If you’re wondering where to head this year for some proper water fun or the perfect bit of relaxation, I’ve put together a big guide to the best water parks in Europe. We’ll walk through the very best spots you can visit right here on our continent.
But first, we need to clear up one small distinction, because a water park and a thermal spa aren’t always the same thing. While a classic water park is packed with slides, wave pools and noisy fun for the whole family, thermal spas — or “Therme” — are primarily about warm mineral water, saunas and calm wellness relaxation. These days, though, the two worlds often blend together into enormous complexes.
Think of this article as a big signpost for your inspiration. First we’ll look together at 10 absolute European icons, and then we’ll break the parks down by country and by exactly what you’re after. The great thing is that most of them are within easy reach for a short break, so they make an ideal long-weekend destination. For the single greatest legend of them all, however, you’ll need to catch a flight.
When planning your budget, bear in mind that ticket prices are often dynamic these days and change depending on the season. You’ll also be paying in different currencies, because alongside the euro (Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia) you’ll also need Polish zloty (PLN) or Hungarian forint (HUF).
TL;DR: the best water parks and thermal spas in Europe in a nutshell
- Therme Erding (Germany): An absolutely gigantic slide world just outside Munich with a huge wellness zone.
- Tropical Islands (Germany): A slice of the tropics with a sandy beach hidden inside a huge former aircraft hangar near Berlin.
- Suntago (Poland): The largest indoor water park in Europe near Warsaw, with more than 30 slides.
- Siam Park (Spain): Repeatedly named the best water park in the world — you’ll have to head to the island of Tenerife for this one.
- Tatralandia (Slovakia): A Central European classic beneath the Tatras, with the year-round Tropical Paradise hall and salt water.
- Aqualand Moravia (Czechia): The largest domestic water park, set in South Moravia with beautiful views of the Pálava hills.
- Aqua Dome (Austria): Iconic futuristic thermal pools set right into the breathtaking scenery of the Austrian Alps.
- Terme Čatež (Slovenia): Slovenia’s largest water world, perfect as a stop on the way to the sea.
- Aquaworld Budapest (Hungary): A superbly equipped indoor park in Budapest themed around the Angkor Wat temple.
- Istralandia (Croatia): A popular summer water park in Istria that adds the perfect touch to your family holiday on the Adriatic.
When to go for water fun
If you’re wondering about the ideal time to visit, it mostly depends on the type of park. While outdoor summer water parks by the sea logically only open during the peak summer season, most of the big Central European complexes run all year round.
Indoor tropical halls and thermal spas are best visited in winter and autumn. Bathing in hot sulphur water while snow falls onto your head is an absolutely magical experience. Tropical halls, meanwhile, are a brilliant escape from grim weather, because the air temperature inside stays steady at around 30 °C.
I’d definitely recommend planning your visit for a weekday. At weekends, on public holidays and during the school holidays, the most famous parks are absolutely heaving. On top of that, admission from Monday to Thursday tends to be noticeably cheaper at many venues.
Where to stay near the best water parks
If you don’t fancy spending hours travelling only to head straight back home, choose a park with its own accommodation. There’s nothing better than getting up in the morning, throwing on a robe and walking straight to the pools without ever stepping outside. You’ll save yourself a lot of stress over parking and lockers, too.
- In Germany near Munich: Right inside the giant water world you’ll find the lovely Hotel Victory Therme Erding. The rooms are styled like the cabins of a luxury ship, with views straight over the pools with their artificial wave machines.
- In the German tropics: If you head to Berlin, stay right inside the Tropical Islands Resort. You can sleep either in comfortable rooms or try a more adventurous night in tents pitched right on the sandy beach inside the hall.
- In Poland near Warsaw: For a visit to the giant Polish park, Suntago Village is ideal. It’s a complex of modern, fully equipped bungalows, and a free shuttle electric bus will whisk you straight to the pools.
The 10 best water parks and thermal spas in Europe
Now let’s take a closer look at ten absolute icons of water fun. Each of these parks is special in its own way and is absolutely worth a trip of its own.
1. Therme Erding (Germany)
This gigantic complex sits just outside Munich. It’s reportedly the largest slide world in Europe, and at the same time a place where there really is something for absolutely everyone.
Waiting for you here is an incredible 40 pools and 35 different saunas. The fun zone, called Galaxy, offers an unbelievable 28 slides with a total length of over 2,800 metres. If you love long rides, you’re sure to be thrilled by the 360-metre Magic Eye slide, one of the longest in the world.
