Spa Therme Erding

Erding near Munich is home to Europe’s largest spa complex. The spa includes a myriad of different areas across its generous 185,000 m² of floor space. The healing thermal water, which was discovered in 1983, fills almost all the pools within the spa. The water is procured from the Ardeo spring, transported up from a depth of 2350 metres, and contains both fluoride and sulphur. Since 2015, guests have been able to enjoy an extended stay at the spa thanks to the accommodation provided in Hotel Victory. The design for this “hotel ship” was inspired by the HMS Victory and it is moored next to the Venetian Palazzo, which also offers rooms to guests.

The spa – R&R in tropical surroundings

The spa is decorated with numerous tropical plants, giving a day at the leisure centre the feel of a long-haul holiday. And thanks to the glass dome crowning the main hall, the interior of the spa is generously flooded with daylight. If outside temperatures allow it, the dome can even be opened up. In the central area of the spa, a large indoor pool dominates the hall and this is a great place to unwind. It boasts numerous features including bubble loungers, a flow channel and a waterfall. The area around the main pool is also populated by a kids pool, a Kneipp pool, a brine grotto, mineral pool and much more besides. The spa garden, with its large sunbathing lawn and sandy beach, is a real favourite in summer. The open-air pool here boasts massage jets and bubble loungers.

Galaxy Erding – Slide on down

26 slides with a total length of no less than 2500 metre offer up some aquatic white-water action at Galaxy Erding. Featuring 3 degrees of difficulty – Family, Action and X-Treme – everyone is sure to find the right slide for them. The youngest guests can get in on the action on six family slides. Children aged six and over can also try out the Magic Eye, which measures in at 360 metres in length, making it the world’s longest enclosed pipe waterslide. On the speed racer slides you can challenge your friends to white-knuckle duels and compare your speeds. Meanwhile, the Black Mamba has already hosted world championships, while the kamikaze slide is a favourite with adrenaline junkies thanks to its 60° gradient. The outdoor area boasts an additional eight slides during the summer months.

Wave pool – Go with the flow

The wave pool opened its doors in 2014 and is accessible via the Galaxy area. In the Wave Laguna, mellow "fun waves" are punctuated with 2 metre "big waves", and given the 300 palm trees surrounding the pool, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in the tropics. The bubbling spring nourishes body and soul with 34°C thermal spring water. The daily itinerary also includes various activities like a quiz and aqua-cycling to keep things interesting throughout the day. In summer, you can ride the current of the crazy river into the open-air area with a whirlpool, bubble loungers and a large sunbathing lawn.

VitalOase – A retreat for mind and body

For an additional fee, visitors can also enjoy some time in the Vitality Oasis. It is open to all guests over the age of 16. This area is a haven of peace and tranquillity away from the hubbub of the rest of the spa. You can enjoy the nourishing thermal spring waters in three different pools here, each enriched with various minerals, treat yourself to a beauty treatment or simply unwind in the relaxation area. In addition, this part of the spa also hosts regular activities such as relaxation courses and aqua workouts. The service is rounded out by two non-nude saunas and the Culinarium restaurant, which serves healthy and light dishes such as salad and fish.

VitalTherme – Relax and unwind

What better place to take a break from everyday life than in the VitalTherme and saunas amongst the palm trees, inviting turquoise water and impressive glass dome. This area is reserved for guests over the age of 16 and is available at a supplemental fee. It is also worth bearing in mind that this area is intended to be enjoyed without a bathing suit. Aside from 25 different saunas (see below), this area also offers guests the opportunity to unwind in the health-giving thermal spring water. Vitalpool is at the heart of this area of the spa, and features floor jets, massage loungers and a flow channel as well as a champagne pool bar. If you’re looking to take some time out, head for the meditation pool which features a soothing musical accompaniment. The open-air area also boasts an additional pool with whirlpool zone and massage loungers. Moreover, the Vitalgarten is a great place to catch some rays and enjoy the views over the lake. There are also a number of options available should hunger or thirst strike. The VitalTherme has both a vitamin bar as well as a pool bar. There is also the Crêperie Parisienne, the Thai restaurant Kaimug as well as access to the nude area of the Culinarium. The VitalTherme is also home to the Royal Day Spa, where you can book your very own relaxation space or suite as a place of private retreat.

No less than 25 saunas are waiting to be explored in the VitalTherme & sauna area as well as five additional saunas in the rest of the spa – an incredibly wide-ranging offer encompassing classical, beauty and themed saunas.

