinske Toplice, Aquae Vivae
Aquae Vivae is another small spa and aquapark in the northern Croatian interior near Zagreb. This time it is a relatively very compact and predominantly indoor complex using thermal water with a high content of calcium, magnesium, or bicarbonate. The spring is 41 °C and, in its mineralization, can be compared to springs in famous European spa towns. It is used primarily in the treatment of rheumatism, spine diseases, but also in post-traumatic and post-operative conditions, neuromuscular disorders, or diabetes.
The largest pool in the spa is 500 m² and is partially outdoor and indoor. The water in it is up to 35 °C. In the pools, you will also find plenty of attractions and water features, including jets, massages, geysers, etc. For children, there is a 50m slide and even an indoor pool with artificial waves. An interesting feature is the 4.5 m deep diving pool, where you can even try a diving course.
In the wellness center, a Finnish, bio, or steam sauna awaits you. You can get refreshments in the Viva self-service restaurant.
The complex does not offer accommodation directly, but there are plenty of guesthouses and apartments nearby.
5. Bizovačke Toplice, Aquapolis
This nice spa swimming facility is located in a different area of the Croatian interior than the previous complexes—in its easternmost region, near the borders with Hungary and Serbia. From the Czech Republic, it is a bit further (approx. 8 hours). They are located about 18 kilometers from Osijek. On the other hand, it can be a good choice if you like a lot of heat and sun.
The milestone for these spas was 1974, when one of the hottest thermal springs in Europe, with a temperature of 96 °C, was discovered while searching for new oil and natural gas deposits. Imagine the shock when hot thermal water suddenly started gushing from a depth of 1,862 meters. It was gradually led to an area where it cooled naturally and was thus suitable for bathing. As is common with thermal springs, news of the medicinal effects of the thermal water began to spread throughout the country, and people from all over the country started flocking there.
Today, Bizovačke Toplice is the largest spa in eastern Croatia with a total of 11 different pools.
The spa is situated on vast plains heated by the southern sun, near the town of Bizovac. The area with the swimming facility covers a relatively generous space. Its heart is a sprawling outdoor pool that is over 60 m in length and 50 m at its widest part. The pool has a gradual entry in the form of an artificial beach and is surrounded by plenty of relaxation areas (with 1,000 sunbeds). The biggest attraction here is the artificial wave pool with waves up to one meter high.
There are also other outdoor pools in the complex, as well as an indoor area with relaxation and recreational pools. There is also a smaller private wellness zone with a Finnish sauna. Furthermore, there are sports fields and also a clinic. Overall, it is a nice place for a pleasantly spent day, perhaps with the whole family.
6. Terme Varaždinske Toplice
We return to the northern border of Croatia near the borders with Slovenia and Hungary. The municipality of Varaždinske Toplice is located near the larger city of Varaždin and directly at the center of this unique ancient town with very rich and beautiful architecture.
The thermal baths are adjacent to the relatively vast and perhaps slightly inappropriately modernist Hotel Minerva (currently undergoing reconstruction, so the pools are closed). At the hotel, there is a large 50m thermal outdoor pool and a structured amusement pool with slides. However, the complex also offers indoor thermal pools and a wellness center with a sauna, steam bath, and other equipment. There is a fitness center, solarium, spa center with massages and other procedures, and so on. The complex is solidly maintained, although it doesn’t look particularly modern.
A short distance from the current spa are the well-known historical ancient baths, Aquae Iasae. It is an archaeological site and archaeological park with a Roman thermal pool.
7. Daruvarske Toplice, Aquae Balissae
The town of Daruvar is located in central Croatia on the edge of a not-too-high upland, about a 2-hour drive from Zagreb and 8 hours from Prague. It is a smaller but very nice historical town with a wide main avenue and beautiful architecture.
The Aquae Balissae spa is located near the center in a quiet area. It is a classic thermal swimming facility of a rather old-fashioned style. The complex is not very large, but it contains both outdoor and indoor pools. The indoor area feels somewhat more modern and better maintained than the outdoor spaces, where the hand of time is already visible.
However, you can enjoy pleasant water fun and relaxation here—even with the whole family—despite the fact that they don’t have large attractions like adrenaline waterslides. The entire complex resembles medium-sized, older Czech aquaparks. It has good ratings but serves more as a stopover than the main destination of a trip.
Map of thermal spas and baths in Croatia
Final note
Croatia has long ceased to be only a seaside region; significant investments in spas are slowly turning it into a place for relaxation not just by the sea. The pictures show that in terms of appearance, these spas often match or even surpass many spas in Europe. If you have visited thermal spas in Croatia, we would be very happy if you wrote us about your experiences with the services offered and included any information that might be useful to other visitors. Please discuss; we will be glad.