But the park isn’t all about adrenaline. You can relax under living palm trees, enjoy the healing thermal water and sip cocktails right in the pool. You’ll find more details about this spot in our article on the best water parks and thermal spas in Germany, or in our roundup of the largest water parks in Europe.
2. Tropical Islands (Germany)
Picture a huge former aircraft hangar near Berlin, tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty. This is exactly where they built the largest tropical hall in Europe, covering an incredible 66,000 square metres.
The air temperature stays around 26 °C all year round, so you’ll be reaching for your swimsuit even in the middle of January. Inside you’ll find a genuine indoor rainforest complete with exotic birds, a sandy beach, an enormous lagoon and several slides.
It’s the perfect solution when you’re craving a seaside holiday but it’s freezing outside. You can even spend the night in canvas tents right inside the hall. For more inspiration on trips like this, check out our tip on an indoor year-round water park.
3. Suntago / Park of Poland (Poland)
About 50 kilometres from Warsaw, a complex sprang up a few years ago that’s rewriting European records. Suntago is currently the largest indoor water park in Europe, hiding a perfect tropical world with a temperature of 32 °C beneath a huge glass roof.
The whole park is split into three main zones. Adrenaline lovers head for the Jamango zone, home to more than 30 slides spread across six floors. You can also try a surf simulator or a wild river here.
For adults there’s the wonderful Relax zone with thermal pools and a huge sauna world. International travellers rave about this park. You’ll find more information in our guide to Polish water parks.
4. Siam Park (Tenerife, Spain)
This is the one exception on our list that requires a flight. But Siam Park in the Canary Islands is an absolute legend, repeatedly voted by TripAdvisor users as the best-rated water park in the entire world.
The whole park is built in a gorgeous Thai style and set amid lush greenery. The absolute icon is the Tower of Power ride, a nearly vertical free fall that shoots you down a transparent tube straight through a giant aquarium full of live sharks and rays.
If you fancy taking it easy, hop onto the giant lazy river that runs for around a kilometre, or enjoy the beach with the tallest artificial waves in the world. We map out more giants like this in our article on the largest water parks in Europe.
5. Tatralandia (Slovakia)
Slovakia has plenty of water paradises, but Tatralandia in Liptovský Mikuláš is a true Central European classic. It’s the largest water fun complex in Central Europe.
You’ll find close to thirty slides and chutes here, enough to keep both kids and adults busy all day. A huge draw is the year-round Tropical Paradise hall, where you can bathe in both crystal-clear and salt water while gazing through the glass roof at the snow-capped peaks of the Tatras.
For the littlest visitors there’s a superbly equipped Kids Island, and you can stay right next door at the on-site Holiday Village. If you’re interested in more Slovak parks, take a look at the best water parks in Slovakia.
6. Aqualand Moravia (Czechia)
You don’t always have to cross a border, though. In Pasohlávky, not far from Brno, you’ll find the largest and most modern water park in Czechia, offering stunning views straight over the Pálava hills.
There are 16 different pools and 24 slides here, the longest of which measures a respectable 242 metres. Most attractions run year-round, so you can come here for fun even in the depths of a frosty winter.
Beyond the wild descents, the park also offers two outdoor thermal zones named Romulus and Remus with hot mineral water, plus an excellent sauna world. You’ll find more Czech bathing tips in our article on the best water parks in Czechia.
7. Aqua Dome (Austria)
Say “Austria” and “wellness” and everyone instantly pictures Aqua Dome in the Tyrolean Ötztal valley. It’s an absolute thermal icon set right in the heart of the Alps, looking like something out of a sci-fi film.
The main highlight is the three futuristic outdoor thermal pools that seem to float in mid-air. Bathing in hot sulphur water while metres of fresh snow lie around you and you stare up at the Alpine peaks is simply unforgettable.
The park is open all year and is absolutely perfect for warming up after a demanding day on the surrounding ski slopes. Read more about places like this in our roundup of thermal spas and water parks in Austria.
8. Terme Čatež (Slovenia)
Slovenia is a thermal superpower, and the Čatež complex ranks among the very best it has to offer. It sits strategically close to the motorway heading towards Zagreb in Croatia, making it an absolutely ideal stop on the way to the sea.
