2024 Otopeni Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)

Food at Therme

#bucketlistreboot My absolutely favourite is the Lebanese chicken with rice, served with salad and tzatziki-like spread. The first time I tried this chicken, I had it for lunch and for dinner. Yes! This is how good it is. I like my ice coffee and frappuccino in the morning and then go for Pina Coladas. Paul tends to go for the Carpathian burger (served with traditional Romanian vegetable spread) or any other burger on the menu. His favourite cocktail is Margarita and the bar staff at The Palm are pretty good at preparing this cocktail. In terms of desserts, we always treat ourselves to something sweet and everything we have tried has been exceptional. No favourites on the dessert front, everything is yummy. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Therme Bucharest - spa, wellness & relaxation

Have you ever thought of Bucharest, Romania as a spa and wellness destination? If not, then add Therme Bucharest to your bucket list. Therme Bucharest, one of the biggest wellness, relaxation and entertainment centres in Europe, has an indoor temperature of 30°C/86°F and a water temperature of 33°C/91°F, every month of the year. The thermal water makes its way from deep underground to supply 10 pools, 6 saunas, 4 wet saunas and 16 water slides. There are also 1500 palm trees from four continents, making Therme the largest palm plantation in Europe. The first time we visited this place, we noticed the tropical landscape created by the palm trees, which we immediately associated with an exotic holiday. Therme Bucharest opened to the public in 2016 and we have been visiting this amazing place at least once a year since then. #passionpassport #travel #bucharest #citybreak #thermebucharest #timetotherme #thermemoments #cultureofhealth #relax #spaandwellness #spatime #spa #timetorelax #romania #healthandwellness #pamperday #pamperyourself #feelrelaxed #travelandenjoy #lovetraveling

Excited to capture this moment at Otopeni Airport, ready to board my flight! ✈️ The thrill of travel fills the air as I snap a pic of the plane that will take me on my next adventure. From exploring new cultures to making unforgettable memories, every journey begins with a single step. Here’s to new horizons and experiences waiting ahead! 🌍❤️ #OtopeniAirport #TravelGoals #AdventureAwaits #Wanderlust #FlyingHigh #ExploreTheWorld #TravelDiaries

Hilton Garden Inn Bucharest Airport

#freehotelstay Very comfortable bed and well stocked room. Location is great, Very clean rooms. Good for visitors Next to Henri Coandă International Airport, this straightforward airport hotel is 5 km from thermal pools and saunas at Therme Bucharest. It's 18 km from museums and landmark buildings in the Old Town. Next to Henri Coandă International Airport, this straightforward airport hotel is 5 km from thermal pools and saunas at Therme Bucharest. It's 18 km from museums and landmark buildings in the Old Town.

moment when i got on plane

niceeeee

Nature, water and relax

#bucketlistreboot Nature and water are at the heart of Therme, creating a true oasis with everything from exciting wave pools and waterslides to affordable luxury SPA experiences. This place is huge – as many as 4,000 visitors can relax and have fun at the same time at Therme Bucharest. Therme Bucharest is absolutely amazing and definitely worth a visit. Whether you live in Romania or are just visiting Bucharest, make sure to add this to your list. After a day at Therme, you feel refreshed, re-energised and relaxed. We heard Therme Manchester is due to open in the coming years, so we really can’t wait to visit that one as well. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Ordering at Therme

#bucketlistreboot At the restaurants, you are encouraged to order your food through the self-service machines. These are actually very good and each item comes with a photo, so you know what to expect. These are spread across the restaurants but certain machines are for desserts only, so do pay attention where you are ordering from. To order your food, make your selection on the touch screen machine and pay for your order using your contactless bracelet. You will be given a number. You will need to monitor when your order is ready, so you can collect from the till. At the bars, you would order from the bar staff and they will scan your contactless bracelet at the time you place your order. #bucharest #thermebucharest

Tips for Therme

#bucketlistreboot Based on our past visits, here are some practical tips we feel we should share: Bring your swimwear Have your flip flops ready. Alternatively you can buy some from the Therme shop Don’t forget your towel. If you do, you can rent towels and robes Check the programme for the day to make the most of your time at Therme During busy times, go to the respective sauna/steam room at least 10 minutes before the session is due to start Always bring your towel to the sauna, otherwise you will be refused entry Use the towel racks to keep your towel dry Stay during the evening to see Therme’s beautiful lights Use the myTherme app to collect Zen points Check the website or the app for occupancy levels, if you are flexible on when to visit Bring shampoo, if you are fussy like me. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Wet saunas

#bucketlistreboot Here are you can enjoy three different wet saunas – Herbal Essences, Oriental Garden and Tropical Rain. Similar to the wet sauna in The Palm, you can attend session with body scrub and get a face mask. Definitely check the daily schedule, so you don’t miss out. Relax Pool and Salt Library You can enjoy the thermal pool and have a drink at the Relax Pool Bar. Here you actually have tables in the water, so you can socialise whilst sipping your favourite cocktail. Next to the pool, you will find the Salt Library, which is made of massive blocks of Himalayan salt. If you don’t get to visit the Himalaya Sauna in the Elysium area, you can discover the benefits of aerosol therapy here #thermebucharest #bucharest

Slides

#bucketlistreboot At Therme, you will find 1.5 km of the most spectacular slides system in Central and South Eastern Europe. But hey, who said waterslides are for kids only? I enjoy waterslides as well, hence why all hotels we book in Turkey have nice aquaparks and waterslides. There are so many slides to choose from, but by far, my favourite slides are: The Galaxy Slide – this might get a bit scary but it’s definitely worth it Pulsar Slide – don’t forget your inflatable Andromeda Slide – two people can go together on the inflatable Tip: there are different inflatables – blue for children and yellow for adults. Make sure you pick the right one, otherwise you won’t be allowed to go down the slides #thermebucharest #bucharest

Chill ...

