Summer hot spots – Wellness resorts

Sovata
A year-round resort, Sovata was first mentioned as a healing area in a document from 1597, but did not officially become a spa resort until 1850. It is famous for its lakes, Ursu  (46,000 sqm), Alunis (9,000 sqm), and Verde (5,000 sqm). The health benefits of this resort come from natural factors like the mineral waters, sapropelic mud and heliothermic effects of the lakes due to heat from the sun. In effect, this means that on the surface of the lake, the water temperature ranges between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius, while at depths of 1 m and more, it goes from 30 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius. There’s a range of accommodation.

Location: Mures County, Transylvania
Getting there: Road: DN 13 Odorheiul Secuiesc-Tg. Mures, 51 km. from Tg. Mures.
Train: Sovata Station on the Medias-Praid line.
Air: Targu Mures Airport.

Baile Felix
Baile Felix is the largest non-stop resort in Romania, offering 7,000 accommodation spaces, located at the foot of Padurea Craiului Mountain. Thermal springs in this area have been treating people since the year 1,000AD, whilst the first buildings emerged around 1711. The resort has lakes with lilies and lotus flowers, the thermal water Apollo pool and the oldest pool with waves, May 1 Baths, approximately 107 years old. It hosts modern pensions and villas that meet international tourism standards. Culture seekers can visit Haieu Chapel, a 14th-century medieval church, as well as the Sanifarm building, a former monastery built in the baroque style, from the 18th century.

Location: Bihor County, Transylvania. 8 km from Oradea municipality
Getting there: Road: Bucharest-Oradea on the E60 and Oradea-Baile Felix on the E66, Satu Mare-Oradea on the DN 19; Timisoara-Oradea on the E71.
Train: Bucharest-Oradea (650 km), Satu Mare-Oradea (135 km.), Timisoara-Oradea (178 km). From Oradea to Baile Felix (9 km); taxis are available.
Air: Oradea Airport (15 km), daily flights from Bucharest.

Geoagiu Bai
During the Roman rule this area was known as Thermae Germisara. The Roman thermal baths are located inside the actual resort and unearthed Roman statues of Esculap and Egeea look out over tourists. For the health-seeking visitor, Geoagiu Bai boasts an eight-hectare nature reserve that hosts thermal water springs, the ancient Roman Thermal Baths as well as three pools with thermal waters. Visitors may also be enticed by the well preserved roman road between Geoagiu-Bai resort and Poienari village, or the “rotunda” type church built in the 11th century. The mezothermal mineral waters have healing effects for sufferers of respiratory disease. As an interesting historical aside, Sigismund Zapolya, a 16th-century Hungarian king, is said to have used the health-promoting water in this area.

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Location: Hunedoara County, Transylvania. 18 km from Orastie and 46 km from Deva municipality.
Getting there: Road: Sibiu-Deva-Arad to Geoagiu Halta intersection and a further 16 km to the resort.
Train: Geoagiu Halta Station, Orastie Station, Simeria Station. Then take a taxi to the resorts.
Air: Sibiu airport

Baile Herculane
Roman Emperor Traian laid the foundation for this resort in 102 AD. Ever since, Roman culture has flourished here, as temples, baths, monuments and statues for Hercules and Aesculap were established. The thermal springs, with their miraculous healing effects, were dubbed “God’s gifts”. The modern features of the resort allow traditional balneotherapy, while contemporary treatments like physiotherapy and electrotherapy are said to help soothe rheumatism, respiratory and metabolic diseases. Political figures through history have come here in search of healing, including Franz Josef, Austria’s Emperor, who considered Baile Herculane the best resort on the continent.

Location: Caras-Severin county, Banat. 25 km from the border with Serbia.
Getting there: Road: 5km from the DN 6 (E70) – the road connecting Bucharest to western Romania.
Train: international rail route Bucharest-Timisoara-Budapest, Herculane Station.
Air: closest airports: Caransebes (80 km), Craiova (160 km), Timisoara (170 km).

Cocor Spa
For people unimpressed by traditional balneary resorts, the Romanian seaside offers an alternative, a facility opened in 2009. Located in Neptun-Olimp, the three-storey Cocor Spa Center offers tourists wellness and detoxification treatments, massages, hydrocolon therapies, facial and exfoliation treatments. The first floor is for medical spa treatment, while the second and third are dedicated to wellness services. The Wellness Oasis program includes oriental massages, sensory and face and body treatments. The Clinique section runs programs including balneary and rehabilitation, detoxification, slimming and healthy aging.

Location: Neptun-Olimp resort, Constanta County.
Getting there: Road: E87 from Constanta, then the 39C, towards Olimp resort
Train: Bucharest-Mangalia, from where you can take a bus to Cocor Hotel
Air: Mihail Kogalniceanu International Airport.