Chocholow Thermal Baths: A Review of Termy Chochołowskie (2023)
Easily one of the most popular activities for locals in the Zakopane and Tatra mountain region is visiting the Chocholow Thermal Baths, locally known as Termy Chochołowskie.
That said, if you’re traveling from areas further away, such as Krakow, you may be wondering if it’s worth the effort.
In this post, I’ll give you my honest review of Chochołowskie termy based on my personal experience visiting. This way, you’ll know what to expect and can decide whether this activity is for you!
Table of Contents
- Is Termy Chochołowskie Worth Visiting?
- What Does Chochołowskie Termy Have?
- How to Get to Chocholow Thermal Baths
- Chocholowska Baths Tickets
- What to Expect at Termy Chochołowskie
- How Much Time Do You Need at Chochołowskie Termy?
- Where to Stay in Zakopane
- Termy Chochołowskie: FAQ
- Wrap-Up: Is Termy Chochołowskie Worth It (2023)
Is Termy Chochołowskie Worth Visiting?
Famous for its healing properties and promise of relaxation, the therapeutic thermal waters have drawn visitors from all around the world.
And from my time at the thermal baths, I definitely understand the excitement and popularity! If I had to describe the experience in one sentence, I would say, “It was a perfect and blissful escape to heaven.”
Now, I know that sounds dramatic, but imagine solo traveling for several weeks across Europe. You’re tired. You’ve been sleeping in hostels most of the way. And then, you discover this incredibly rejuvenating experience that won’t break your bank account…
I mean there’s not much more I could ask for!
So for me, visiting Termy Chochołowskie was worth every cent and easily a highlight of my trip!
That said, I know not 95% of you aren’t going to be in the same situation as me — or at least I hope you’re all in a better financial position than me!
So, to hopefully give you a better idea if this is an experience that you’d enjoy, let’s talk about what Termy Chochołowskie actually has to offer visitors…because there’s a LOT!
💧 NOTE: Throughout the post, I’ll use the names “Chocholow Thermal Baths”, “Termy Chochołowskie,” and “Chochołowskie Termy” interchangeably. They are all essentially synonymous with each other!
What Does Chochołowskie Termy Have?
Chochołowskie Termy is the largest thermal baths complex in all of Poland. As such, it has A LOT of facilities and amenities available to its guests.
In total, there are 30 outdoor and indoor thermal pools, which range from jacuzzi pools to massive baths that overlook the stunning Tatra Mountains and the surrounding forest area.
You’ll also discover a massive sauna and salt cave that’s actually the largest in the region, as well as a relaxation room attached to a giant terrace.
Alternatively, if you’re looking to get some exercise in, they have a regular swimming pool with lanes and a gym and fitness center!
And, this is just the tip of it. There’s also:
- A couple of children’s zones with playgrounds
- Several tube slides fit for children and adults
- A couple of restaurants and bars
- An aquarium
- An artificial beach
- A healing zone equipped with sulfur water and brine iodized water
- Spa zone that offers massages and cosmetic treatments
- And of course, a gift shop for anything you might forget or just to memorialize the magical experience
So as you can tell, this is a place that you could comfortably spend an entire day at if you wanted. Whether you’re traveling by yourself, with your partner, or as a family with little ones…there’s literally something for everyone!
How to Get to Chocholow Thermal Baths
Alright, so hopefully you’re convinced that you need to experience this for yourself — but how do you actually get to the Chocholow Thermal Baths?
Depending on your starting point, there are three options.
By Bus
Since Chocholow is a small town in the mountain region of Poland, there is unfortunately no airport or train station nearby. Therefore, the best way to get there using public transportation is by bus.
Most people will first take the bus to Zakopane and then from there, hop on a 30-minute bus ride that will drop you off directly across from the thermal baths. A bus ticket only costs a couple of dollars one-way, so this is definitely a budget-friendly option!
And if you’re wondering how to go about this. I recommend using Omio to book a bus ticket to Zakopane from wherever you are. It’s the platform I’ve relied on for 5+ years to book my inter-Europe travels.
Once you reach Zakopane, you can follow google maps bus instructions to get to the Chocholow Thermal Baths.
💧PRO TIP: Make sure you take a picture of the bus schedule so you know when the last bus leaves! This will ensure that you don’t end up stranded — because been there, done that, and I can confirm it’s not fun being stranded!
By Car
The second option is more obvious. If you’re already in Poland with access to a private car, it’s fairly straightforward to reach Chocholow Thermal Baths by car.
Or if you don’t have access to your own car but would like to obtain one so you can easily explore other hidden gem areas in Poland… you can always rent one.
I recommend using DiscoverCars as they have lots of pick-up locations, including the airport in Krakow.
✅ 🚗 Click to check the availability of rental cars in Krakow
Krakow to Chochołow
And of course, for anyone traveling from Krakow, you can use the above option or take a tour that explores both Zakopane and stops at the Chochołow Thermal Baths.
This is the option that I personally went with since it was the easiest and least stressful way of getting there as a female solo traveler 🙂
The tour that I highly recommend taking is below.