#bucketlistreboot The main pool is connected through a corridor with the outdoor pool, so you can walk freely without getting out of the water. The thermal water outside gets to 36°C/97°F and is particularly nice during the winter. You can enjoy a hydromassage outside as well but by far my favourite part is the Crazy River. Just relax and let the current of the water carry you around. This is the only wet sauna located in The Palm area. The highlight here is the scrub and clay mask you can get, if you join one of the scheduled sessions, so definitely check the activities programme. Tip: You can only take part in the session if you have a seat in the sauna (limited to 16 people), so make sure to go early and take a seat a few minutes before the scheduled time. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Therme București

#bucketlistreboot From Bucharest: you can go by taxi or by car (1600 parking spaces are available). Alternatively, bus 442 takes you from Bucharest, Piața Presei Libere straight to Therme; you can check the timetable here. From Henri Coanda Airport – Otopeni (OTP): the airport is fairly close to Therme and perhaps a taxi is the best way. Having said that, bus 442 also stops near the airport and can take you to Therme. At the entrance, you will be given an electronic bracelet with a number. Keep this bracelet with you at all times as this is used to lock and unlock your locker; gives you access to the different zones and is used for payment. The number on your bracelet corresponds to the locker that has been assigned to you. Each of the three zones has their own changing facilities, bathrooms, showers, hairdryers and lockers. #bucharest #thermebucharest

Chill at Therme

#bucketlistreboot The best place to relax 😌 The location of Therme Bucharest (Therme București) was determined by the geothermal water, which is extracted from a depth of more than 3100m. It then passes through a complex process of decalcification, desulphation, decarbonization and, ozonation before reaching the pools. The geothermal water is extracted at a temperature of over 80°C/176°F and is used primary as a heating agent for the relaxation areas. After passing through a 5 steps treatment system, it is used in the swimming pools, where the temperature is of about 33°C/91°F. #bucharest #thermebucharest

The Palm at Therme

#bucketlistreboot This is probably the most famous area at Therme. You can relax in the indoor and outdoor pools, enjoy the fine-sand beach during the summer as well as the jacuzzi, three mineral pools and one wet sauna. You get to see lots of tropical vegetation and can use hydromassage beds, sun loungers and a restaurant with a healthy and appetising menu where you can have the best Lebanese chicken (more in the food section below). This is one of the most spectacular swimming pools we have been to. You can enjoy a jacuzzi (there are a few), hydromassage beds and thermal water of 33°C/91°F. Another great thing about this pool is the pool bar. You can enjoy a nice cocktail (we are fan of the pina coladas and margaritas) and either have it indoors or enjoy it in the outdoor pool. #bucharest #thermebucharest

Ready for this? Bavaria Sauna

#bucketlistreboot The sauna is made entirely of natural wood and can get really hot in there. The temperature is up to 90°C/194°F. This is probably Paul’s favourite sauna and he loves the Siberian Aufguss therapy, which takes place daily. The Senior Aufguss Masters tend to run these sessions and so you’ll definitely feel their experience with every bit of water they pour onto those hot stones. To further raise the temperature they sometimes even through ice on the floor to get the humidity levels even higher which equals a higher perceived temperature. Hope your blood pressure is in order as this sauna takes no prisoners! #bucharest #thermebucharest

Just WOW

#bucketlistreboot The walls of this sauna are actually made of massive blocks of Himalayan salt; if you don’t believe it, you can always taste the walls The blocks are litten up in different colours and in the evening, this place looks magical. This is a good sauna to start with, if you are not an experienced sauna-goer as the temperature here is only 50°C – 60°C/122°F – 140°F. Tip: If you get the chance, join the Prana session where you can practice breathing techniques. The Himalayan salt has an immediate beneficial effect on your airways and combined with the guided breathing session, you will notice the different in just 10-15 minutes. You will find that you’ll have a very good sleep that night. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Saunas at Therme Bucharest

#bucketlistreboot By far, this is our favourite area, so it only makes sense to talk about this first. If you love a good sauna, then you would love the Elysium zone. This is the wellness area, featuring themed saunas, panoramic mineral indoor pool with a pool bar, à la carte restaurant, large terrace and relaxing outdoor spaces. The saunas are great but what makes them even more special is the Aufguss rituals the Aufguss Masters perform. During certain sessions each day, you can experience the Aufguss therapies in which the heat in the sauna and the essential oil aromas are controlled by rhythmic movements using towels and fans. In case you’re imagining someone coming and slapping you with birch then you’d be pleased to know that’s not the case. #thermebucharest #bucharest

Therme Bucharest

#bucketlistreboot Reading about the Parliament you might think this was the biggest thing Bucharest had to offer – you’re wrong. Do you remember when I said about that swimwear? Now you’ll need it. Depending on how you plan your visit, you can go to Europe’s biggest wellness, relaxation and entertainment centre. Bus 442 takes you from the centre straight there; you can check the timetable here. The entrance for a day is £20 and definitely worth the journey. 10 saunas with various themes, 1500 palm trees, massages, spas and huge indoors and outdoors pools make up some of the feature list of Therme Bucharest. #bucharest #romania

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