Thermal baths KärntenTherme Warmbad-Villach – a modern thermal complex in the Alps

Are you planning a skiing trip to southern Austria? Or are you heading here in the summer for hiking or the beauties of nature? Either way… perhaps you will long for refreshment or a bit of relaxation. These desires will then be playfully satisfied by the KärntenTherme thermal baths, which are located in the Alpine town of Villach.

The baths in a nutshell:

• Modern thermal complex in the Alps near the town of Villach
• You can drive here from Prague in approximately 6.5 hours
• Warm indoor pools filled with thermal water and a sauna world
• Skiing possibilities in the nearby surroundings
• Accommodation? Right next door is the partner hotel Karawankenhof with entrance to the baths included in the price of accommodation

Where are the KärntenTherme baths located and what is there to see?

Magnificent Alpine ridges and deep mountain forests, ski resorts, and also great baths. The Austrian town of Villach and its surroundings offer a truly great deal. The fantastic KärntenTherme thermals are one, though definitely significant, piece of a grand and colorful mosaic.

The baths lie on the outskirts of the town of Villach, which belongs among the most significant towns of southern Austria. At the same time, it is the second-largest settlement in Carinthia and the seventh-largest in the country. The river Drava flows through Villach, it has around 65 thousand inhabitants, and from here it is just a stone’s throw away from the Slovenian Julian Alps and the Italian Carnic Alps.

Villach is a beautiful historical town with a truly charming center. Directly from the main square of Villach, you can see the dark green peaks of mountain ridges and walk through wide avenues and narrow streets lined with historical buildings and monuments. In Villach, there is also the magnificent ruin of Landskron Castle. The surroundings of the town are riddled with hiking trails, and lovers of winter sports will, of course, also find what they are looking for.

The nearest ski resort is Gerlitzen Alpe above Lake Ossiacher. The resort offers over 50 km of slopes, which reach up to a height of over 1,900 meters above sea level. On the opposite side – meaning to the south – the nearest resort is Dreiländereck-Arnoldstein. It is a smaller resort with a homely atmosphere. Directly in Villach, there is then the multifunctional sports facility Villach Alpine Arena with ski jumping hills and other equipment.

The KärntenTherme baths lie in the south of the town in the Warmbad district, just a step away from forests and mountains. Directly at the baths is a railway station and also a bus station. There is no lack of high-capacity parking. Transport accessibility is therefore excellent.

From Prague, you can get here in approx. 6.5 hours by car. From Brno, the journey takes something over 5 hours. For example, from České Budějovice then only around 4.5 hours.

KärntenTherme – baths in a modern spirit with an Alpine atmosphere

KärntenTherme are baths that will interest you at first sight with a completely unmissable architectural style, which is carried out in a modern to slightly futuristic spirit. Thanks to this, the complex appears relatively grand, even though in reality it is not that large. The baths themselves spread over an area of around 10 thousand square meters and it is predominantly an indoor complex, which however also offers outdoor pools.

KärntenTherme are baths relatively popular among skiers, who come here to warm up and relax or regenerate after demanding sporting. Likewise, the baths will welcome you, for example, after a mountain hike, but they are worth visiting even simply as part of a visit to Villach. The water in the thermals comes from six springs with a temperature of 25 to 29 °C.

The complex is interesting already for its universality. You will find activities for everyone – from relaxation and therapeutic pools and equipment through entertainment and spaces for children to sports facilities, a wellness center, and so on. The baths are therefore ideal even for a family visit.

Pools in the KärntenTherme baths

In the KärntenTherme baths, you will find various types of pools. On the first floor, there is a recreational swimming area with indoor and outdoor pools, where the whole family can enjoy fun. The pools are filled with thermal water with a temperature around 33 °C.

Furthermore, there is an indoor part with a pool equipped with massage chairs with water jets. There is no lack of the wild “Crazy River” which is 72 meters long. You can also look forward to a water slide, there is a kid’s zone, and also a restaurant and other equipment. On the third floor, there is then a 25-meter swimming, sports pool. The quantity of pools is therefore not exactly extreme, yet you will find quite large water surfaces here and, above all, great diversity.

Attractions, fun, and children

In KärntenTherme there are also larger attractions in the form of water slides. The Silverhole water slide reaches a length of 86 meters and offers various wild effects. The second water slide also has an impressive 75 m. And finally, you can also slide on a 16-meter long wavy, stainless steel slide.

