Fancy a wellness vacation? Then today we’d like to introduce you to the 4* Ortner’s Resort in Bad Füssing. If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll certainly know that we enjoy traveling around the world. Whether by jeep through the African bush landscape, in a rickety wooden boat through the Java Sea, by car across Israel and Jordan, or on foot through the rainforest on Sumatra – we love the unknown, the new, and love to plunge headfirst into the next adventure. And yes, we love such adventures and action, but we also long for a little break every now and then.
When we were asked whether we would like to take a closer look at the 4* Superior Ortner’s Resort in Bad Füssing, we didn’t hesitate for long. Why not? After just one look at the website, the resort made a really nice impression on us. So we set off for Bad Füssing, a municipality of 6,700 inhabitants in the Lower Bavarian spa triangle, which is only about 5 km from the Austrian border. In the following article, we would like to take you on a virtual tour of the beautiful hotel and also tell you what we liked best. Enjoy browsing!
- The small spa town of Bad Füssing
- Our journey to Bad Füssing
- The Ortner’s Resort & The new Genuss Junior Suite
- The new ThermenSPA world
- Our favorite spot: The natural pool
- Culinary delights at Ortner’s Resort
- Our lovely picnic in nature
- Activity program at Ortner’s Resort
- Summary of Ortner’s Resort in Bad Füssing
The small spa town of Bad Füssing
Before our trip, I (Bolle) only knew Bad Füssing by hearsay; Marco had already been to one of the spas here before. The small spa town is known for its warm thermal water, diverse thermal landscapes, and wellness and spa hotels. The popular Therme 1 spa, the large Europa Therme spa, the Johannesbad Therme spa, and countless spa hotels with their own wellness and thermal areas are located locally.
In 1937 and 1938, people were searching for oil on the Ortner family’s property, but by chance they discovered hot sulfur water instead. They didn’t really know what to do with it, so the drilling company closed the boreholes. Franz Ortner, however, was the only one who firmly believed that the hot springs next to his farm could be used for something and decided to reopen the boreholes.
At that time, a kind of bathing fountain was fed with soothing thermal water from this borehole. Later, Therme 1 was built, and the former farmhouse, the Ortner Hof, became a modern 4-star superior resort with the largest thermal spa complex in Bavaria. Within just a few decades, Bad Füssing developed into a major spa town, with over 2.6 million overnight stays. It’s crazy to think how, thanks to coincidence, an inconspicuous little town became a popular and, above all, lively spa town.
Our journey to Bad Füssing
We haven’t flown within Germany or neighboring countries for years. We prefer to travel by train, as we can use our time wisely (working, reading, relaxing…) and protect the environment. We took the new IC from Rostock to Berlin, the ICE via Nuremberg to Passau, and then the RE to Pocking. Once there, we took a taxi to Bad Füssing, about 8 km away.
Yes, the journey was long, but the anticipation was huge, and the time flew by. So everything was easily manageable. By the way, Ortner’s Resort also organizes shuttles or taxi rides. It’s best to contact the hotel before your stay and let them know your arrival time. More information here: Getting to Bad Füssing. As always, we booked our train tickets on the Deutsche Bahn website*.
The Ortner’s Resort & the new Genuss Junior Suite
To be honest, before our stay, we had no idea which room we would be staying in. We were all the more pleased when a friendly receptionist gave us the room card for one of the new suites. After a short tour of the hotel, the restaurant, the bar, the wellness area, the fitness room, the garage, and the outdoor area, we were then allowed to open the door to the brand-new Genuss Junior Suite in the main building, Wappen.
We opened the door, carefully pushed our suitcases through the threshold, inserted the room card into the power slot, and looked curiously and wide-eyed from left to right. On the left, we discovered the toilet, a large wardrobe with integrated lighting, a safe, and a minibar. On the right, two large wooden doors led into the spacious bathroom with a shower, two sinks, an integrated radio, and a large mirror. We immediately liked the style and the choice of materials; everything seemed very high-quality and carefully chosen.
Of course, we immediately noticed the beautiful, freestanding bathtub in front of the window, the huge box-spring bed, the modern oak floor, and the comfortable sofa corner. The fruit basket full of treats didn’t go unnoticed for long, as did the two spa bags containing a bathrobe, bath towels, and slippers. We opened the balcony door and spied the restaurant terrace and the outdoor area with its natural pool. What more could we say? We were incredibly excited about the coming days and were overjoyed and grateful to be staying at this hotel.
The new ThermenSPA world
Okay, at this point we don’t even know where to begin. The new ThermenSPA world really blew our socks off. A pool? None! A sauna? None! A quiet corner to relax? No way! You’re probably wondering why we just used the term “no way” several times?
The answer is quite simple: Because Ortner’s Resort offers more than just a pool, a sauna, or a quiet corner. A huge SPA world awaits you with 6 pools, 3 saunas, countless cozy corners to relax in, a steam bath, sun decks, infrared cabins, a drinking fountain and outdoor area, Kneipp treatments, a salt grotto, a wellness and beauty area with 14 treatment rooms, and much more. You really don’t know where to begin to enjoy it.