Sweat like a Roman

The Roman villa is an eye-catching area in the front section of the VitalTherme. It houses the aroma sauna (75°C), Tepidarium (38°C), Laconium (42°C) and Roman steam room (45 °C). The memorable citrus sauna (65°C) is also well worth a visit given the lemon and grapefruit infusions used here as well as its mist, light and music effects.

The Kelo sauna neighbours the Roman villa. This lodge is home to the hottest sauna in the spa – the 100°C Erdinger Schwitzstube. The Kelosauna (85°C) is at least somewhat cooler. The “Solestollen” (65°C) in the Kelo lodge is one of the beauty saunas, as the salt infusion ensures silky soft skin thanks to the iodine enriched brine.

Memorable themed saunas

The large Vitalpool area also provides access to the Calla Kaskaden. In addition to the conventional Finnenstube (80 °C) and Kräuterkammerl (50 °C) saunas, there are also some special sauna experiences to be had here. In the Geysirhöhle (60°C), a geyser regularly springs into life, moistening the air, while the Backstube (55°C) allows you to sweat surrounded by the smells of freshly baked bread. The Zirbelstube (55°C) is reserved for men only, and male visitors can look forward to drinking an alcohol-free beer here among themselves. You can treat your body to something special with the honey infusions in the Villa Toscana (70°C), while the Salzsteinzimmer (55°C) is the place to be for a free mineral salt healing treatment for your skin.

There is also a designated ladies-only area next door. Free mask treatments are provided to all visitors in the entrance area. After that, you can unwind in the Relax Suite at 50°C or the Blüten Suite at 80°C.

Smell the roses and enjoy starry skies

There's also plenty for sauna fans to discover in the outdoor area. The saunas by the lake include the Alpenstadl (85°C), which serenades guests with Alpine music and treats them to extensive views of the Vital Garden. An ambient temperature of 80°C and the smell wafting from 2,000 real roses makes for a heady combination in the neighbouring Rosenpavillon (80°C). The Meditationssauna (70°C) is the place to quieten the mind with its yin & yang fountain and soothing atmospheric music.

Alongside the lake, no visit to the spa would be complete without checking out Stonehenge. Its Kelten-Thron-Sauna (75°C) is no less than 6 metres high and includes the memorable flag Aufguss ceremony. As part of this, the warm air below the ceiling is circulated within the sauna using a large flag. Next door, the 55°C Firmament-Warte boasts a starry sky complete with comets and meteorites.

Refreshment and relaxation after the heat of the sauna

There are plenty of options for cooling down after spending some time in the sauna. The open-air area features an 18°C cold plunge pool as well as a 20°C waterfall shower. In the indoor area, the Calla Kaskaden provides a blossom waterfall (20°C) while the Roman Villa is equipped with misty rocks (20°C) as well as refreshment showers in different temperatures between 13 and 38°C. The offering is rounded out by the so-called mine showers in the Kelohaus, which range between hot (38°C) and cold (13°C).

The spa isn’t short on places to unwind either. There are numerous loungers surrounding the pools, making this an ideal place to sit back and relax. The Earth and Fire room and Fireplace rooms also invite you to relax and enjoy the sounds of an open fire. Themed rooms include the Yin & Yang space with waterbeds and the Alhambra with romantic candlelight and incense. Additional relaxation rooms are waiting in the Roman Villa and Stonehenge.

And if that isn’t enough relaxation for you, rest assured that there are plenty of massage and wellness treatments available both in the main spa area and in the VitalTherme. Both individual treatments and full packages are available here. The range of massages includes Ayurvedic full-body massage, hot stone treatment and honey massage. Massage chairs and loungers are also available if you’re not prepared to go the whole hog. The wellness offering is completed by various solariums and infrared areas.

By car: The spa is located 36 km to the north-east of Munich. You can reach it via the A9 (exit at the Garching Süd junction) or on the A92. If you’re travelling on the latter, take the Erding exit. Follow signs for Erding, and then look for the additional brown signs for the spa. There are numerous free parking spaces available on site.

By rail: On public transport, the spa is also accessible via the S2, alighting at the Altenerding stop. From there, you can follow the signs to the spa on foot for roughly 800 metre or hop on a bus with the number 550, 560 or 570. The MVV also offers a combined ticket which includes return travel to the spa as well as four hours at the complex itself.