Sliač spa: warm carbonated water and a thermal swimming area

Sliač is a spa in the Zvolen Basin above the Hron valley, between Zvolen and Banská Bystrica. The spa quarter with its 46-hectare park lies on a slope above the former village of Rybáre. Its greatest asset is water that rises from the spring at a natural 33.3 °C – almost body temperature – with a high content of carbon dioxide. The spa points out that similar isothermal carbonated springs are known only in Argentina, Australia and Spain, and that in Central Europe there is just one – in Sliač. The springs, then called "Teplice", are first mentioned in 1244, in the time of King Béla IV. The first guests came in the second half of the 17th century, in the 18th century the springs were recognised as healing, and the spa became famous far beyond Hungary. Today it is run by Kúpele Sliač, a.s., and its motto is "Your heart is in the right place here".

Mineral waters and natural resources

All treatment relies on a single source – the Spa Spring (Kúpeľný prameň), which rises right beneath the Kúpeľný dom bathhouse and yields about 5 litres of water and 10 litres of gas per second. It is a natural healing water of medium mineralisation – carbonated, sulphate-bicarbonate, calcium-magnesium, slightly acidic and low-thermal. It is also piped to the spa courtyard next to the Kúpeľný dom, near the fountain. The gas escaping from the spring is 98 % carbon dioxide; Sliač is the only spa in Slovakia that uses it for dry gas baths and subcutaneous gas injections. Lower down, in deciduous woodland about five minutes' walk south-west of the spa centre, the drinking springs Štefánik, Bystrica, Lenkey and Adam rise within an area some 50 m across – earthy-saline and iron-rich waters of different temperatures. They were once used for drinking cures, and in 1969–1982 they were laid out as a spring promenade with a glass colonnade. The iron stains the stones and the water brown.

What is treated

The spa treats cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, oncological and gynaecological diseases, and post-COVID syndrome. Treatment is based on carbon-dioxide therapy: pool and tub baths in mineral water and dry carbon-dioxide gas baths. These are complemented by mud wraps, therapeutic massage, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy and therapeutic exercise – more than 40 types of procedure in all. Treatment is prescribed by a doctor after an examination. For people from nearby towns there is an outpatient course without a stay: a medical check and on average three procedures a day; self-payers can take a course of at least ten days with 30 procedures. Single procedures are also sold according to the price list.

Pools and wellness

In summer a thermal swimming area in the spa park is open to everyone. The water flows through the pools continuously without chemical treatment, and its brown colour comes from its high iron content. There is a rectangular adult pool up to 1.8 m deep and a small round children's pool, loungers (free), volleyball and five-a-side football pitches, a snack bar and, next door, four tennis courts. In 2026 the swimming area opened on 1 June; Tuesday is the cleaning day. It is closed in winter, when the mineral pool is available as a treatment.

Practical information

The spa is a few kilometres from Zvolen and about 15 km from Banská Bystrica; the R1 expressway passes close by, and trains and buses run from Zvolen and Banská Bystrica. There is a car park by the spa. Allow half a day for the swimming area; a walk through the park to the drinking springs takes an hour or two, and the marked "heart" routes lead into the surroundings. Opening hours and prices are summarised in the "At a glance" box.

Nearby: trails, a castle, another spa

The Zvolen, Sekier – Sliač and Sliač – Hronček trails start from the spa, and in Zvolen it is worth seeing Zvolen Castle — Slovak National Gallery. About five kilometres to the west lies another thermal spa – Kováčová.

Official website: kupelesliac.sk

Photos: Ladislav Luppa, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Ladislav Luppa, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons; Random photos 1989, CC0, Wikimedia Commons.