KärntenTherme in Warmbad-Villach is one of the most modern thermal complexes in the Austrian region of Carinthia. In one place you will find warm indoor and outdoor pools, two long water slides, the Crazy River wild river, a 25-metre sports pool and an extensive sauna world. Before visiting, however, it is useful to know the difference between the FUN, SPA and FIT tickets, the current prices, seasonal opening hours and the rules for the textile-free sauna area.
KärntenTherme Warmbad-Villach thermal baths in brief:
- A modern thermal complex in the Alps near the city of Villach
- You can get here from Prague in around 6.5 hours
- Warm indoor pools filled with thermal water and a sauna world
- Skiing options in the nearby area
- Accommodation? Right next door is the partner Hotel Karawankenhof, with spa entry included in the accommodation price
Where is KärntenTherme located and what can you see here?
Beautiful Alpine ridges and deep mountain forests, ski resorts and also excellent thermal baths. The Austrian city of Villach and its surroundings really have a lot to offer. The fantastic KärntenTherme is one, though certainly an important, piece of this grand and colourful mosaic.
The spa lies on the edge of Villach, which is one of the most important cities in 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, the city has around 65,000 inhabitants, and from here it is only a stone’s throw to the Slovenian Julian Alps and the Italian Carnic Alps.
Villach is a beautiful historic city with a truly charming centre. Directly from Villach’s main square, you can see the dark green peaks of the mountain ridges and walk along broad avenues as well as narrow streets lined with historic buildings and monuments. Villach is also home to the impressive Landskron Castle ruins. The area around the city is criss-crossed with hiking trails, and lovers of winter sports will naturally find plenty to enjoy as well.
The nearest ski resort is Gerlitzen Alpe above Lake Ossiacher See. The resort offers over 50 km of slopes, reaching an altitude of more than 1,900 metres above sea level. In the opposite direction – to the south – the closest ski area is Dreiländereck-Arnoldstein. This is a smaller resort with a homely atmosphere. Directly in Villach, you will also find the multifunctional Villach Alpine Arena sports facility, with ski jumps and other equipment.
KärntenTherme is located in the south of the city, in the Warmbad district, just a short step from forests and mountains. There is a train station directly by the spa, as well as a bus stop. A large-capacity car park is also available. It is paid parking: four hours cost 2.70 euros, eight hours 4 euros and a stay of up to 13 hours 7.80 euros. Transport accessibility is therefore excellent.
From Prague, you can get here by car in about 6.5 hours. From Brno, the journey takes a little over 5 hours. From České Budějovice, for example, it is only around 4.5 hours.
KärntenTherme – a modern-style spa with Alpine atmosphere
KärntenTherme is a thermal spa that immediately catches your eye with its completely distinctive architectural style, carried in a modern, even slightly futuristic spirit. Thanks to this, the complex feels quite impressive, even though in reality it is not that large. The spa itself covers an area of around 11,000 square metres, with approximately 1,100 m² of water surfaces, and is mainly an indoor complex, although it also offers outdoor pools.
KärntenTherme is quite popular among skiers, who come here to warm up, relax and recover after demanding sporting activity. The spa will also welcome you after a mountain hike, but it is worth visiting simply as part of a stay in Villach. The thermal water comes from six springs with temperatures between 25 and 29 °C. Around 10 to 17 million litres of water flow from the springs every day.
The complex is interesting thanks to its versatility. Everyone can find something to enjoy here – from relaxation and therapeutic pools and facilities, through entertainment and spaces for children, to sports facilities, a wellness centre and more. The spa is therefore also ideal for a family visit.
Pools at KärntenTherme
At KärntenTherme you will find various types of pools. On the first floor there is a recreational bathing area with indoor and outdoor pools, where the whole family can enjoy themselves. The pools are filled with thermal water at around 32–34 °C.
