What is better than dreaming of visiting the 7 best thermal baths in Italy when you work all day long, and the sun seems like a distant memory?

In these times, it is perfectly normal to start planning a trip towards relaxing destinations. Italian thermal baths like Bagni di Bormio (Lombardy), Saturnia (Tuscany), and Vulcano (Sicily) are precisely the escape you need.

Did you know that attending thermal baths dates back to the Roman Empire? Apparently, it hasn’t gone out of fashion yet. Many people visit Italy every year and want to enjoy the beauty and relaxation of its famous thermal baths.

At BesTripTips, we are here to inform you of the ultimate news about travels and how to make the most of them. We will provide helpful information about the 7 best thermal baths in Italy, updated to 2024. From Northern to Southern Italy, we will suggest some of the best hot springs sites.

Here’s what you will find in the article:

So, are you ready to discover your next dreamy destination in Italy?

Then buckle up and keep reading!

List of the 7 Best Thermal Baths In Italy

You are immersed in warm and healing waters. You turn around, and you find yourself surrounded by ancient architecture. Lost in nature, with its magical sounds and enchanting atmosphere, completely relaxed, and the memory of stressful office days seems so far away. In this moment, you may be dreaming, but trust us: 
When you visit these thermal baths in Italy, you will experience exactly what you have just read! So, wait no more and deeply dive into the 7 best thermal baths in Italy.  Let’s start with two of the most suggestive Italian thermal baths in the Northern regions.

1. Pré-Saint-Didier – Valle D’Aosta

Pré-Saint-Didier hot springs in the Valle D’Aosta region are one of the most spectacular thermal baths in Italy. You can easily reach them from Courmayeur while enjoying outdoor exploration of the region.

And what should you expect when arriving there?

The location was modernized over the years, but it still keeps its ancient charm.

Here, you can enjoy a stunning backdrop of the Alps and benefit from the properties of calcium and magnesium in the healing waters. All this is done while choosing from various thermal pools with different temperatures, hydromassage jets, and waterfalls. 

As you can imagine, in this case, the entrance is not so cheap because of the location… But if you are willing to spend around 50€, we guarantee it’s worth it!

Let’s start moving towards the other interesting thermal baths in northern Italy, shall we?

2. Bagni di Bormio – Lombardy

Nestled in the Italian Alps too, Bagni di Bormio is in the Lombardy region and is one of the most famous thermal baths in Italy. Mainly because of its stunning mountain scenery. While soaking in hot baths with temperatures between 36° and 41°,you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Alps at… 1300 meters above sea level! The site’s history dates back to the Roman Empire, when its healing waters were first discovered and immediately became a place of great relaxation.

And what will you find there? An incredible thermal complex with natural hot springs rich in minerals. The waters are therapeutic for circulation, muscular aches, and skin health; they are all good reasons not to miss them. And if you love a complete relaxation experience… You will also find a variety of wellness and spa treatments, such as massages, beauty treatments, or specific well-being therapies.

What about the price? Also, in this case, you will spend around 50 or 60 euros, depending on the period and day of the week. But don’t worry! In the next paragraphs, we will see more economical (and even free!) alternatives…

3. Saturnia – Tuscany

We know what you are thinking …What about the most famous region in Italy? Here we are: surely we cannot miss to mention Tuscany and its thermal baths. Saturnia hot springs are the top destination for tourists and locals searching for relaxation in beautiful thermal baths. And good news… The natural thermal waterfalls are free! But, if you want a more wellness experience, then entry to the private spa will cost you around 15 or 20 euros.

The scenery here is jaw-dropping: One of the unique features of Saturnia thermal baths is its cascading waterfalls formed by thermal waters through the years.

And obviously, their colors. Thermal water is high in calcium, which makes the natural pools bright white, with a stunning contrast with the blue of the water. Not to mention the atmosphere you are immersed in: Saturnia Thermal Baths have a long history dating back to ancient times when legends suggest that the god Saturn himself created them.

Fell in love with Tuscany? Let’s continue there:You can choose another exciting destination if you can’t reach Saturnia. Let’s discover it together in the next paragraph.

