Therme Wien — Attraction in Vienna

We recently visited Therme Wien with an “After Work” ticket and were disappointed across the board.

It started at the entrance. There were long queues, only two check-in counters, and the staff seemed completely overwhelmed and unfriendly. We had purchased our ticket online beforehand and were third in line, yet it still took nearly 15 minutes to get in. So, out of the four hours the ticket promises, you easily lose a good 30 minutes just waiting in line, walking through endless hallways, and getting changed. Spoiler: The same thing happens at the end of your four hours—20 minutes before 10 PM, swimming is already over, and there’s no self-checkout option. You have to queue at the register again. So, it’s not four hours of spa time; at best, it’s 3.5 hours.

The spa itself is sparsely equipped and feels quite run-down. Many pools are too cold for that proper spa feeling—it wasn’t always like this. The air temperature is also uncomfortably chilly. You’d expect tables between the loungers to be standard, but they’re available only in tiny quantities. The ceiling in the changing area has gaping holes, with visible water damage painted over in various colours. Some walls have footprints, and floors are littered with hair, while cleaning staff are rarely seen. In the sauna bathroom, there were stains that resembled blood splatters, which were left uncleaned all evening despite a visible cleaning log. Some lamps in the sauna area were broken, sections were taped off with parcel tape, and several coat hooks had been ripped from the walls.

Despite all this, customers are still expected to pay premium prices—not just for entry, but for services inside the spa as well. The sauna is an additional €17, and according to house rules, you’re not allowed to bring food or drinks. Yet, no one seems to follow this, just like the unenforced no-smoking rule outside. The most outrageous thing, however, is the restaurant. Charging €1.50 for a glass of tap water in a spa (!) is just brazen. But considering the rest of the pricing, it’s not surprising: €17.90 for a tofu stir-fry… What can you say?

In short, it feels like costs are being cut wherever possible—not just in maintenance, but also in cleaning and hygiene—while squeezing customers for every cent. We definitely won’t be coming back anytime soon. For what’s on offer (and I’m not talking about the size of the spa, because quantity is not the same as quality), the prices are simply too high. And the queuing situation at the registers is just...

We went there on Monday in August. Upon arrival you will get the wristband to open your private changing room if you book one. This wristband also can be used when you get food, and you have to pay it off when you get out from the spa. For the crowded, it is not that crowded during the morning, but it’s getting more crowded after 15:00 (my guess is because people come here after school/work). Therefore, I recommend to come in the morning if possible.

There are so many areas you can use. There are some adult only pools for people age 14+, but it is not really strictly followed and I saw some kids in there… I hope they take it more seriously in the future. Note that the sauna is not included, which is a shame, but I guess for the summer day price of 29€ we paid, it’s fair enough. Another thing that should be improved is the security of the water slides, it is abandoned for kids to use without any bodyguards nearby. And too many kids just go down the slides together, it could be dangerous. Another improvement point is the check-in staff that we interacted with doesn’t speak that much English so she didn’t explain us about the wristbands, we didn’t even know that we can use it to pay for food until we asked the security guard inside. I understand that we are in Vienna and English is not the first language, if I could recommend one thing, I would recommend to have an instruction card in English for foreigners.

We ate at the restaurant in the building, there are various options you can choose from. The chicken work with rice is €16, the same goes for beef burger. The portions are really big. The salad is costed by weight. Overall we spent €50 including 3 glasses of soft drinks and one lemon cake.

Overall, we will be back here for sure, but maybe during the winter when there are less people so...

Nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city on my second-to-last day in Wienn during my holiday. They offer a variety of pools and amenities for everyone, as listed on their website. Although there's an English section on the website, you won't find many English speakers here, neither among the staff nor among other visitors. So, if you don't speak German or know about Spa Culture, you'll have to figure it out by watching others. Which I am okay with.

My highlights were the tube slide and the different steam saunas upstairs. I did the mixed gender one. I pre-bought the past that got me in and out of both throughout the day. And note to Americans: yes, the sauna is textile-free, which means you have to be nude. But if you're not comfortable, I did see some people walk around with towels on. I was totally comfortable, though, as it is non-sexual nudity.

I didn't have a massage, so I can't comment on that.

Although I mentioned the language beforehand, my only negative would be when exiting. I wish the kiosk had an English option (maybe it did, but I didn't see it) so that I could know how to pay out my remaining balance. However, I did have one of the staff members help me out. I also wish (and I could understand if there isn't a market for this) that in the non-spa area, where the slides are, there was a designated textile-free time. As I would have gone then, as I don't like wearing swimsuits, and it was a pain taking it on and off.

Side note to visitors: if taking the U-Bahn, Google Maps says to walk down the stairs after leaving the station and then walk around and up into the front driveway. No! This takes ten minutes. One could easily walk across the bridge from the station over to the Therme. Just...