Best hotels with spas in Abano and Montegrotto
8 recommended spa hotels in Abano and Montegrotto: cheap and luxury proposals, all with thermal pools, spa and wellness centre.
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The setting is the enchanting Euganean Hills, and the protagonist is hot water with miraculous properties: welcome to the Terme Euganee, also known as the Abano and Montegrotto spas, the largest thermal spa resort in Europe.
Such a supremacy cannot be won overnight, and indeed spa tourism has a long tradition in the lower Padua region. For decades it was a luxury reserved for nobles and rich families, then there was the boom of the eighties with German tourists who, subsidised by their national health system, occupied the hotels of Abano and Montegrotto, the two most developed resorts.
Then came the crisis of the 1990s in Germany, the mega-hotels remained empty and many ended up becoming monuments to the memory of the splendour that once was. The more far-sighted entrepreneurs sniffed out the new wellness trends and reinvented their tourist offer, no longer targeting only people in need of medical treatment, but couples, singles, seniors and families in search of relaxation and psychophysical well-being.
Larger pools, new whirlpools, detox areas, spas and beauty centres are being added to the classic thermal centre for medical treatments. And hotels are filling up again.
Today, the numbers of the Euganean thermal basin are impressive: 100 thermal establishments offering natural therapies and cures for a variety of pathologies and 240 indoor and outdoor pools. They range from small, very simple pools, suitable for those who do not want a glamorous experience but just to soak in the warm water for a couple of hours, to charming facilities offering exclusive experiences.
If you are looking for a destination for your next spa weekend or if you are looking for ideas for things to do in Veneto, the Terme Euganee are a must.
The birthplace of the Euganean Spa is not the Euganean Hills but the Lessini Mountains in the Venetian Pre-Alps. The cracks in the limestone rocks of these mountains allow the water to descend into the depths and create an underground river that flows towards the sea. On its way, this river encounters the hills of Padua and at this point the waters quickly re-emerge to the surface, gushing out of small rock faults.
During their course, the waters heat up and become enriched with mineral salts. They gush out from underground at a temperature of 87°, which is cooled to between 32° and 36° for use in pools and therapies.
The high temperature of the thermal waters is also exploited to produce energy: a green source with which the hotels of the Abano and Montegrotto Thermal Baths have been heating themselves for over fifty years.
In technical terms they are defined as hyperthermal saline-bromine-iodine waters with a fixed residue at 180° of 5-6 grams of dissolved salts per litre. Put simply, they are waters rich in healing properties that have been known since antiquity and are still successfully exploited today.
Almost all hotels in the Euganean Spa have an in-house thermal centre where qualified health professionals work and are affiliated with the National Health Service. In these centres, inhalation therapies and hydrokinesitherapy are mainly practised.
Inhalation therapies with thermal waters are a natural remedy for treating colds, bronchitis, sinusitis, and other respiratory disorders. Hydrokinesitherapy, based on immersing the body in hot water, is instead used for muscle and joint problems.
Many families would like to take a spa holiday in Padua, but are concerned that the high water temperatures may harm small children. Fear not: even families with children can enjoy a pleasant wellness holiday, just follow a few precautions.
First, when looking for your spa hotel in the Euganean Hills make sure that children are accepted. Some luxury establishments, in fact, are adults-only, i.e. they do not accept guests under a certain age (usually 15-16 years and up). On the other hand, there are hotels that cater mainly to a family clientele by offering specific services for those travelling with children.
When in the pool, follow the safety recommendations suggested by the establishment. Children are allowed to bathe in the warm water, but depending on their age or particular physical condition, it is best not to exceed the recommended maximum stay in the water.
To prevent the little ones from getting bored, it is possible to alternate relaxation in the pool with a fun outing.
There are numerous attractions for children in the Euganean Spa area, the two most famous being the Butterfly Arc, the butterfly house opened in Italy, and the Fairy Wood, a park of over 6000 square metres where fairies, goblins and other magical creatures hide among the trees. With a single ticket, it is possible to visit both.
You can then go on wonderful hikes or bike rides in the Euganean Hills, choosing from the easier routes, or try a horse riding lesson in one of the equestrian centres in the area.
The thermal waters of the hills are the main ingredient of another natural substance that has something miraculous about it and that has made the fortune of the towns of Abano and Montegrotto: thermal mud. These are certified DOC muds, obtained from thermal water, clay, humus and a unique microalgae, patented at European level.
They are highly effective for treating osteoarticular pathologies such as arthrosis and osteoporosis, inflammatory-type rheumatic diseases, sports injuries and pain; fango-balneotherapy has also proved effective in treating serious respiratory pathologies, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Since it is a natural therapy, it is free of side effects.
In the aesthetic field, thermal muds are used for treatments against cellulite and skin ageing.
Not only therapies and cures: Terme Euganee is also synonymous with relaxation, wellness and beauty. Unlike other thermal areas in Italy where it is possible to bathe in pools of hot water in natural settings, however, in the Euganean Hills there are no free spas: this means that to treat yourself to the pleasure of a hot-water bath you must necessarily go to a swimming pool or spa.
Apart from a few exceptions such as the Columbus and the municipal pool in Abano, all the thermal pools in the Euganean Hills are located within a hotel.
It is not necessary to stay in a hotel at the Abano and Montegrotto Thermal Baths to access the pools: many facilities in fact allow outsiders to use their thermal establishment. However, sleeping in a thermal hotel is recommended for those who come from far away and want to avoid the hassle of getting in the car after hours soaking in the hot water, and for all those who want a more complete wellness experience.