✅ Check rates & availability for this lovely tour of Zakopane & the thermal pools
⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 11 hours
The Zakopane & Thermal Springs Tour includes:
- Round-trip transportation from Krakow
- Exploring the quaint wooden village of Chochołów
- Observing local smoked cheese being prepared and tasting it
- Seeing Wielka Krokiew – the World Championships ski jumping hill
- Visiting Gubałówka mountain
- Walking around Zakopane’s main street, Krupowki Street
- 3-hours at Termy Chochołowskie
Why choose this tour?
This tour is one of the highest-rated and most popular tours of the thermal baths. And while it’s not the exact tour I took, it is very similar and more affordable! So, if you’re looking to experience both the local culture of Zakopane and spend time at Chochołowskie termy, this is a great option.
“Really good trip highly recommend. Joanna the tour guide was absolutely brilliant. Knowledgeable, provided clear details and what to expect. From the beautiful villages to the snow covered mountains, finishing with the thermal spa. Highly recommend.“
Katherine d. (see more reviews)
✅ Check rates & availability for this affordable tour of Zakopane & the thermal pools
Chocholowska Baths Tickets
If you decide to go without a tour, you’ll have to purchase your own tickets. These can be purchased online or in person.
There are tons of ticket packages that include access to different parts of the facilities.
But, in case you’re wondering what the most basic package is, it costs ~$17 USD (75 pln or zł) and allows you 3 hours in the main thermal pools.
You can find the up-to-date details about the tickets on their official website.
💧 PRO TIP: If you’re flexible on time and visiting independently, visit after 7 PM (19:00) to save a couple of dollars.
What to Expect at Termy Chochołowskie
Alright — it’s time for a breakdown of my experience! Since I took a tour, I’ll skip over everything and just jump into the part where we visited Termy Chochołowskie.
However, if you’re interested, you can read an in-depth review of the exact tour I took.
Arrival at Termy Chochołowskie
My tour group arrived at Termy Chochołowskie around 1 PM, which was earlier than originally planned because the weather was pretty cold and wet outside.
As soon as we popped out of the van, I got a good look at the outside of the building, and it was gorgeous! The entrance is made out of beautiful wood and looked so warm, cozy, and inviting — I couldn’t wait to go inside.
When you walk in, there’s a bunch of seating and a gift shop to the left. So, if you forget anything or want to grab a souvenir, you can do so. But, like all souvenir shops, the prices aren’t budget traveler friendly.
You’ll want to walk down a staircase on the left to check in for the thermal pools.
After you show them your pre-purchased ticket / buy your ticket, they’ll give you a wristband. It looks like a watch with no watch face, and you’ll wear the device for the entire duration of your stay.
Once you walk through the turnstiles after checking in, the watch will begin clocking how much time you have… but, it doesn’t actually tell you since there are no numbers or screens on it.
The Locker Room
From there, you’ll enter the free locker room. There are a couple thousand lockers, and the room is split up into color-coded sections. You’ll find your locker in the section that shares the same color as your watch.
Within the section, there’s a machine that you can tap your watch against, and a number will pop up on the screen. This is the number of your locker, and again, you’ll tap your watch against your designated locker to open it.
They’re pretty big and have a little shelf, so you can definitely fit a good amount of stuff inside!
And unlike other lockers for places I’ve been to, you can open/lock them as much as you want. They are yours until you check out.
And if you need the change, the locker room also has lots of private changing rooms. You’ll even find free hair dryers all over the place to use after your swim.
When you’re ready to head to the thermal pools, you’ll follow signs to gender-separated shower rooms. They ask you to use the showers before entering the pools.
If you’re wondering why, it’s to rinse off all the germs and bacteria that you might have on you from the outside world. No one wants a bunch of mud in the pools!
Enjoying the Thermal Pools
After rinsing off, you’ll walk up a set of stairs to the main level with all the general thermal pools.
As soon as you enter, there are some cubbies where you can store your flip-flops/sandals, towel, phone, and any other necessities you may have brought with you.
On this floor, you’ll find large pools, small jacuzzis, shallow children’s pools, a couple of playgrounds for kids to play at, and a regular swimming pool with lanes. This makes the area great for families.
Aside from looking at the amount of available space, you can determine which thermal pool to go inside by looking at the info stands. They will tell you the temperature and what minerals are inside the geothermal waters.
Temperatures range from 89 – 99°F (32 – 37°C).
The spot I ended up camping at for the majority of the time was the massive outdoor thermal pool. There were lots of water jets, a couple of benches to sit on in the water, and some basketball hoops.
But of course, the highlight was getting to enjoy the fresh air while enjoying the beautiful views of the surrounding scenery!
It was seriously everything I had hoped for and just felt so good to fully relax after the stress of solo traveling.
💧 PRO TIP: This area gets both loud and crowded! So, if you want a more private experience, I recommend purchasing a ticket with access to only another part of the facilities! For example, buy a Saunarium-only admission ticket.
Delicious Food Options
Speaking of drinks and food options, I checked out the food scene after chilling out for about 3 hours and was not disappointed.