There is also an indoor section with a pool equipped with massage seats and water jets. The 72-metre-long Crazy River wild river is also here. You can also look forward to a water slide, a children’s zone, a restaurant and other facilities. On the third floor there is a 25-metre swimming and sports pool. The number of pools is therefore not exactly extreme, but you will still find fairly large water areas here and, above all, excellent variety.
Attractions, fun and children
KärntenTherme also has larger attractions in the form of water slides. The Silverhole slide is 85 metres long and offers various wild effects. The second slide is also an impressive 75 metres long. Finally, you can also slide down a 16-metre-long wavy stainless-steel slide.
KärntenTherme with children
KärntenTherme is especially suitable for families looking for a combination of thermal bathing and water attractions. The FUN experience area has around 1,100 m² and, besides two water slides, also offers a wild river, a wide slide and a meteorological tower.
For the smallest children, there is a separate paddling pool, a small slide, a water hedgehog, changing facilities and a children’s toilet. If the outdoor temperature reaches at least 20 °C, an outdoor water playground with fountains and a water tunnel also opens.
Children and teenagers can use the FUN pool area. Access to the standard sauna world, however, is allowed only from the age of 16.
Saunas and wellness at KärntenTherme
The wellness zone is located on the 3rd and 4th floors of the spa. In total, it offers a generous 2,000 m² of space filled with saunas and other facilities. You can look forward to:
- Two Finnish outdoor saunas – located on a spacious terrace, with temperatures of 80 to 100 °C and minimal humidity. Daily infusions and ceremonies with sauna masters take place here.
- Women’s sauna – a biosauna at around 60 °C and 40% humidity, intended only for women, with its own outdoor terrace and changing room.
- Women’s steam sauna – part of the “women’s section”, offering 45 °C and 100% humidity.
- Biosauna – temperature of 60 °C with 40% humidity.
- Hammam – a Turkish-style steam bath at 40 °C and 20% humidity. The hammam zone includes two separate steam rooms. You can also enjoy stylish treatments in this spa.
- Salt steam bath – a bath at 50 °C and 100% humidity, beneficial for the respiratory tract as well as the skin.
- Infrared sauna – with radiant heat. Ideal for muscle recovery and relaxation, for example after skiing, hiking or another sport.
The saunas are open from 10:00. Entry is from the age of 16, with mixed and textile-free operation. There is a separate women’s section with its own changing room, biosauna and steam bath.
Sport
KärntenTherme has not forgotten sports enthusiasts either. First of all, there is the already mentioned 25-metre swimming pool, where you can enjoy both fitness and performance swimming. There is also a fairly large and well-equipped gym.
The fitness centre mainly offers an extensive cardio zone, but there are also strength machines and other equipment for strength training. A team of experienced trainers is available, along with a range of various classes. From aerobics and fitness boxing to aqua fitness, yoga, Pilates and other disciplines.
Spa centre
A high-quality spa centre is also an essential part of the experience. KärntenTherme offers an excellent range of treatments, dominated by various types of massages. Cosmetic, relaxation, regeneration and other types of treatments and services are also available.
Accommodation directly by KärntenTherme
Where should you stay if you are heading to KärntenTherme? Accommodation is not available inside the spa complex itself, but there are plenty of options in the nearby area. These include partner hotels offering various benefits, such as free entry to the FUN & SPA zone of KärntenTherme for hotel guests.
- A luxurious choice is the 4-star, modern and exclusive Hotel Karawankenhof. It lies right next to the spa and also offers its own pool and top-class facilities and accommodation. As part of your stay, entry to the spa is included in the price from 8:00. An excellent choice for demanding guests.
- If you want a little more luxury, you can choose the neighbouring Hotel Warmbaderhof, which is even a 5-star hotel. In addition to the hotel wellness area and the Thermal-Urquellbecken pool, guests also have free entry to KärntenTherme. The hotel is more suitable for couples and visitors looking for a quieter wellness or spa stay.
