The northern part of Lazio is famous throughout Italy for Viterbo’s many thermal baths. Proving that Italy is a land rich in natural wonders, the hot springs in Viterbo have been supplying the famous thermal baths to visit from Rome for thousands of years.
The most important city in the undiscovered region known as Tuscia rivals in all respects Italy’s most popular hot spring areas such as Saturnia, Ischia, Bormio, and Abano.
The natural hot springs in Latium were attended by both the ancient Etruscans and the Romans from at least the 7th century BC.
Viterbo is easily reached by car or train from Rome and other major Italian cities. The city with its thermal baths is among the most interesting and relaxing places to visit near Rome.
READ ALSO: The Best Things to Do in Beautiful Viterbo
WHERE ARE THE BEST HOT SPRINGS IN VITERBO?
In this article, I will tell you about the healing properties of Viterbo’s thermal water and explain which spas and thermal pools are available and where to take long baths and beauty treatments. I will take you from the well-known Thermal Baths of the Popes to the secret pools with free access and further to even the most sophisticated spas.
I always recommend that you contact the thermal centers before your arrival to confirm that they are open and in operation. Sometimes extraordinary closures may occur for maintenance or special events.
THERMAL BATHS OF THE POPES – TERME DEI PAPI
Address: Strada Bagni, 12 Viterbo Contact: +39-0761-3501 | [email protected] Opening hours: On Tuesdays, closed for routine cleaning | Sunday through Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. | Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Viterbo earned the nickname City of the Popes because it was the seat of the pontiff for 26 years during the 13th century. Even a conclave took place in the beautiful Palazzo dei Papi in the historic center. It was precisely in medieval times that the popes began to make use of the thermal waters. Pope Nicholas 5th in 1450 had a splendid palace built on the site where the thermal baths stand today.
In 1993, a Viterbo entrepreneur restored the thermal complex and opened it to the public. The Thermal Baths of the Popes house a monumental thermal pool, a natural grotto with thermal vapors, a spa that produces its own cosmetic line, a four-star hotel, and a restaurant.
Why visit:
The thermal pool at Terme dei Papi covers an area of 2,000 square meters and is the closest to Viterbo’s historic center. Curative water gushes out very hot at about 58° from the Bullicame spring, flows underground to the pool and finally emerges from the characteristic stone spouts.
The depth of the water varies as does the temperature. Near the nozzles, the water is about 30 cm high and flows at 40° while away from the nozzles you can swim easily because the water is up to 3 meters high and about 34° warm.
The thermal cave is a unique natural steam bath; rivulets of water at about 58° flow over its walls creating an environment that is 48° warm and beneficial to the respiratory tract, joints, and metabolism. There is no other natural thermal cave in Italy that reaches such temperatures.
The best way to fully enjoy the wellness services offered by this spa is to stay for a few days in the comfortable Hotel Niccolò V, which is located within the Terme dei Papi complex.
TERME DEI PAPI SHUTTLE
The spa shuttle operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. It leaves at 9:30 a.m. from Viale George Washington (just off Piazza del Popolo, Metro Flaminio) and returns from the spa at 5 p.m.
PRICES: 3-hour admission on weekdays €12 | 3-hour admission on holidays and pre-holidays €15 Daily admission on weekdays €18 Daily admission on holidays and pre-holidays €20 | Night admission (Saturday) €20
BULLICAME HOT SPRING
Address: Bullicame Road Always Open
About 3.5 km east of Viterbo is the Bullicame hot spring, whose healing water supplies the Terme dei Papi Thermal Baths. Thermal water gushes out of the spring at 58°. The water in the pools is very hot, around 40°.
The area where the water flows out is fenced off with thick clear glass. Near the spring are two pools where water and, at the bottom, white thermal mud collect.
The landscape around the spring and pools is quite barren, looking almost lunar. If you are a spa enthusiast, stop by and take a dip at these pools with free admission.
There is a parking lot and a guard. The pools are emptied and cleaned periodically. There are no locker rooms or bathrooms on site.
HOW TO GET TO THE BULLICAME HOT SPRINGS IN VITERBO
From Rome Ostiense or Rome Trastevere or Valle Aurelia take a train to Viterbo Porta Romana and then a bus (1C) bound for Bullicame. Depending on the schedule, you may have to walk a couple of miles.
