Our journey through South Tyrol began in the small spa town of Merano, which had a very special highlight waiting for us. We were able to put the 7,650 m² Merano Thermal Baths, which opened in 2005, through their paces. But before that, we first took a closer look at the pretty spa town. We reached Merano in the early afternoon, checked into our room at the Boutique Hotel ImperialArt, and strolled along the Tappeinerweg in perfect weather. This path is one of the most beautiful promenades in Europe and runs partially above the city with wonderful views.
We ended the evening relaxing with a delicious pizza before jumping into our comfortable hotel bed. After a small breakfast at the hotel the next morning, we grabbed our wellness bags and strolled to the thermal baths, which are located opposite the venerable old spa house. The thermal baths are one of the largest thermal baths and baths in all of South Tyrol and are open 365 days a year. Whether spring, summer, autumn, or winter – a visit is worthwhile at any time of year. In the following article, we would like to take you virtually on a tour of this fantastic facility and introduce you to our favorite spots. Enjoy browsing!
- The huge pool area & bathing world
- The stylish sauna area
- The 5.2-hectare thermal park
- The new pool suites at the Merano Thermal Baths
- Wellness offers at the Merano Thermal Baths
- For when you get hungry in between meals
- Meran Thermal Baths – Active & Healthy
- Special Night – Valentine’s Day 2025
- Accommodation
- Admission & Opening Hours
- Therme Merano – Our Conclusion
The Huge Pool Area & Bathing World
As soon as you enter the thermal baths, you have a fantastic view of the 240 m² main indoor pool through the huge glass fronts, which awaited us with 34°C warm thermal water from the Vigiljoch. The indoor area has a total of 15 pools, which are open 365 days a year. Whether it’s a brine pool, hot and cold pool, thermal water pool, children’s pool, or various whirlpools – everyone will find the right pool for relaxing or splashing around. We quickly slipped into our swimsuits and made ourselves comfortable on the loungers around the main pool.
In the indoor area by the pools you will find loungers, showers, toilets, a steam bath and A saline inhalation cabin. On the floors above the main pool, you’ll find very cozy lounge areas, which are beautifully designed. At first, we weren’t sure which pool to jump into first. In winter, we naturally like it nice and warm, so the hot pools and various whirlpools were our first stop. We also had access to the outdoor area through a water lock and enjoyed the fresh air.
But the 15 indoor pools are by no means everything that the Therme Meran has to offer. In the outdoor area and thermal park, another 10 pools await you, including a sports pool, a non-swimmer pool, a children’s pool, a flow pool, a cooling pool, a spring pool, and cold and warm pools. However, these can only be used from mid-May to mid-September. Since we visited the thermal spa in February, we were denied the opportunity to experience the beautiful thermal park. But we’ll simply explore this park on our next visit.
The stylish sauna area
Our absolute highlight of the thermal spa is definitely the beautifully designed sauna area. This 2,231 m² relaxation area is only accessible to those aged 14 and over and awaited us with many attractive details. We particularly liked the numerous cozy quiet rooms and relaxation corners, as well as the wide range of different saunas. We were spoiled for choice: bio-hay sauna, Finnish saunas, steam baths, cold pools, whirlpools, or perhaps the snow room? Every hour on the hour, there was also an infusion in the huge Finnish sauna outside, which can accommodate up to 100 people.
Highly recommended is the bio-hay sauna, where the warm, moist The hay’s essential oils are released into the air. What a smell! And of course, we also enjoyed the 90° to 100° C in the Finnish saunas, which really got our cardiovascular systems going. After our sauna sessions, we loved relaxing a little further back in the relaxation room with a starry sky and waterbeds. Afterwards, we went to the new sauna bar, which offered a variety of teas, fruit, snacks, and freshly squeezed juices.
By the way, Marco’s highlight in the outdoor sauna area was the new glass pool with sun deck. We’ve been to many saunas, but the sauna area at the Merano Thermal Baths particularly impressed us. We especially liked the modern design, the many cozy relaxation rooms, the atmospheric lighting concept, and the thoughtful details. Since we were at the thermal baths on Valentine’s Day, numerous candles were set up in the sauna area and special infusions were offered.
The 5.2 hectare thermal baths park
Another highlight is the 5.2-hectare thermal park, open from mid-May to mid-September. It features, among other things, a water lily and turtle pond, 10 pools, sunbathing lawns, a playground, a children’s pool with a water slide, outdoor training areas, a beach volleyball court, a kiosk, a Kneipp course, and 8 exclusive designer sunbeds.
The extensive green oasis invites you to relax, swim, and unwind in the summer months, and we would have loved to explore this area. However, since we were there in February, this part of the thermal spa was still closed. A view from the restaurant, however, gave one an idea of the beautifully landscaped park that awaits you in the summer.
The new Pool Suites at the Merano Thermal Baths
Brand new at the Merano Thermal Baths are the 4 exclusive Pool Suites (Honey, Herb, Apple & Grape), which are located above the main pool. Each suite offers a clear view of the various indoor pools through the large glass front. You can rent them for a few hours or for the entire day.
