Krakow: Chocholow Thermal Baths & Tatra Mountain Pools

Thermal pools fed from deep underground, surrounded by the Tatras

You're picked up from your hotel and driven two hours to Europe's largest thermal complex in the Tatra foothills. Spend 2.5 to 8 hours in 30+ mineral-fed pools at 32–36°C, with access to a quiet relaxation zone, children's areas, and a poolside restaurant. The driver returns you to Krakow in the evening. Entry and transport are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Relax at Chocholow Thermal Baths

• Drive from Krakow to Chocholow
• Enjoy 3-8 hours in thermal pools
• Experience water basketball and volleyball
• Use children’s zones if applicable
• Eat at the on-site restaurant
• Optionally use saunas undressed
• Admire panoramic Tatra Mountains view
• Drive back to Krakow

The experience

The minivan picks you up from your Krakow hotel and heads south toward Podhale, a two-hour drive that winds through foothills before the Tatra Mountains come into view. By the time you arrive at Chocholow Thermal Baths, the largest thermal complex in the region, you're already thinking about getting into the water. The pools are fed from nearly 3,600 metres below ground (mineral-rich water that carries sulphur, magnesium, sodium and calcium), and they sit at temperatures between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. Over 30 pools spread across the complex, some indoors, some outdoors, so you can move between them depending on what you want: a quiet soak, a lap swim, or something louder.

The complex itself is built for different moods. There's a dedicated "Quiet & Relaxation" area if you want to float and watch the mountains without noise, and zones designed for children with water basketball, volleyball, inflatable slides and a wild river feature, though some attractions run only in summer. A restaurant sits poolside if you get hungry, and a DJ plays weekend and seasonal evenings if you're on the Evening Experience option. The drive back to Krakow takes another two hours, so you're looking at a full day out, but the time in the pools is yours to shape: you can stay 2.5 hours or stretch it to 8, depending on which ticket option you choose. Bring a swimsuit, towel and flip-flops, or buy them there.

If you add the optional Zakopane visit, the day extends to include a vodka and cottage cheese tasting in the mountain town before heading back. Either way, the driver speaks English and the minivan is air-conditioned, so the journey itself doesn't wear you down.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Krakow, round-trip transport by air-conditioned minivan with an English-speaking driver, entry to Chocholow Thermal Baths, and access to the "Quiet & Relaxation" area.
• You'll have 2.5 to 8 hours to spend in the 30+ pools, depending on your chosen option.
• A poolside restaurant is available if you want to eat, and on weekends or seasonally, a DJ plays in the evening.
• If you select the Zakopane add-on, a vodka and cottage cheese tasting in the mountain town is included before your return to Krakow.

Options for this experience

4 options

Evening trip from the meeting pointGuide in English or Polish · 16:00Begin the trip from a central meeting point and spend an evening at the thermal baths with a 3-hour regular-access pass. The trip finishes near Old Town Krakow in a collective drop-off point; drop-off at your hotel is not offered.

Full-day private trip to the thermal bathsGuide in English or Polish · Available from 1 Oct 2027Private transfer and vehicle: The trip starts with a hotel pickup, and you spend a full day at the thermal baths. A vehicle and driver are at your disposal for the duration. Length: 12 hours. You set how long the trip lasts; the maximum, including travel time, is about 12 hours. Minivan or sedan. Drop-off included: you choose where in Krakow the trip ends. Pickup is included.

Evening visit to the Bania thermal bathsGuide in English or Polish · 16:00Bania Baths: Because of scheduled technical maintenance at Chochołowskie Termy, we are running a trip to Termy Bania instead. Shared tour from a meeting point: The trip starts at a central meeting point, and you get a 3-hour regular-access pass to the thermal baths. Length: 8 hours. Central drop-off: the trip ends near Old Town Krakow; drop-off at your hotel is not offered.

Morning trip with hotel pickupGuide in English or Polish · Available from 28 Nov · 08:00Shared tour with hotel pickup: The trip begins at your hotel, and you get a 3-hour regular-access pass to the thermal baths. Length: 7 hours. Central drop-off: the trip ends near Old Town Krakow; drop-off at your hotel is not offered. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (4 to 17 years) · Infant (under 4): free

Live guideEnglish and Polish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Legendary Krakow

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Krakow who want to soak in mineral pools without arranging their own transport. The two-hour drive each way is built into the day, which is what makes a full afternoon in the baths possible. Plan for a full day out. The length of your stay in the pools is flexible, from 2.5 to 8 hours.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Polish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 17 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long is the drive from Krakow to Chocholow Thermal Baths?

Up to two hours each way, depending on traffic and the exact pickup location in Krakow.

What is the water temperature in the pools?

Between 32 and 36 degrees Celsius. The water is sourced from 3,600 metres below ground and contains minerals like sulphur, magnesium, sodium and calcium.

How many pools are there?

Over 30 pools across the complex, with both indoor and outdoor options.

What should I bring?

A swimsuit, towel and flip-flops. You can also buy these on-site if you prefer.

Is there food available at the complex?

Yes, there's a restaurant inside the complex where you can eat during your visit.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, round-trip transfer by air-conditioned minivan, entry to the thermal baths, and access to the "Quiet & Relaxation" area. An English-speaking driver is provided.

How long can I spend in the pools?

Depending on your ticket option, you can spend between 2.5 and 8 hours at the complex.

Is the optional Zakopane visit included?

No, it's optional. If you add it, you'll also get a vodka and cottage cheese tasting in the mountain town before returning to Krakow.

Are saunas available?

Yes, but the complex requires that you enter saunas undressed, as per their regulations.