BAGNACCIO THERMAL BATHS (update – temporarily closed)
Address: Strada dei Garinei Opening hours: every day from 7 am to 11:30 pm
The Bagnaccio Thermal Baths, or simply il Bagnaccio, is a thermal park surrounded by meadows and olive groves, located 10 km north of Viterbo.
The park represents the perfect middle ground between a more elegant spa like the Terme dei Papi and public thermal pools.
Thermal pools are fed by two thermal springs, the “Polle del Bagnaccio” spring and the “Pozze del Bagnaccio” spring. From one spring flows hyperthermal water (60°-65°) and from the other hypothermal water (23-29°). The waters are sulfate/bicarbonate/alkaline earthy weakly sulfurous.
Steams emanating from the water create a particularly striking atmosphere at night.
The Bagnaccio has 5 thermal pools of different sizes and temperatures. About 20 people enter the largest ones. The water temperature ranges from 40° to 26°. It is possible to alternate cold and hot baths to invigorate and benefit the circulatory system.
The water in the pools is quite shallow, so to soak up to the neck you have to sit.
On site there are wooden undressing booths, basic WCs, a shaded area with tables, and some machines that serve snacks. There is ample parking for cars outside the spa area and also a campervan area.
This is our favorite thermal bath in Viterbo. Sometimes we pass by unplanned when we visit the historic center of Viterbo. The atmosphere is so casual and friendly that we happily bathe in our underwear if we don’t have our bathing suits with us!
COST: €6-9
TERME SALUS
Address: Strada Tuscanese 26-28 Contact: tel +39 07611970000 | [email protected], [email protected]
The refined Terme Salus is the thermal spa of the Salus Terme Hotel. It is not necessary to stay at the hotel to use the day spa with thermal pools.
These are the most exclusive thermal baths in Viterbo, and therefore also the most expensive. There are two thermal pools, one indoor and one outdoor. The other pools in the beautiful grounds around the spa have lukewarm or cold non-water treated with sea salt.
Spending a day of absolute relaxation at the thermal baths of the Hotel Salus Terme you’ll be able to enjoy massages, a sauna with a view of the park, Kneipp paths, and a herbal tea room. Children are not allowed at the spa pool.
Get in touch with the spa’s customer service department to learn about all available packages and offers.
Cost of daily admission ticket: €45
CARLETTI PUBLIC HOT SPRINGS IN VITERBO
Address: Strada Terme, Viterbo Always Open
The Piscine Carletti hot springs are located about 2.5 km from the center of Viterbo. It is a free-access thermal area fed by a spring with similar characteristics to the Bullicame spring.
Water temperature ranges from 36 to 40°. A larger pool accommodates about 30 people and the 3 other tiny pools have higher temperatures. The water replenishes quickly in all the pools.
There are lawns around the pools where you can rest but there is no shade, so I recommend going here only in the less hot months.
The pools are about 30 meters from a side road. If you bring camping chairs with you they might be handy for resting after swimming, because there are few benches available.
Locals also come here to socialize, so don’t be surprised if they try to chat you up while you are bathing. If you want to find a place in these free thermal pools, visit them on a weekday.
THERMA OASIS
Address: Via MArtana, Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. | Saturday evening opening: 8 p.m.-12 a.m.
Therma Oasi is the most recently renovated thermal spa in Viterbo. Here, more than two thousand years ago, stood the ancient Therma Navisso, used by the Romans in imperial times.
The Oasi hot spring gushes out at 65° and feeds through geysers and waterfalls into the 500-square-meter thermal pool. The pool, circumscribed by blocks of local travertine, is divided into 4 zones. Water in the pools has different shades of natural color, from opalescent to emerald green.
This thermal water is microbiologically and bacteriologically pure, rich in minerals with d high hydrogen sulfide content. This thermal water has outstanding dermatological healing properties.
The spa has comfortable changing rooms with bathrooms and lockers for storing one’s belongings. The pool is accessed via a covered corridor where you can leave your bathrobe and slippers.
Prices: Daily weekday admission: €25 Holiday, pre-holiday and weekend daily admission: €30 Saturday evening admission: €20
TIP: There are great discounts on Groupon for daily admission to Therma Oasis.
