I visited Europe's biggest spa - I wish I knew 1 thing beforehand

You might have seen it on social media, a spa that seems too big to even comprehend, with pools both inside and out, swim-up bars, a plethora of saunas and an array of waterslides. Well, it is the biggest spa in Europe, and it is located in a country that you may have never considered visiting before. I recently visited and spent a day at the spa, which is renowned for being an affordable getaway just a few hours away from the UK.

Flights are affordable, entry is very reasonable, and there are numerous facilities available, making it easy to fill up a whole day. However, there are a few things you need to know beforehand, and one particular point that I wish I had known before going there. This is Therme Bucharest, located on the outskirts of the Romanian capital. Like many people living in the UK, I had been curious about this place for a while, having seen it numerous times on TikTok and Instagram. When a group of friends decided to try it in real life, I was buzzing at the prospect.

We visited in early October, staying in an apartment in the centre of Bucharest. The weather, unfortunately, was quite dire, and it didn't stop raining for a full two days. But alas, we were eager to get inside the spa and take advantage of everything it had to offer.

We had heard that it was essential to arrive early, so we ordered a Bolt taxi at 8.10am. to ensure we were there for the spa opening at 9:00 a.m. We had been advised via Instagram Reels that we should get there for the opening to secure sunbeds for the day and book in treatments.

However, we didn't realise how bad the traffic would be in Bucharest. It makes sense, though. We were going to the spa on a Friday and staying in the city centre. By the time we ordered our taxi, rush hour was well and truly underway. This meant that it took quite a while for our taxi to arrive, and longer than usual for us to reach the spa.

Unfortunately, this meant that many of the treatments we would have liked to book were completely gone, so we had to opt for more expensive options. Instead of paying the equivalent of £30 for a massage, we each paid around £60, which somewhat defeated the purpose of going somewhere for affordable luxury.

However, there was plenty more to experience there. The massive swimming pool in the centre of the spa is heated and features a swim-up bar. You receive a wristband, and when you enter, you tap it each time you make a purchase. Then, you simply settle up your bill when you leave later that day.

One of my highlights was the outdoor pool. Even though it was cold and stormy outside, we were able to swim through a revolving door and outside to the heated pool, which kept us warm even in blistery conditions. I also enjoyed the mineral pools, some of which made my skin feel amazing.

There were also several saunas for me to enjoy throughout the day, as well as a steam room. There was even a sauna that showed David Attenborough documentaries. Can you think of anything more relaxing? It was quite heavenly.

We arrived at around 9.30am, half an hour after the spa opened. The morning is definitely the best time to enjoy all the facilities. It gets quite busy as the day progresses, and you will notice it becoming quite packed by mid-afternoon.

Unfortunately for us, the waterslides section was closed for renovations, which meant that children were allowed into the main area. However, there weren't many of them, but I can imagine a more relaxed experience if they were elsewhere, somewhere they could go wild, as children do in these kinds of places.

There is also an outdoor beach and various outdoor pools, but these were shut due to the stormy conditions, apart from the main swim-through outdoor pool.

Would I recommend visiting Therme Bucharest? I would, but if I were to do it again, I would do it differently. Firstly, I would stay close to the airport, which is a stone's throw from the spa. Bucharest has some interesting things to see, but it isn't overflowing with tourist attractions. The highlight of my trip to Bucharest is definitely the spa. I would centre my trip around that next time, staying close by and making sure I get there before it opens.