4. Bagni San Filippo – Tuscany

Bagni San Filippo is in the heart of one of the most beautiful areas of Tuscany, Val D’Orcia. And you will love what we are going to tell you: The thermal baths are free; here, you can enjoy the same bright white pools of Saturnia. This is why Bagni San Filippo thermal baths are also known as “Fosso Bianco”, which in Italian means White Ditch.

But what is their most characteristic feature? Here, you can live a more rustic and authentic experience and enrich your visit with a good walk in nature: The surrounding area offers walking trails that will allow you to explore the woodland around the thermal baths.

So, if you want a more simple and free (but still enchanting) experience, you should not miss Bagni San Filippo! Now, let’s linger a little bit more in Central Italy: in the next paragraph, you will discover one of the best thermal baths in the Lazio region.

5. Terme dei Papi – Lazio

Terme dei Papi is situated in the beautiful medieval city of Viterbo, in the Lazio region. A location surrounded by the stunning hills of Central Italy. Their charm is already in the name, which means “Baths of the Popes”. It reflects the historical legacy of this site, which dates back to the Renaissance era when they were the favorite retreat for Popes at that time. 

It indeed is an evocative place, but despite this, the prices are not so high: For a one-day ticket, you will pay around 20€ and enjoy the therapeutic properties of water pools that can reach 50°! The water is rich in sulfur salts, calcium, and magnesium, all excellent for treating chronic, respiratory, bone, and dermatological problems.

And if you are particularly interested in the benefits of thermal baths, don’t worry:

We will delve into the topic at the end of the article, so keep reading!

Now, in the following paragraphs, we will take you to other incredible places of relaxation, this time in Southern Italy: It’s the best destination if you miss the sun and warm temperatures all year.

6. Terme Vesuviane – Campania

BesTripTips always tries to give you travel information that can satisfy different tastes and economic possibilities. In this paragraph, we propose thermal baths that require a higher investment (around 100€). But if you can spend them, then it’s worth it!

Terme Vesuviane is a beautiful spa center in Torre Annunziata (Campania), just under the Vesuvius and near the sea, inserted in a unique scenario. This center was completely abandoned in medieval times, and its rebirth occurred only in 1831 when a team of engineers from the Bourbon army accidentally brought them to light.

And you know what makes this center even more enjoyable?

Famous guests who attended it in the past, such as Marcello Mastroianni and Sofia Loren! So, if you want a real VIP experience, you shouldn’t miss Terme Vesuviane. Otherwise, we will give you our best suggestion with a free but still beautiful thermal bath in Sicily. Keep reading!

7. Vulcano – Sicily

Last but not least, we have reached the southern part of Italy, and you can still find some interesting thermal bath locations here. In particular, we suggest Vulcano, an island of the Aeolian archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Because it is a volcanic area, its geothermal activity contributes to the presence of natural hot springs, with a unique and relaxing bath experience. And the entrance is free! 

You can reach the island by ferry from various ports in Sicily, such as Milazzo.

Then, once on the island, you can quickly arrive at the thermal baths by foot or using local transportation, and the view will be incredible: You will find water containing sulfur, famous for its potential health benefits for skin-cleansing and soothing properties, all immersed in a typical Mediterranean scenario.

Now you have all the valuable information to choose one of the best thermal baths in Italy or, why not, visit them all! But apart from an excellent relaxation experience, why should you visit them?

You have reached the end of this article, and here is where we will tell you the top benefits of visiting thermal baths in Italy…

A Week Enjoying Thermal Baths In Italy

The thermal baths we have suggested can help you improve your overall well-being from different points of view.

Here, we have gathered the main benefits of thermal water that will make your visit a travel experience and a gift for your body and soul!

Thermal Baths: What are the Benefits?

Here are the top 5 benefits of thermal baths:

If you are willing to explore the topic, you can find an interesting discussion about the various health benefits of thermal water here.

Enjoy Your Thermal Experience!

Well, now you surely have all the information you need to:

Thermal baths are not just one of the millions of destinations in Italy for your trips. They are natural gateways for your soul. It is a comprehensive experience where you can recharge batteries while enjoying nature, history, and, sometimes, even luxury. In other words, these thermal baths will be even more therapeutic since they will last forever in your memories. Thank you for exploring these wonders with BesTripTips, and come back soon to discover dreamy new destinations together!