It boasts the title of the largest water world in Central Europe and offers over 12,000 square metres of water surface. The park is cleverly split into a covered winter and an outdoor summer thermal riviera, so it’s open a full 365 days a year.
Kids will be thrilled by the huge Pirate Island, the lazy river and the wave pool, while parents will appreciate the extensive wellness centre and the healing hot water. You’ll discover more Slovenian gems in our article on the best thermal spas in Slovenia.
9. Aquaworld Budapest (Hungary)
Hungary isn’t only about traditional old baths. Aquaworld in Budapest is a modern, enormous indoor water park inspired by the Angkor Wat temple, tucked beneath a gigantic glass dome 72 metres across.
You’ll find a total of 11 fantastic slides here, an artificial wave pool and a great sauna world with a further 11 saunas. A huge advantage for families with children is the on-site Bongo kids’ club, where your little ones are looked after free of charge while you enjoy the hot tub in peace.
What’s more, the whole park is connected to an excellent resort hotel, which makes it a perfect base. That way you can easily combine watery fun with a tour of the Hungarian capital. Find more tips in our article on water parks in Hungary.
10. Istralandia (Croatia)
If you’re spending your summer holiday on the Adriatic and you’ve grown a little tired of salt water, head to the Istrian peninsula just outside the town of Novigrad. Istralandia is the first and still the largest water park in Croatia, and it’ll reliably entertain the whole family.
It offers around twenty different slides and chutes. For the boldest visitors there’s the adrenaline-fuelled Free Fall, a 27-metre drop that’s guaranteed to take your breath away.
Beyond the wild descents, you can enjoy a huge wave pool and plenty of entertainment programmes. It’s simply the ideal summer refresher. We describe more Adriatic water parks in our article on water parks in Croatia.
A country-by-country overview of water parks and thermal spas
If you’re choosing your destination primarily by how long you’re willing to sit in the car — or on the plane — I’ve put together a quick overview of the countries within easy reach.
Czechia
You don’t have to travel far for great bathing. The Czech scene offers excellent modern water parks packed with attractions (such as Aqualand Moravia, Aquapalace Prague or Babylon Liberec), as well as calm spots with healing water (for example the popular Velké Losiny). You’ll find complete overviews in our articles on the best water parks in Czechia and the best thermal spas in Czechia.
Slovakia
Slovakia is an absolute thermal superpower centred on the Liptov region and beneath the Tatras. Big parks like Tatralandia, AquaCity Poprad or Bešeňová are complemented by smaller, calmer spas. Pick your favourite in our guides to water parks in Slovakia and thermal spas in Slovakia.
Poland
In recent years Poland has been investing incredibly heavily in the leisure industry. Besides the giant Suntago project near Warsaw, you’ll find plenty of modern, affordable water parks and beautiful Tatra thermal spas in the south. Take a look at Polish water parks and thermal spas in Poland.
Germany
Germany is home to the biggest water giants in Europe. Beyond the aforementioned Erding and Tropical Islands, you’ll also come across plenty of beautiful, affordable parks with excellent wellness, especially in Saxony and Bavaria. Read more in our article on water parks and thermal spas in Germany.
Austria
Austria’s “Therme” culture is famous across all of Europe. You’ll find top-tier facilities here (Aqua Dome, Loipersdorf), but also very pleasant family thermal spas just across the border (such as the popular Therme Laa). Explore all the options in our article on thermal spas and water parks in Austria.
Hungary
This is an absolute water superpower. Hungary offers huge modern water parks (Aquaworld, Hajdúszoboszló), hundreds of healing rural thermal spas and historic baths right in the capital. Get inspired in our articles on water parks in Hungary, thermal baths in Hungary and thermal baths in Budapest.
Slovenia
Even though Slovenia is fairly small, when it comes to hot springs it’s among the best in Europe. Besides the giant Čatež complex, visitors are also drawn to Terme 3000 with its unique black water or the architecturally stunning Olimia. We write more about them in our guide to the best thermal spas in Slovenia.
Croatia
People mainly go to Croatia for the sea, but you can easily add some variety to days full of salt-water swimming with a visit to the outdoor summer water parks. Besides Istralandia in the north, the nearby Aquacolors is also very popular. You’ll find a detailed list under our article on water parks in Croatia.
Choose according to what you’re after
Not everyone craves wild adrenaline, and conversely, not every child can sit still in quiet hot water. That’s why you can also filter the parks by your specific needs.
Travelling with small children?
