Unique Thermal Baths & What to See while in the Neighbourhood

Eastern Switzerland

1. Engadin Thermal Spa (Bogn Engiadina)

The town of Scuol is the biggest town in the Lower Engadin Valley. It takes a bit of effort to get here but the journey through wild landscapes and past idyllic villages; as well as the magical views from the baths themselves, are all good reasons to come.

What is available in the Spa:

• Panorama pool, approx. 33 ° C
• Exercise and therapy pool, 33 ° C
• Brine pool – 2% brine, approx. 33 ° C
• Whirlpool – approx. 36 ° C
• Grottos – Cold water, 18 ° C and warm water grotto, 36 ° C
• Outdoor pool with a lazy river
• Steam bath (textile), air approx. 46 ° C
• Solariums (charge)
• Relaxation room with open fire
• Massages (charge)
• Rental of swimwear, bath towels and bathrobe
• Sauna area
• Roman-Irish Bathing area
• Wellness Centre

This information is as of November 2023. For more information go to the website.

What to see while you are here

The pretty towns just above the Lower Engadin Valley are easily reached by train from Scuol. Both Guarda and Ardez are idyllic villages with the typical Sgraffito engravings decorating the building’s facades. See my page on the historical villages of the Lower Engadin Valley for more information.

2. Andeer Mineral Bath

We stayed in Andeer for a ski week in 2018 and found these mineral baths around the corner from the accommodation. We often went there in the evenings. I think I enjoy the thermal baths as much as the skiing!

The Andeer Mineral Baths are found in the small, typical Graubünden village of Andeer. This is an ideal place if you are looking for peace and quiet. They have cobbled streets and a pretty town centre with a welcoming bakery. The buses leave from this area regularly to Splügen Tambo ski resort which can be reached in 13 mins or 15 minutes by car.

These baths offer:

• One indoor and one outdoor pool (good size) – both with bubble, whirlpool & neck shower
• Constant 34 degrees
• Evening light display in the outdoor pool
• Wellness
• Finnish sauna and organic sauna as well as a steam bath (currently reserved for women only from 6-9 pm). 
• Splash and Spa Tamaro Abo – 20% off ski pass (see website for details)

For up-to-date information and a funny video go to their website. Also, the Splügen Tambo website gives more information about the Splash and Spa Tamaro discount.

What to see while you are here

Summer: The scenic Viamala Gorge is worth visiting and the remote and wild Averser Rhein Valley which is home to the highest year-round settlement in Europe, Juf.

Winter: Ski Resort Splügen Tambo is great for all levels of skiers. Juf in the Averser Rhein Valley also has a small ski resort for really off-the-beaten-track skiing possibilities.

3. Tamina Therme – Bad Ragaz

Bad Ragaz spa town is on the edge of the southern Rhine Valley, across from the Bündner Herrschaft vineyards.

The thermal baths are in an elegant modern building close to the town. Springs originating from deep in the Alps pick up minerals as the warm water slowly travels upwards through cracks in the rocks, finally ending up above ground at the small Tamina Gorge. The gorge itself was used as a thermal bath but, since it was very tricky to navigate, was eventually moved to a bathing house just outside the gorge. This historical building has been lovingly restored with some of the original rooms open for viewing. The gorge and old bathhouse can be reached by either horse and cart, a Post Bus or by foot. It doubles as an entrance to the Tamina Gorge (see below for more info on the gorge and town).

The modern Tamina Therme is attached to the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. This complex is a short walk across a park from the town centre or a bus ride from the train station on the other side of town. Some of the bathing and steam options are:

• Large indoor Bath – 34 C
• Outside Bath 34 C
• Sport bath 32 C
• Bath with jets & loungers 36.5 C
• Warm water bath 39 C /Cold water 17 C
• Steam Room 45 C 100% humidity
• 1 warm towel (included in entry price)
• Relaxation room
• Bio Textile Sauna 65 C, 50% humidity
• Mineral ceremony in large pool (mineral salts given out)
• Peeling Bar
• Wellness options including massages – extra charge
• Sauna Village – extra charge
• Cafe

What to see while you are here

The Tamina Gorge

It is possible to visit the original spa which has been turned into a cafe and museum. This is also an entrance to the small Tamina Gorge where you can get close to the mineral waters. It is very atmospheric with an old tunnel bored into the rock leading to a place where you can touch the warm water bubbling up from deep underground. The water gushes beside the walkway and, after a bit of rain or melting of snow, sprays down from above. There are panels along the walkway that give you an idea as to how the waters were enjoyed by 18th-century aristocrats as well as geological and thermal information.

It is also possible to do a walk alongside the Tamina River from Bad Ragaz to the gorge. This can be a cooling walk because it is within a wide gorge which, depending on the rainfall, has water cascading or dripping down the rockfaces beside the narrow road. (This road is only for Post buses, horse and cart and service vehicles for the restaurant/museum at the gorge entrance).

Bad Ragaz Town

The town itself has a relaxing feel, with a large tourist office, craft shops, attractive parks, a golf course, a large outdoor swimming complex and some nice hotels, cafes and restaurants. The Tamina river rages through the town to meet up with the Rhein in the Rhein Valley.

Good to Know: Every three years in the summer & autumn months, Bad Ragaz becomes an open-air art exhibition called Bad RagARTz. The last one was 2021 so you will have to wait until 2024, however, it pays to keep a lookout for other events in this small town. See my post for 2021 pics and info on the Tamina Gorge.