During drilling on the family’s property in 1938, a 56°C thermal spring was discovered at a depth of around 1,000 meters. Today, 100,000 liters of spring-fresh healing water flow daily from this private spring, supplying the resort with soothing thermal water. Amazing, right? You can look forward to 400 m² of pure thermal water. It’s not for nothing that the resort’s ThermenSPA world is often called “Bavaria’s most beautiful and largest hotel thermal spa” in specialist magazines and books.
And wow! This nickname is entirely fitting. If we had to give a subjective rating, the wellness area would receive 10 out of 10 points. Everything has been thought of here, down to the smallest detail. Are you ready? Then come along now…
Indoor and outdoor pools on the ground floor
This incredibly beautiful ThermenSPA world is actually quite new. The thermal bathing paradise was demolished in January 2020 to make way for a new thermal spa world. The Ortner-Zwicklbauer family’s vision was to create a “place for all the senses.” And we think they’ve succeeded brilliantly. The thermal spa area on the ground floor impressed us with its atmospheric lighting, high-quality swimming pools, and a beautiful gallery with plenty of quiet spaces.
We didn’t hesitate for long and first went to the rear thermal exercise pool with 35°C warm water. Water aerobics takes place here twice a day, by the way. Then we went to the large pool, from where we could also swim outside into the 105 m² thermal outdoor pool. With a temperature of 32°C, it was also very pleasant there. Right next door is a spacious thermal whirlpool with 37°C warm thermal water. You can relax on one of the numerous loungers or make yourself comfortable in one of the beautiful cuddle oases.
Sky-Sole-Infinity-Pool & Sky-Thermal-Whirlpool
But the lower area is by no means everything; more highlights awaited us on the second floor. First, we jumped into the 25 m² thermal whirlpool with water at approximately 35°C, and then into the Sky-Sole-Infinity-Pool (approx. 35°C). Now it was time to sit back, float through the water, and simply relax! We especially enjoyed being up there in the evenings, enjoying the sunset. On the upper floor, you’ll also find various sun decks and romantic oasis for cuddling. We found it most beautiful in the “Alm relaxation area” and the “Wandel corridor relaxation area”.
Sauna, steam bath, and more at Ortner’s Resort
Ortner’s Resort features a textile sauna made of pinewood (approx. 70 °C), a bio sauna (55 °C), an event sauna (85 °C), a salt grotto, a Kneipp treatment with alternating heat and cold, an outdoor area with a cold water pool, a drinking fountain, a steam sauna, and various infrared cabins. Various highlights and infusions take place daily in the event sauna.
We particularly appreciated the ambience and the interplay of wood, glass, and stone. After our sauna sessions, we enjoyed relaxing on the loungers in the salt cave. Especially in the cold season, we love going to the sauna, warming up our bodies, and unwinding.
Source of Health & Source of Beauty
And as befits a true wellness hotel, you can of course also book numerous wellness treatments on-site or even work on your health with a physiotherapy team. So how about a classic massage, a body scrub, a facial, or an acupuncture massage? The decision is definitely not easy!
The rooms themselves are an eye-catcher and await you with modern furnishings, pleasant scents, and relaxing sounds. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time for a treatment ourselves, but we’ll definitely make up for it next time. It’s best to ask at reception about available last-minute appointments or book your desired treatment before your arrival.
Our favorite spot: The natural pool
While most guests spent the day frolicking in the wellness area, we loved lying on the loungers around the wonderful natural pool in the garden (also called the biotope). The green lawn is equipped with numerous loungers, a wooden lounge swing, and two great lounge islands right by the water. It was so relaxing to listen to the rippling water, the buzzing of the bees, and the chirping of the birds.
When the weather was nice, we found the natural pool’s approximately 22°C temperature to be a refreshing way to cool off. It was simply wonderful! The water is also crystal clear and reaches a depth of up to 2 meters, which even allows for the occasional short dive. The natural pool is open daily until 6 p.m.
Culinary Delights at Ortner’s Resort
As you probably know, we’re not exactly the most ambitious food bloggers. While we didn’t give food much thought in the past, the “right fuel” is all the more important to us today. After all, as the saying goes, “You are what you eat!” Of course, that doesn’t mean we only eat vegetables. But we do take a closer look at where our food comes from and what it’s made of. Pizza, pasta, and the like are also a must every now and then. In the following section, we’ll take you on a tour of the resort’s culinary offerings.
À la carte restaurant Wirt z’Füssing
If you book a room at Ortner’s Resort, the gourmet half-board is already included in the price. At the “Im Anger” apartment building, only the breakfast buffet is included in the price; however, you can add the gourmet half-board or feast in the evening at the À la carte restaurant Wirt z’Füssing. In a convivial inn atmosphere, traditional Bavarian cuisine is served here. The menu includes classics such as Wiener Schnitzer, Kaiserschmarrn, and Zwiebelrostbraten (spiced beef with onions). A wide variety of wines are also offered to complement the dishes.