The suites are equipped with a waterbed, shower/steam bath, whirlpool, toilet, towels, bathrobes, and other extras. How about a relaxing girls’ day out or a romantic getaway with your better half? Daily admission to the thermal baths, sauna, and fitness center is already included in the prices. Take a look here: Pampering packages at the Merano Thermal Baths.
Wellness offers at the Merano Thermal Baths
Not only can you book a romantic break in one of these suites, you can also choose from a variety of wellness treatments. At MySpa, most treatments are tailored specifically to you and your needs (skin type, body type, etc.). How about a revitalizing facial, a relaxing full-body massage with aromatic oils, or a therapeutic treatment in a relaxed atmosphere? We particularly like the special pampering packages for one or two people, such as Sissi’s organic whey bath in the Imperial Tub. Click here to go to MySpa.
For when you’re hungry in between meals
Of course, we also cater for small and large hunger pangs in between meals. The Thermen-Restaurant offers salads, pasta dishes, risotto, soups, and other delicacies. The menu changes weekly, offering varied and creative cuisine. The focus of all dishes is on freshness, regionality, and seasonality.
One floor below (right next to the main indoor pool), the bistro also serves fries, sandwiches, salads, drinks, snacks, cakes, coffee, and much more. There is also a winter garden with tables and chairs where you can enjoy your meal with a view of the outdoor area. As part of the special night, we were served a delicious 3-course menu that evening.
Therme Meran – Active & Healthy
At the Therme Meran, you can not only swim, take a sauna, feast, or recover from everyday stress, but also get active in the in-house fitness studio. There, you can really tone your tired muscles or participate in one of the offered classes (for a fee or subscription). You also have the opportunity to take advantage of the thermal spa’s diverse health offerings. These include, for example, inhalations with thermal water, medical lymphatic drainage, therapeutic baths, as well as physiotherapy, orthopedics, aesthetic medicine, and ENT medicine. More information here: Medical Area.
Special Night – Valentine’s Day 2025
The so-called Special Nights take place at the thermal spa once a month from 7 p.m. between November and March. We visited the spa on February 14th and were able to experience the Special Night on Valentine’s Day. On these days, the sauna area, suites, and pools are open until midnight. Romantic torches and fire bowls were set up in the outdoor areas, numerous candles were lit, and a DJ provided appropriate Valentine’s Day sounds. The overall ambience was perfect and was rounded off by the 3-course menu in the winter garden in the evening.
Accommodation
Although there are The thermal baths themselves do not offer overnight accommodations, but they are spread throughout the city. The thermal baths work with numerous partner hotels, which you can find on this page. We stayed at the fantastic 4-star Boutique Hotel ImperialArt*, which is just a 5-minute walk from the thermal baths. The package included breakfast and admission to the Merano Thermal Baths.
This small but perfectly formed hotel has 12 individually decorated rooms and a small café. Our room, called “Aluminium,” surprised us with a spacious bathroom with a tub and shower, a comfortable, large bed, a balcony with seating, a TV, telephone, safe, and other amenities. Each room was designed by a different artist, so no two are alike.
Cons: The breakfast in the café was rather functional and significantly overpriced for the room price. The selection of food and drinks was limited, and the bread wasn’t particularly fresh. We also didn’t realize on the first day that we could have ordered something from the menu (e.g., scrambled eggs), so we made do with a little butter, honey, and a croissant that first morning. Fortunately, there was a delicious lunch and a 3-course dinner at the thermal baths.
Admission & Opening Hours
Opening Hours: Currently, you need the so-called Super Green Pass (vaccinated or recovered) and an FFP2 mask for entry. Children under 12 years of age do not need a Green Pass. The bathing hall and indoor pools are open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the sauna is open Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. and from 9 a.m. on weekends. The bistro is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and until 8 p.m. on weekends. For special events, the sauna and bathing area are also open until midnight.
Prices: The admission prices for the Merano Thermal Baths are very reasonable. Two hours at the thermal baths (bathing area only) will cost you €14 to €16, while a day ticket costs just €22 to €24. If you want to use the combined ticket for the thermal baths and sauna, you’ll also only pay €28 to €30. However, please note that on selected days, only 2/3-hour tickets are sold (more information here). The thermal baths also offer family tickets (max. 2 adults and at least 1 child under 14 years old) for €37 (each additional child only €6 more). Children up to 3 years old even get in completely free.
Forgot something? If you’ve forgotten something, the in-house spa shop will be happy to help you. Here you can find swimwear, slippers, towels, fitness clothing, newspapers, magazines, bathrobes, and much more. You can rent bathrobes and towels from just €4.50 (excluding deposit) per day. The shop is open daily between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Therme Merano – Our Conclusion
We highly recommend a visit to the Therme Merano. The price-performance ratio is truly excellent! We would love to have a similar spa here in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, but we’ll probably have to wait in vain for that. The Therme in Merano truly has everything you need for a relaxing day. And there’s even a lot on offer for children, so families can have a great day here too.
We particularly like the many cozy relaxation areas, the modern sauna world, and the countless pools. The price is completely reasonable; in our opinion, you could even charge a bit more. If you’re ever in Merano or in South Tyrol in general, be sure to plan a day at the thermal baths. You definitely won’t regret it!