THERMAL BATHS NEAR VITERBO
Once you have bathed all the thermal baths in Viterbo, I recommend that you proceed to explore on your way from Viterbo to Tuscany and Umbria, where you will encounter two other major spas of Lazio.
Also in the province of Viterbo are the thermal baths of Vulci and Orte.
VULCI THERMAL BATHS AND SPA – TERME DI VULCI
Address: Via delle Terme, Riminino, Viterbo Open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Contacts: Tel: +390761438574 | [email protected]
The thermal baths of Vulci are located about 35 km north of the picturesque town of Tarquinia and near the border with Tuscany.
We are in the Maremma area, known worldwide for its wilderness, coastline, good food, and quaint history-rich villages. Vulci was an ancient Etruscan city, as its name reminds us.
The thermal bath houses 4 pools of different temperatures, color,s and water properties. Temperatures range between 30 and 42°. The thermal water is rich in mineral salts, bicarbonate, sulfate, magnesium, fluoride, ferruginous, acidic and microbiologically pure.
A dress code must be observed to enter the pool: the towel or bathrobe must be white. If you don’t have white ones, you can rent them for €5. Slippers are mandatory, any color. Lockers are free if booked online, otherwise available for €2 while supplies last.
The pools are surrounded by lawn areas where you can freely use sunbeds, umbrellas, and director-type chairs. The center also offers showers, changing rooms, baths, and shower soaps.
At the Terme di Vulci is the Voltumna Spa, which offers treatments such as massages and thermal mud, very useful for treating rheumatism and arthrosis.
By the pool is a kiosk open for breakfast, lunch, and aperitifs.
The icing on the cake and what makes Vulci Spa stand out is the Glamping area, where you can stay while you enjoy the thermal baths and attractions the region has to offer.
PRICES: -High season (June to October): weekday daily admission €21 (afternoon only €16) | Holiday and pre-holiday daily admission €34 (afternoon only €21). -Low season (October, November and March to June): daily admission weekdays €16 (afternoon only €12) | Daily admission holidays and pre-holidays €24 (afternoon only €18).
AND WHAT ARE THE BEST THERMAL BATHS IN VITERBO IN SUMMER?
In summer, taking a bath in the hyperthermal waters is almost impossible; you’ll feel like you’re plunging into a pool of fire.
Fortunately, near Viterbo, there are also lukewarmwarm thermal water springs (hypothermal, just like in Saturnia!) in which it is pleasant to dive even during the hottest months.
ORTE THERMAl BATHS – TERME DI ORTE
Address: Strada Bagno, 9 Orte Open from late May to mid-September Contact: Tel: +39 0761 402404 | [email protected]
About 25 km east of Viterbo, on the border with Umbria, is Lazio’s best hot spring to visit in summer. The water at the Terme di Orte comes out at about 29° from the spring that in ancient times was called “Spring of the Scabies” precisely because of its ability to cure diseased skin.
Starting in the 1960s’ when the thermal pool was renovated and opened to the public, these baths attracted the general public because of the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the presence of so many trees.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, on the lawns around the pool were rudimentary huts made of logs, inside which bathers rested and chatted. Today those huts are replaced by comfortable shaded gazebos with tables.
The pool is huge, and you will have no trouble finding a place to relax. At the edge of the pool is a drop-off that forms “thermal showers” with which you can massage your back.
One part of the pool has a diving board and is dedicated to those who like to swim. There is also a pool exclusively for children.
These spas are ideal for spending the whole day in the summer. Bring a packed lunch (but there is also a restaurant on site), a good book, friends to play cards with, and enjoy your free time.
Orte Thermal Baths are well-kept and clean with all the amenities but at the same time affordable for all wallets and as cozy and informal as if you were visiting your friend’s pool!
READ ALSO: 15 Picturesque Towns near Rome in the Tuscia Region
Now you know that the secret to relaxing in Lazio is to explore all the hot springs in Viterbo.
If you want to do further research to better plan your trip, take a look at the other hot springs near Rome as well.
READ ALSO: Discover Civita Di Bagnoregio, the Hanging Village Near Viterbo