South – Canton Valais/Wallis

4. Leukerbad

VWP_LEUKERBAD_HX6F0848 © Valais Wallis Promotion – Tam Berger.jpg

The spa town of Leukerbad (1,411 metres above sea level) is high above the Rhône Valley at the top of a windy road with switchbacks. It takes about 30 minutes by bus to climb 700 meters but is well worth the trip as Leukerbad is home to the highest and largest hot water thermal bath in the Alps.

The mineral waters bubble up to the surface at around 51° C, then cool to a more pleasant 28 – 43 degrees once arriving in the town’s many thermal pools, whirlpools, kids pools, fountains and saunas.

Leukerbad is considered to be an environmentally friendly and sustainable tourism destination.“My Leukerbad AG” was one of the winners of a myclimate Award 2021 for being a “Pioneer for the integration of climate protection at destination level”. The award was presented at ITB Berlin NOW 2021.  Here is a link to the press release.

Two mineral baths that offer thermal bathing, saunas and wellness are:

Leukerbad Thermal Baths

This is the largest thermal bath in Europe with:

• Thermal and adventure pool
• Vitality and fun bath
• Children’s and toddler pools as well as a children’s paradise
• Sports and indoor swimming pool

Walliser Alpen Therme & Spa (luxury spa)

This one is located beside the village square with mountain views from the circular pool. It has recently been fully renovated and offers:

• Thermal world
• Valais (Wallis) sauna village
• Roman-Irish bath
• Bergquell Spa

What to see while you are here

The Torrent Cable Car and Gemmi Pass Cable Car

The small spa town of Leukerbad is nestled between impressive mountain cliffs and peaks with the Torrent Cable Car and Gondola on the south side of town and the Gemmi Pass cable car on the north side.

In Winter

• Cross-Country Skiing
• Downhill skiing (Torrent only)
• sledging
• Winter Trails and snowshoe trails

In Summer

• Walking the Gemmi Pass (Gemmi Cable Car)
• 200 km hiking trails
• 225 km biking trails
• 3 Via Ferrata (Rock climbing) – NOT for the faint-hearted!
• Monster scooters and scooters

For information about walking the Gemmi Pass go to my post detailing my own experience.

Northern Switzerland

5. Sole Uno Wellness World – Rheinfelden

Sole Uno Mineral Baths have plenty of ideas for relaxing, recharging and massaging your muscles. This is a popular thermal bath so it is a good idea to get here early. Luckily there is a limit to the number of people allowed in at one time, and with all the different options available once inside, there is plenty of room for everyone to relax.

This place offers plenty of treats! – Floating pool with music piped in, relaxing room with an aquarium, saunas infused with salt or herbs, bubbles and jets everywhere, alpine waterfall corner and hot/ice plunge baths… I visited here and found it loads of fun but at the same time incredibly relaxing.

Rheinfelder Natursole® (officially protected brand) is a natural brine that is one of the strongest in Europe. It is piped directly into the Thermal Baths from a depth of around 200 metres, then mixed with magnesium and calcium-rich Rheinfelden drinking water and heated to 33 – 36° C. It is known to loosen cramped and tight muscles and promote good circulation.

The mineral baths offer:

• Rheinfelder Natursole® – a shallow pool with high salt content (12 %) for floating in. Is in a dimly lit area with music piped under the water.
• Hot and cold plunge pools
• Waterfall and showers in a tropical atmosphere
• Aromatic steam rooms.
• SalzReich room with salt steam and vitality bath
• Outdoor warm saltwater pool
• Russian and Finnish Sauna Area

A Sole Uno Brochure PDF can be found here.

What to see while you are here

Another bonus about this place is its location. The thermal baths are within walking distance, through a park, to the historical town of Rheinfelden. The centre has a cosy old town feel with craft shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. It sits in a lovely position alongside the Rhein and has a beautiful old bridge linking it to Germany’s town of Rheinfelden.

Western Switzerland

6. Les Bains de la Gruyère – Charmey in canton Fribourg

Once again, the location is reason enough to visit these thermal baths. They are in the small town of Charmey, near Gruyères, in the Fribourg foothills. Les Bains de la Gruyère offer:

• 2 inside and 1 outside pools (34 C)
• A Nordic area with 3 saunas
• An oriental area with Hammam and Turkish baths
• Wellness with massages and cosmetic treatments
• Cafe
• Charming village to walk around before or after visiting the baths

What to see while you are here

• The Jogne Gorge is a short walk from the town of Charmey. This is a lovely natural area with bridges, tunnels in the rock, and a walkway that leads to the town of Broc.
• After exiting the gorge in Broc, a 20-minute walk takes you to the historical Cailler Chocolate Factory.
• Around 10 mins by car or 18 mins by public transport from Broc is the lovely medieval town of Gruyères looking magical on top of a hill. Gruyères is a gorgeous car-free town with an impressive castle – understandably loved by tourists.
• The world-famous Gruyère cheese can be experienced at its original location. La Maison du Gruyère, just below the historical part of town, has an exhibition all about the processes involved in making the cheese, the different types of cheese and a viewing platform of the processing plant.

A hiking suggestion from Charmey to Broc, through the Jogne Gorge