Saunas and wellness in the KärntenTherme baths

The wellness zone is located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the baths. Overall, it offers a generous 2,000 m2 of space filled with saunas and other equipment. You can look forward to:

• Two Finnish outdoor saunas – they are located on a spacious terrace, temperature 80 to 100 °C with minimum humidity. Daily infusions and ceremonies with sauna masters take place here.
• Women’s sauna – this is a bio-sauna with a temperature of approx. 60 °C and 40% humidity intended only for women with its own outdoor terrace and dressing room.
• Women’s steam sauna – it is part of the “ladies’ section” and offers 45 °C and 100% humidity.
• Bio sauna – has a temperature of 60 °C at 40% humidity.
• Hammam – is a Turkish-style steam bath with 40 °C and 20% humidity. The Hammam zone includes two separate steam rooms. In these baths, you can also treat yourself to stylish procedures.
• Salt steam bath – a bath with 50 °C and 100% humidity, the bath is healing for the respiratory tract, but also for the skin.
• Infrared sauna – with radiant heat. Ideal for regeneration and relaxation of muscles e.g., after skiing or hiking or other sport.

The saunas are open from 10 o’clock.

Sport

In the KärntenTherme thermals, they do not forget even about fans of sport. In the first place, there is the already mentioned 25-meter swimming pool, where you can treat yourself to fitness and performance swimming. But there is also a relatively large and solidly equipped gym.

The fitness center offers especially an extensive cardio zone, but there are also weight machines and other equipment for strength training. Available here is a team of experienced trainers and an offer of various courses. From aerobics through fitness boxing to aqua fitness, yoga, pilates, and other disciplines.

Spa center

It would definitely not work without a high-quality spa center either. The KärntenTherme baths offer an excellent range of procedures, which are dominated by various types of massages. But there is also no lack of cosmetic, relaxing, regenerating, and other types of procedures and services.

Accommodation in the vicinity of KärntenTherme baths

Where to stay if you head to the KärntenTherme baths? In the spa complex itself, accommodation is not available, but in the close vicinity, there are plenty of possibilities. Including partner hotels offering various advantages such as entrance to the FUN & SPA zone of the KärntenTherme baths for stayed guests for free.

• A luxury choice is the 4-star, modern, and exclusive hotel Karawankenhof. This lies right next to the baths and moreover offers its own pool and top-tier equipment and accommodation. As part of the accommodation, you have entrance to the baths in the price. A great choice for demanding applicants.
• If you want a bit more luxury, you can choose the neighboring hotel Warmbaderhof, which is even 5-star. This time, however, rather in a classical, elegant spirit than a modern one. Again, however, it also has its own wellness facilities.

And where to stay in Villach itself? These are the best-rated accommodations:

• voco Villach by IHG **** – modern hotel directly by the river Drava, only a few steps from the center. Own SPA.
• Hotel Seven **** – one of the most popular hotels in Villach. Own underground parking, modern rooms, baths distant about 5 km from the hotel.
• Boutique Hotel Goldenes Lamm Villach – boutique hotel in the center of Villach.
• Mountains & Lakes – Chaletdorf & Appartements – untraditional accommodation in modern cabins on the outskirts of Villach. Modernly furnished accommodation in nature.

Catering and restaurants

As far as refreshments are concerned, the baths offer two restaurants. Firstly, it is the self-service restaurant Pool25, further, it is the atmospheric bar at the spa center with rather smaller refreshments.

Entrance fee prices to KärntenTherme baths

How much does the entrance fee to KärntenTherme baths cost?

• Basic daily entrance comes to 31 EUR for adults, 21 EUR for youth from 13 to 16 years, and 17 EUR for children up to 12 years.
• Within the framework of family entrance fees, however, a discount can be obtained.
• Another possibility is a 3-hour entrance fee from 24.40 EUR per adult.
• A daily entrance fee combining the thermals and entry to the sauna world costs 43 EUR and is intended from 16 years of age.

Opening hours of KärntenTherme baths

The baths are open daily from 9 to 21 hours.
Sauna world from 10 to 20:30 hours.

Review evaluation

KärntenTherme baths are a modern thermal complex in the Alps, which can interest with solid equipment. The baths are predominantly indoor, so they are ideal also as a place for relaxation, for example, after skiing or during hiking in the summer.

Most visitors rate the baths as very good, although rather smaller and sometimes (during “peak” periods) more filled. It probably cannot be said that these baths themselves would inherently be worth the trip to Villach from a greater distance. But if you will be in this town or the close vicinity on vacation, they can be sufficient as a destination for a trip.
On Google, the baths have a rating of 4.1 stars out of 5.

Photos of KärntenTherme Warmbad-Villach baths in Austria

Photo source (copyright): booking.com | kaerntentherme.com