Termy Zakopiańskie (Aqua Park Zakopane)

Termy Zakopiańskie is a thermal water park right in Zakopane, on Jagiellońska Street, only a kilometre from Krupówki. Many people still know it as Aqua Park Zakopane, the name the complex used to carry (the sign changed in the first half of the 2020s). It is owned by Polskie Tatry S.A. and is celebrating 20 years in operation. Its main advantage is location: you do not need to leave town, and the outdoor pool looks out at Giewont.

The story of the water is older than the park itself. In the 1950s geologist Prof. Stanisław Sokołowski suggested that warm water lay beneath Podhale. In 1961–1963 the first deep research borehole, Zakopane IG-1, was drilled on Antałówka hill to 3,073.2 m; at 1,540–1,620 m it struck water of 36–37 °C that flows up on its own, artesian-style. This was the first documented extraction of geothermal water in Zakopane and Podhale, and a small bathing pool later operated here. The water is classified as bicarbonate-calcium-magnesium, partly with sulphates and hydrogen sulphide; its components include calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, silicon and sulphur compounds. In the pools it is about 30–38 °C.

What to see and do

• Indoor thermal pool, 40 m long, and a 25 m sports pool (30–32 °C).
• "Wild river" 60 m long, a water swing with waves up to 70 cm, the "Volcano" climbing wall and the "Four Leaves" crossing.
• Outdoor thermal pool with a view (33 m, 36–38 °C) and a sulphur balneotherapy pool (36–38 °C); jacuzzi and a children's pool at 36 °C.
• Slides: a green tube slide 166.5 m long, a red one of 106 m, plus smaller ones.
• Sauna zone (18+, textile-free): Finnish sauna at 96–100 °C, bio-sauna, steam bath, brine bath, a "winter grotto" and a relaxation room.
• Salt grotto with graduation walls (45-minute sessions on the hour), bowling, a gym, a playroom, swimming lessons and aqua aerobics.

Important (October 2026): according to the website, the bio-sauna, the outdoor geothermal pool and the green, blue and yellow slides are temporarily closed for modernisation. In addition, the whole complex is closed for a maintenance break from 16 November to 7 December 2026 (reopening planned for 8 December; dates may change).

Practical information

Getting there. Address: ul. Jagiellońska 31, 34-500 Zakopane. From central Zakopane it is a 15–20-minute walk from Krupówki or a few minutes by car; there are parking spaces by the building.

Opening hours (as of October 2026): thermal pools daily 9:00–22:00; sauna zone Mon–Fri 14:00–22:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–22:00; salt grotto 10:00–21:00.

Tickets (low-season price list, valid among others 1 Sep–6 Nov 2026): 1 hour — 54 zł (reduced 43 zł), 2.5 hours — 87 zł (76 zł), no time limit — 131 zł (120 zł); a 1.5-hour morning ticket until 11:00 and an evening ticket from 20:00 — 54 zł each. Online is cheaper: from 39 zł per hour. Pools + saunas without time limit — 153 zł. Family 2+1 for 2.5 hours — 209 zł, 2+2 — 244 zł. Reductions apply to children aged 3–16, seniors 60+ and people with disabilities; children under 3 enter free with an adult. Salt grotto — 25 zł. Extra time costs 5 zł for each started 10 minutes.

Who it suits. An ideal choice for a rainy day in Zakopane or an evening after the mountains; families will find a children's pool and a playroom. Sulphur baths have contraindications (pregnancy, heart conditions, fever and others) — the list is on the complex's website.

Nearby

Close by are the main street, Krupówki, the Tatra Museum and the funicular up Gubałówka. If you want outdoor thermal pools, head for Termy Gorący Potok in Szaflary or Chochołowskie Termy.

Official website: termy-zakopianskie.pl

Photos: Cybularny, CC0, Wikimedia Commons; termy-zakopianskie.pl.