And where to stay in Villach itself? These are the best-rated accommodations:
- voco Villach by IHG **** – a modern hotel directly by the River Drava, just a few steps from the centre. Its own SPA.
- Hotel Seven **** – one of the most popular hotels in Villach. Its own underground car park, modern rooms, the spa is about 5 km from the hotel.
- Boutique Hotel Goldenes Lamm Villach – a boutique hotel in the centre of Villach
- Mountains & Lakes – Chaletdorf & Appartements – unusual accommodation in modern cabins on the edge of Villach. Modernly furnished accommodation in nature.
Food and restaurants
As for refreshments, the spa offers two restaurants. One is the self-service restaurant Pool25, and the other is the atmospheric Sky25 bar by the spa centre, with lighter snacks.
Admission prices for KärntenTherme
How much does entry to KärntenTherme cost?
| Type of admission | Adult | Teenager 13–15.99 years | Child 4–12.99 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-day FUN | from €32 | from €21.90 | from €17.50 |
| Family full-day admission | from €28 | from €13.40 | from €13.40 |
| Three hours FUN | from €25.30 | from €15.80 | from €13.40 |
| Full-day FUN & SPA | from €44.50 | — | — |
| Three hours FUN & SPA | from €38 | — | — |
FUN, FUN & SPA and FIT entries
- FUN: thermal pools, swimming pool, water slides and children’s area,
- FUN & SPA: FUN plus sauna world, only from the age of 16,
- FIT: fitness studio intended primarily for members and guests of selected hotels.
With a three-hour ticket, the fourth hour costs an additional 2 euros. From the fifth hour, you pay the difference up to the price of a full-day ticket. Evening tickets from 16:00, morning swimming and discounted admission for students and people with disabilities are also available.
Opening hours of KärntenTherme
Opening hours differ according to the summer and winter season.
Summer opening hours from 1 May to 30 September
- FUN – thermal and pool area: daily 9:00–21:00
- Sauna world: daily 10:00–20:30
- Beauty and massages: 10:00–18:30
Winter opening hours from 1 October to 30 April
- FUN – thermal and pool area: daily 9:00–22:00
- Sauna world: daily 10:00–21:30
- Beauty and massages: 10:00–19:00
Parking at KärntenTherme
Directly by the thermal spa, there is an outdoor car park and a covered parking garage. Parking is not included in the standard admission price.
Current parking fees:
| Parking duration | Price |
| 4 hours | €2.70 |
| 8 hours | €4 |
| Up to 13 hours | €7.80 |
| Full-day tariff | €21 |
You take a parking ticket when entering. Before leaving, it can be scanned and paid together with any spending recorded on the chip wristband.
The parking garage also has eight charging points for electric cars with Type 2 connectors and power of up to 22 kW.
Review rating
KärntenTherme is a modern thermal complex in the Alps that can impress with solid facilities. The spa is mainly indoors, so it is ideal as a place to relax, for example after skiing or hiking in summer.
Most visitors rate the spa as very good, although it is rather smaller and sometimes more crowded during peak periods. It probably cannot be said that these baths are worth travelling to Villach from far away just for themselves. But if you are on holiday in this city or nearby, they can be a perfectly adequate trip destination.
On Google, the spa has a rating of 4.1 stars out of 5 from more than 7,100 reviews.
Advantages
- modern and well-maintained complex,
- warm indoor and year-round outdoor pool,
- two long water slides and Crazy River,
- quality facilities for small children,
- separate 25-metre swimming pool,
- extensive sauna world,
- good access by car and train,
- possibility of accommodation directly connected with the thermal baths.
Disadvantages
- sauna is not part of the basic ticket,
- the fitness centre cannot be used with a regular ticket,
- parking is paid,
- a three-hour ticket may be too short for a first visit,
- entry without online reservation is not guaranteed when capacity is full.
Photos of KärntenTherme Warmbad-Villach thermal baths in Austria
Photo source (copyright): booking.com | kaerntentherme.com