Vinothek “Zur Weinpress”
And while we’re on the subject of wine: You can end the evening in a relaxed atmosphere at the Vinothek “Zur Weinpress”. The wine bar is open daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. and awaits you with excellent wines from almost 100 winemakers from Germany, Austria, and Italy. If you get hungry between meals, there’s also something for everyone: The menu includes flammkuchen, antipasti, pickles, and a fine selection of cheeses and hams. The cozy terrace with its romantic arbors and lights was very busy every evening during our stay.
Breakfast buffet in Restaurant 1846
In the morning (between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.), we were treated to a lavish and balanced breakfast buffet in the hotel’s own “Restaurant 1846.” There was a variety of breads and rolls, cheese, fish, salmon, antipasti, fruit, vegetables, juices, smoothies, coffee specialties, sparkling wine, tea, muesli, spreads, warm treats at the show-cooking station, vegetarian and vegan foods, egg dishes, various yogurts, and much more. We loved making ourselves comfortable and having breakfast on the sun terrace. Here, we always had a beautiful view of the natural pool and the sunbathing lawn. The interior is also very cozy and modernly furnished.
5-Course Menu at Ortner’s Resort
In the evening, the evening continues at Restaurant 1846 with a 5-course menu. Instead of artificial flavor enhancers and aromas, the kitchen prefers to use fine spices and fresh herbs. To start, we always picked up a small, fresh appetizer from the salad bar. A variety of salads, dressings, nuts, seeds, sprouts, and cheeses awaited us daily. Afterwards, we feasted on the menu, which included soups, antipasti, lighter dishes, regional specials, and even heartier dishes.
To be honest, we found the main courses quite tasty, but they didn’t completely blow us away. But in the end, that’s purely a matter of taste. However, if you don’t eat fish or meat, you unfortunately don’t have a large selection of main courses. We would have generally appreciated a more varied evening buffet. Have we already mentioned the desserts? Whether panna cotta, chocolate parfait, fruity ice cream sundae, or sweet pancakes – the desserts were always delicious.
Nightcap in the stylish OZ hotel bar
On the day of our arrival, we admired the chic and very modern OZ hotel bar in Restaurant 1846. We definitely wanted to sip a delicious cocktail here and end the evening. While light wellness cuisine is served here between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m., a delicious selection of long drinks, cocktails, and beers awaited us in the evening between 6 p.m. and midnight. Marco ordered a coconut rum cocktail and I ordered a non-alcoholic fruit cocktail.
Our lovely picnic in of nature
Here in Bad Füssing, despite the wellness oasis, we also wanted to get active and explore the surrounding area. The hotel provided us with a really stylish cargo bike (e-bike) for our trip, as well as a blanket and a beautiful picnic basket full of treats. In perfect weather, we cycled along the main street and were a real eye-catcher, especially for the older guests.
I (Bolle) got to make myself comfortable in the front while Marco pedaled. Of course, we took turns, as riding this bike was incredibly fun. Marco said, “Hey, let’s go over to Austria, it’s only about 5 kilometers.” No sooner said than done! We went to Obernberg am Inn, a small market town in Upper Austria.
We drove across the beautiful market square with its many colorful houses and then continued to a viewpoint with View over the Inn River. Here we sat down on the bench, briefly soaked in the moment, and grinned. “We just rode this cool bike across the border into Austria!” Now we wanted to find a nice spot to raid the picnic basket. We cycled back across the Inn River and continued toward Bad Füssing. On the way, we passed a beautiful meadow with trees and decided to spread out the blanket right there and feast on the delicacies in the basket. What a perfect afternoon!
Activity program at Ortner’s Resort
Generally, there is no Not only is there a lot to see, but there’s also a lot to do. You can rent a bike or e-bike and explore the surrounding area in a relaxed manner. We saw several signposted bike paths and tours around Bad Füssing. The various tours are marked with animal symbols such as hares, dragonflies, or swans. There’s also the 242 km long Roman Cycle Path and the Saurüssel Cycle Path, which connects 10 communities over a distance of around 127 km.
You can also work out in the fitness room. We also burned off a few calories there! The free weekly program with a wide variety of activities is also really cool. You can take part in water aerobics classes, relaxation seminars, guided hikes (including Nordic walking), and bike tours, among other things. There’s also a 90-hectare 18-hole golf course just 4 km from the resort (guests receive a 30% green fee discount). You can find out more about the activities here: Active on Vacation.
Conclusion on Ortner’s Resort in Bad Füssing
We were and are absolutely thrilled with Ortner’s Resort in Bad Füssing. We’ve stayed at a number of wellness hotels in the past, but this one truly exceeded our expectations. The extensive and modern thermal spa area leaves nothing to be desired and invites you to relax and unwind. From the moment we entered the hotel, we felt very comfortable, which was partly due to the extremely friendly and helpful staff.
Our room, of course, left nothing to be desired; we especially loved the bed. Marco said to me one morning: “Do you think the hotel would notice if we just took the bed home with us?” (hihi). But the balcony, the spacious bathroom, and the modern and very comfortable furnishings also impressed us. All in all, we highly recommend a wellness vacation at Ortner’s Resort and recommend the hotel 100%!
