Bulgaria hot springs: 8 best spa towns and thermal pools (2026)
Bulgaria's best hot springs: Velingrad, Hisarya, Sapareva Banya, Kyustendil and Varshets. Closest to Varna: Aquahouse in St Constantine, 9 km away.
Bulgaria’s best hot springs are in Velingrad (22 public mineral pools), Hisarya (22 springs and Roman baths), Sapareva Banya (a 103 °C geyser), Kyustendil (springs of about 73 °C) and Varshets (state baths since 1910) (Wikipedia). All are 5–7 hours’ drive from Varna, so the closest thermal option is Aquahouse in St Constantine and Helena, 9 km from the centre. Checked October 2026.
Where are Bulgaria’s spa towns?
Bulgaria has about 1,600 mineral springs, and most of the best spa towns are in the south-west and in the middle of the country:
| Town | Water temperature | Drive from Varna |
|---|---|---|
| Hisarya | 14–52 °C | about 5 h (400 km) |
| Velingrad | 28–96 °C | about 5.5 h (455 km) |
| Varshets | 36.4–38 °C | about 6.5 h (433 km) |
| Sapareva Banya | up to 103 °C | about 6.5 h (520 km) |
| Kyustendil | 71.5–73 °C | about 7 h (600 km) |
| Aquahouse, Varna | pools 30–42 °C | 15–20 min |
Drive times are rough estimates from a route planner; allow for stops and roadworks.
Public pools or hotel spas: what is the difference?
Spa towns have two kinds of bathing. Public mineral baths and outdoor pools (Velingrad’s Central Mineral Beach, the pools next to the Sapareva Banya geyser) charge a small entry fee and are open to anyone. Hotel spas usually reserve their pools for guests or sell day passes. Completely free springs are rare; Rupite near Petrich is the best-known open-air example, with no staff.
Prices change by season and we could not confirm 2026 public pool prices, so check on arrival. Since 1 January 2026 all prices in Bulgaria are in euros.
Which spa town is best in winter?
Velingrad and Sapareva Banya. Both have outdoor hot pools that stay open in snow. Sapareva Banya is close to the Panichishte ski area, the Seven Rila Lakes and Borovets, so it fits well with a ski trip; see our Bulgaria ski resorts guide and the Rila Monastery and Seven Rila Lakes page.
How do I combine a spa trip with Plovdiv?
By road, Hisarya is about 45 km north of Plovdiv and Velingrad about 95 km to the south-west (OSRM). A good three-day loop from Varna:
- Drive to Hisarya (about 5 h, OSRM), walk the Roman walls and the thermae, and bathe in the evening.
- Visit Starosel winery and its Thracian sanctuary, then continue to Plovdiv.
- Spend a night in Velingrad, then return via Plovdiv.
Our Bulgaria itinerary from Varna and best places to visit in Bulgaria give more ideas.
Tips before you go
- Hot mineral water is not for everyone: people with heart or blood-pressure problems, and pregnant women, should ask a doctor first.
- Stay in very hot pools for short spells, drink water and keep children away from source pipes.
- Bring flip-flops and your own towel to public baths.
- For a short break near the coast, Aquahouse is in St Constantine and Helena.
For a winter spa break on the coast, our guide to thermal spa hotels in Golden Sands and St Constantine compares the options near Varna.
Coordinates © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Sources
- Wikipedia – List of spa towns in Bulgaria
- Visit Bulgaria (Ministry of Tourism) – Balneology, spa and wellness
- Welcome.bg – Sapareva Banya
- Lost in Plovdiv – Weekend idea, Kleptuza in Velingrad
- BNR – Hisarya, an ancient town amidst warm mineral springs
- World History Encyclopedia – Roman baths at Diocletianopolis
- Wikipedia – Varshets
- Wikipedia – Starosel
- BTA – Starosel Winery, 2025 harvest
- Aquahouse Thermal & Beach – official site
- Hot Springs Guides – Rupite thermal springs
- OpenStreetMap contributors (coordinates, ODbL)
The list 8
✨ Picked for the current time and weather in Varna
Velingrad✨ Good right now
Called the spa capital of the Balkans, with around 80 springs (28–96 °C) and 22 indoor and outdoor public mineral pools. Walk to Kleptuza, the largest karst spring in Bulgaria, with two lakes and a park.
Best for: A winter weekend with many public pools
Hisarya✨ Good right now
A small town with 22 springs from 14 to 52 °C, still enclosed by the walls of Roman Diocletianopolis. See the restored Roman thermae in Momina Salza park, then bathe in one of the town's mineral baths or hotel pools.
Best for: History and a soak in one trip
Sapareva Banya geyser✨ Good right now
The geyser in the town centre brings up the hottest mineral water in Bulgaria, at 103 °C, and throws hot water several metres into the air. The 'only geyser in continental Europe' is a marketing line, but the steam on a cold day is real. Outdoor thermal pools are next to it.
Best for: Winter, combined with Rila or skiing
Kyustendil✨ Good right now
Roman Pautalia was built around springs of 71.5–73 °C, and the town still has an Asclepion site and the Ottoman-era Chifte Banya bath building in the centre. A good stop on a western loop via Sofia.
Best for: Spa history and an easy day from Sofia
Varshets✨ Good right now
One of the oldest resorts in northern Bulgaria, in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. Its first state baths were built in 1910 and the water is a gentle 36.4–38 °C. Today the town has two spa centres, including the Old Mineral Bath.
Best for: Slow, quiet wellness stays
Starosel Winery✨ Good right now
Wine and spa complex in the Valley of the Thracian Kings, near Hisarya, with a warm mineral-water pool and wine tastings. The winery reported its 2025 harvest, so it is operating; book spa access ahead.
Best for: Couples combining wine, Thracian tombs and a pool
Aquahouse Thermal & Beach✨ Good right now
The closest thermal option to Varna: 14 indoor and outdoor pools of mineral water at 30–42 °C, with saunas, steam baths, salt rooms and a kids' zone. A weekday day ticket costs €31 (as of 2026-10); check current prices on the official site.
Best for: A rainy or winter day from Varna
Rupite✨ Good right now
Free, open-air pools in the crater of an extinct volcano near Petrich. The source is 71–78 °C, so stay in the cooler pools, keep children close and expect no lifeguards. Very far from Varna; pair it with Melnik or Sandanski.
Best for: Wild, free bathing in the far south-west
Frequently asked questions
Where is the nearest hot spring to Varna?
Aquahouse Thermal & Beach in St Constantine and Helena, about 9 km (15–20 minutes) north of the centre. It has 14 indoor and outdoor mineral pools at 30–42 °C and is open daily 08:30–20:30.
Are there free hot springs in Bulgaria?
A few. The best known are the open-air pools at Rupite near Petrich, free and unstaffed. Most town baths charge a small fee, and hotel pools are paid or for guests only.
Which Bulgarian spa town is best in winter?
Velingrad and Sapareva Banya. Both have outdoor hot pools you can use in snow, and Sapareva Banya is close to the Panichishte ski area and Borovets, so you can pair skiing with a soak.
Can I combine a spa trip with Plovdiv?
Yes. Hisarya is about 45 km north of Plovdiv and Velingrad about 95 km south-west, so either works as a day or overnight trip from the city. Starosel winery lies between Plovdiv and Hisarya.