With more than 100 spas to choose from, the pools of the Terme Euganee truly satisfy all desires and all budgets. But how do you find the best hotel with a thermal pool in the Euganean Hills that best suits your tastes?
However, if you only have a few hours to dedicate to the spa, consider buying an entrance to a thermal pool: the Y-40 The Deep Joy and the Columbus are certainly different from hotel pools and are often preferred by locals.
One of the cheapest pools at the Terme Euganee is the Columbus Thermal Pool in Abano Terme, loved for its affordable price by many Paduans who want to treat themselves to a few hours of relaxation after work.
Do not expect luxury or frills, but the facility is comfortable, thanks also to a recent renovation. Wellness is guaranteed: there are three outdoor pools (a large whirlpool with a central mushroom and waterfalls for cervicals, a relaxation pool, and a deeper pool for free swimming) and one indoor pool (the latter often used for swimming and aquagym courses).
This pool, like other more luxurious ones, is also open until late in the evening.
The deepest thermal pool in the world is located in Montegrotto Terme. It is Y-40 The Deep Joy, an innovative pool with platforms at different depths reaching a maximum of 42 metres: a paradise for divers and freedivers who can train to exceed their limits in total safety. And there is no need for a wetsuit thanks to the warm thermal water temperatures!
If you are not already an experienced diver or freediver, you can try the experience of diving underwater for the first time, with or without a tank, with one of Y40’s qualified instructors.
This masterpiece of contemporary engineering and architecture is a must-see, even if you have no interest in diving. Don’t miss the unique experience of having a coffee while admiring a huge human aquarium: the pools are in fact in view, so you can see divers and freedivers swimming in the submerged tank from the bar.
For a more complete view, you can walk through the panoramic tunnel that runs through the pool at a depth of 5 metres. Once a week the facility organises free guided tours.
The two main towns of the Terme Euganee are Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme: almost all the spas and hotels are concentrated here. Many of these are mega-hotels of medium/high category (generally 4 or 5 stars, but it is also possible to find some 3 stars) with hundreds of rooms. Both towns are full of amenities, shops, bars and restaurants.
If you prefer a quieter location, completely surrounded by greenery, move to Galzignano Terme. The choice of hotels is very limited, and so is the choice of bars and restaurants, so sleeping in Galzignano is recommended for those who just want to relax. Battaglia Terme is on the edge of the thermal basin, but is convenient to the motorway.
If you prefer the simplicity of an agritourism or the comfort of a flat to hotels, you can range over all the resorts of the Euganean Hills; there is no shortage of campsites either, perfect for those who want the freedom of sleeping surrounded by greenery. Of course, in these cases you will have to pay a daily entrance fee to access the thermal pools as a non-hotel guest.
It is also possible to sleep in Padua or Venice and reach the Euganean Thermal Baths in the day.
Typical opening hours of the thermal pools in Padua are from morning (around 9am) until late evening (11pm/midnight); at weekends they stay open longer, while there is generally no difference in opening hours between summer and winter. Natural warm water allows outdoor bathing even in the coldest months.
There is almost always a refreshment area in the pool area of hotels: this can be a simple snack bar in the case of the cheaper establishments or a restaurant with a full menu in the more chic ones.
If you stay in a hotel with a swimming pool, you don’t have to worry about a thing: put on your swimming costume, slip into your bathrobe, go down to the hotel’s wellness area and dive into the warm water.
If, on the other hand, you are staying elsewhere and want to spend a day or evening in a hotel’s thermal pool as an external visitor, pay attention to a few details.
There are hotels that allow outsiders every day of the week, others only on weekdays. Many establishments only accept outside visitors if the hotel has many vacant rooms, so as to always guarantee maximum comfort for in-house guests: in these cases, reservations are compulsory for pool entrance.
Beware of the difference between pool entrance and day spa. The latter is usually a package that also includes a treatment in the hotel’s beauty centre (usually a 30- or 50-minute massage) or other services, e.g. a light lunch in the hotel restaurant.
To the basic day spa package can be added the use of a room for a few hours (back-up room), useful for showering and changing in more privacy and comfort; in some cases the reservation of a back-up room is compulsory for the purchase of a day spa package.
Some hotels require the use of a bathing cap, while in others it is not necessary. The spa kit (bathrobe and slippers) is only included in the more luxurious hotels; in most cases it is not included but can be hired, while in the cheaper pools it is not available.
The Terme Euganee are strategically located along the main road and rail arteries of the Veneto region, so reaching them is very convenient.
The easiest way to get there by car is to take the A13 Padova-Bologna motorway and exit at the Terme Euganee tollbooth: all the main spa resorts are within a 10 km radius. For those coming from Verona along the A4 motorway, the recommended exit is Padova Ovest, from there you can continue along the SR47 (Padova’s western bypass).
The reference railway station is Terme Euganee-Abano-Montegrotto, located in the municipality of Montegrotto Terme: from here one can reach the centre on foot and travel to other locations by local buses. The station is served by regional and intercity trains on the Venice-Bologna line, which ensure frequent connections.
If you are already in Padua, you can reach the Terme Euganee by train or bus.
The nearest airport is Venice, about 60 km away, but Verona is a little further (70 km).
All the towns of the Terme Euganee are located in the territory of the Euganean Hills Regional Park, situated in the southern part of the province of Padua. Abano and Montegrotto are 10-15 km from the centre of Padua, Galzignano is a couple of kilometres further on. Venice is about 60 km to the north-east.
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