The floor above the main general pool area has a couple of restaurants, a dessert bar, and a buffet-type counter. They serve everything from traditional Polish food to pizza and burgers…
Everything was so good. The portion sizes were much larger than I was anticipating, and it was all pretty affordable — but again, everything is affordable compared to Paris, Lyon, Stockholm, Milan, or any other place in Western Europe or Northern Europe.
And if you’re wondering how to pay for the drinks and food…everything is done through your wristband. You literally tap your wristband like you would your contactless credit card.
Oh! I also know that you can be served drinks at a bar while in the pool area. A couple of other guests in my tour group were camped out there for a while. 😉
Or, if you purchased a ticket to another part of the facilities, they also have their own menu/bar list that you can order from.
💧 NOTE: You can only purchase food from within the facilities. If you exit through the check-in area prematurely, you’ll not be re-admitted without buying another ticket.
Leaving Termy Chochołowskie
When you’re ready to leave, you’ll rinse off again in the shower room. I believe shampoo is provided, but I don’t remember exactly.
And then once you’re done changing and have grabbed all your stuff out of your locker, you’ll head to the check-in counter again.
There, you’ll turn in your wristband, they’ll scan it, and you’ll use cash or a card to settle your balance.
Once that’s done, you’re free to go!
Would I Do Anything Differently?
Before we move on to the next section, I do want to mention that if I could do the experience over again, I would get a ticket to somewhere less noisy and more private.
Although I was happy as a clam in the giant outside thermal pool, I think the experience would’ve been even better if I had explored some of the other parts of the facility.
Like I wish I checked out the Sauna room and maybe tried the barrels that had brine.
Basically, if you can afford it, splurge a tiny bit to see more of the facility because this can be an extremely luxurious experience for less than $30.
How Much Time Do You Need at Chochołowskie Termy
This depends on what you want to do while you’re there. Personally, I spent 4 hours at Chochołowskie Termy, and it honestly felt like too long.
That said, I didn’t have access to all the fancy amenities because I didn’t want to pay extra for them.
So, I’ll probably change my tune when I visit again and hopefully experience some of the other things Chocholow thermal baths has to offer.
But as mentioned earlier, Chochołowskie Termy is definitely a place where you can easily spend an entire day there completely relaxing.
Thus, my advice would be to just go for the lowest time package and add more time if needed. This way you don’t waste your money on a long-stay ticket, but also have the option to add more if you think it would be worth it.
Where to Stay in Zakopane
In case you are interested in hiking around the Tatra Mountains or exploring the Zakopane area independently, here are a few housing options to check out!
Low-Cost Stays
- Villa Nova Zakopane — 3-star hotel (bed and breakfast) | ⭐️ 9.4 / 10
- Benita rooms — 3-star hotel | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10
Mid-Range Stays
- Green Deer Premium — Beautiful Apartment rooms! | ⭐️ 10 /10
- Willa Szymaszkowa — Gorgeous Bed & Breakfast | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10
- Rezydencja Zakopiańska — 4-star hotel | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10
Luxury Stays
- Hotel Aquarion Family & Friends — 4-star hotel | ⭐️ 9.4 / 10
- Nosalowy Park Hotel & SPA — 5-star hotel | ⭐️ 9.5 / 10
Or, You can move around on the map to see up-to-date prices, ratings, and the distance of the accommodation from the Chocholow thermal baths! 😅
Termy Chochołowskie: FAQ
Chocholowskie Termy is open everyday at 9 AM. They close at 10 PM every day except Friday and Saturday when they close at 11 PM.
I recommend checking their website to see if there are any special events you might be interested in. And sometimes they close for a few days to do maintenance on the facilities. For example, they are closed March 20 – 31, 2023 for this reason.
No, you do not technically need to book in advance to visit Chocholowski Termy, but I would recommend doing so anyways. Many of the facilities must be booked/reserved in advance if you want to use them.
To ensure you are prepared, here are some things I would recommend bringing.
– Swimsuit, swim trunks, bikini
– Flip flops or sandals
– Towel, if it’s not included in your ticket package
– Bag for wet clothes
– Some snacks if you don’t want to purchase your own food there
– Jacket because it gets cold in the Tatra Mountains
Yes — there are five other thermal baths in the Zakopane Region. The second most popular one is the Bukovina Thermal Baths.
And if you’re interested in reading more about them, check out my other post about Zakopane and jump to the section that says, “Other Thermal Baths Near Zakopane” from the table of contents.
Wrap-Up: A Review of Termy Chochołowskie (2023)
Ultimately, I had one of the most amazing experiences of my trip at Chochołowskie Termy.
Not only was it spectacularly beautiful, with its stunning mountain views, but the thermal pools were so incredibly relaxing and rejuvenating. They were just what I needed and everything I could’ve hoped for.
The facilities are well-maintained and very clean, making it a great option for families or solo travelers alike. Yes, it was crowded in some areas, but that’s to be expected with a base-level ticket at a place as popular as the Chocholow thermal baths.
So, if you’re debating going, I highly recommend it. It truly is worth the time, energy, and money to visit this wonderful place.
✅ Check rates & availability for this lovely tour of Zakopane & the thermal pools
And with that, I hope this review/guide has been helpful! As always feel free to reach out if you have any questions regarding Zakopane or even Krakow!
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