If you’re travelling with babies or toddlers, look for parks with well-equipped baby areas and shallow, warm pools. Austria’s Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg, Slovakia’s AquaCity or Hungary’s Aquaworld are all great choices. We’ve gathered plenty more tips in our article on the best water parks for families with children.
Where to go in winter and in bad weather?
Grim weather is the ideal time to escape into the warmth. Look for big indoor year-round parks and tropical halls where you can warm up to a pleasant 30 °C. Among the best are Tropical Islands, Poland’s Suntago and Therme Erding. Find more ideas in our piece on the indoor year-round water park – where to go in winter.
The very biggest one?
Do you love huge spaces and records, and want to be sure you won’t get bored in one place even after three days? Head to the largest water worlds in Europe. We’ve put together a separate ranking of the most impressive of them in our article on the largest water parks in Europe.
Practical tips for visiting water parks and thermal spas
To make sure your holiday runs smoothly and doesn’t wreck the family budget, I’ve put together a few of the most important practical tips worth following right across Europe.
💡 Tip: At the big parks, buy your tickets online and well in advance. You’ll often save a fair bit of money and, above all, skip the endless queues at the ticket desks. The youngest children (often under 3 or below a certain height) usually get in completely free.
💡 Tip: If you’re going for a weekend, choose a park with its own hotel. Even if it seems pricier at first glance, you’ll save time and money on parking and gain huge comfort — you can go from your room to breakfast and then straight to the pool in your robe.
💡 Tip: Bathing in outdoor thermal spas in winter is an experience you mustn’t miss. Don’t be afraid to head outside even when it’s freezing — at places like Austria’s Aqua Dome or the Slovenian thermal spas, the water is hot enough that you won’t get cold.
💡 Tip: Combine the water with a bit of sightseeing. You can easily visit Aquaworld and explore historic Budapest, pair Poland’s Suntago with a tour of Warsaw, or plan a stop at Terme Čatež on the long drive to Croatia.
💡 Tip: Watch out for the rules in the sauna areas. In Central Europe (especially Germany and Austria), saunas are strictly swimsuit-free (textilfrei). You’ll of course enjoy the pool area with the slides in your swimwear as normal.
Where to next
If you’re after more tips on great watery fun and relaxation, take a look at these guides of ours:
- Best water parks in Czechia
- Best thermal spas in Czechia
- Water parks in Slovakia
- Thermal spas in Poland
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a water park and thermal baths?
Classic water parks focus on adrenaline, slides and water fun for the whole family. Thermal baths (Therme), on the other hand, rely on hot natural mineral water, peaceful wellness and extensive sauna worlds. However, huge European complexes nowadays usually combine both together.
Which is the largest water park in Europe?
It depends on what criteria you’re looking at. When it comes to the largest indoor water park, the title goes to Poland’s Suntago. The world’s largest tropical hall is Germany’s Tropical Islands. And the best-rated water park in the world is Spain’s Siam Park.
Which water parks are closest from Czechia?
The closest ones to you are naturally the domestic ones (Aqualand Moravia or Aquapalace Praha). From the foreign options, it’s worth visiting complexes near the borders in Slovakia and Poland, the Austrian Therme Laa just a stone’s throw from Mikulov, or the German giant Therme Erding, which is only about a two-hour drive from the Folmava border crossing.
Where to go for water fun with small children?
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For smaller children, look for complexes that have safe baby worlds and shallow pools with very warm water. International reviewers often recommend Austrian Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg, Slovak AquaCity Poprad, or the popular Aquaworld Budapest.
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Where to go in winter?
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In the winter months, head either to indoor year-round halls with tropical climate (such as Tropical Islands, Suntago or Therme Erding), or to outdoor thermal baths with hot water (for example the Tyrolean Aqua Dome), where bathing in freezing temperatures is an absolutely unique experience.
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How much does entry cost?
The prices of lift tickets are very dynamic. In smaller cross-border resorts, you’ll pay approximately from 15 EUR, while the huge Western European giants can easily cost 40 to 60 EUR per day. You’ll be paying in various currencies (HUF, PLN, EUR, CZK) and it always applies that buying online for a weekday is the most advantageous.
Which country is best for hot springs?
The absolute thermal powerhouses with a huge density of healing springs and great prices are Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia. However, if you’re looking for truly luxurious and perfectly equipped sauna and wellness icons, head to our neighbors in Austria or Germany.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
