Spa hotels in Styria
Styria has Austria's densest thermal country with the Hundertwasser spa Bad Blumau, plus Alpine wellness on the Dachstein and wine pleasure in the “Styrian Tuscany” — the green heart of Austria.
Holidays & wellness in Styria
Styria, the “green heart of Austria”, has the highest density of thermal baths in the country. In the thermal and volcanic country of eastern Styria one healing-water resort follows the next — led by the Hundertwasser spa Rogner Bad Blumau, one of the best-known total works of spa art in the world. Healing water from great depth, volcanic soils and a mild climate shape this wellness landscape. Yet Styria is more than thermal baths: in the north it rises to the Dachstein and Schladming — Alpine wellness with glacier and ski circus. In the south the South Styrian Wine Road runs through a hill landscape not called the “Styrian Tuscany” for nothing. Hardly any state combines thermal bath, high Alps and pleasure wellness so densely.
What this region stands for
- Thermal wellness (Hundertwasser Bad Blumau)
- Alpine wellness on the Dachstein
- Wine and pleasure wellness in southern Styria
- Longevity and active wellness
- Mountain climate Schladming-Ramsau
- Cultural wellness in Graz
Why wellness here?
Styria's wellness profile rests on three pillars. First, the thermal country of eastern Styria: the highest concentration of thermal baths in Austria, fed from volcanic underground. Its flagship is the Rogner Bad Blumau — Friedensreich Hundertwasser's total work of thermal art, opened in 1997, with 2,400 different windows, green roofs, golden domes and the Vulkania healing water from 3,000 metres deep. Add the Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf, the Therme Loipersdorf and Bad Gleichenberg. Second, Alpine wellness in the north: Schladming-Dachstein combines glacier (the Dachstein, 2,995 m, with Skywalk and ice palace), the Ski amadé ski circus and the mountain climate of the Ramsau into a mountain-sports and wellness region. Third, the pleasure wellness of the south: the South Styrian Wine Road with Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling, Styrian pumpkin-seed oil and the cuisine of the volcanic country make eating and drinking part of well-being. Graz, the state capital, carries the cultural anchor with its UNESCO World Heritage old town (since 1999) and Eggenberg Palace.
When to travel here
Summer (May to October): the main season for the South Styrian Wine Road (harvest time in autumn), for Dachstein and Enns valley hiking and for Graz. The thermal baths run all year round, but in summer combine well with wine and hiking tours. Winter (December to March): winter sports in Schladming-Dachstein and in the Ramsau (a cross-country stronghold) with the classic ski-and-après-spa tradition. The thermal baths of the east have their cosy high season in winter. Spring and autumn are the quieter shoulders for thermal and pleasure weeks.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
Rogner Bad Blumau (Hundertwasser spa)
Friedensreich Hundertwasser's total work of thermal art, opened in 1997 — 2,400 different windows, green roofs, golden domes, the Vulkania healing water from 3,000 m deep and 14 indoor and outdoor pools. Architecture that made Austrian thermal bathing famous worldwide.
Dachstein — glacier & Skywalk
The Dachstein massif (2,995 m) with glacier, Skywalk viewing platform, suspension bridge and ice palace, reached by the Dachstein glacier cable car from the Ramsau. A year-round snow and mountain-climate ground above the Enns valley.
Schladming & Ski amadé
Schladming is one of Austria's best-known winter-sports addresses — host of World Cup night slaloms, part of the Ski amadé network. In summer a hiking and biking ground; the Ramsau am Dachstein counts as a cross-country stronghold.
UNESCO World Heritage old town of Graz & Eggenberg Palace
Graz's old town has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1999, extended in 2010 to include Eggenberg Palace — with the clock tower, the Landhaus courtyard, the Kunsthaus (the “friendly alien”) and the Murinsel. One of the best-preserved old towns in Central Europe and the culinary capital of the pleasure region of Styria.
South Styrian Wine Road
The “Styrian Tuscany” — a hill landscape of vineyards along the Slovenian border, known for Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling, Buschenschank wine taverns and the typical Klapotetz windmills. Pleasure wellness with wine, pumpkin-seed oil and a mild climate.
Grüner See (Tragöß)
A karst lake at the foot of the Hochschwab that swells to many times its size with the snowmelt and glows emerald green — one of the most impressive natural spectacles in Styria, a popular hiking and photo destination in early summer.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What is the thermal country of eastern Styria?
Eastern Styria has the highest density of thermal baths in Austria — a series of healing-water resorts on volcanic underground. The best known is the Rogner Bad Blumau, Hundertwasser's total work of thermal art with the Vulkania healing water from 3,000 m deep. Add the Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf, the Therme Loipersdorf and Bad Gleichenberg. A region in which thermal bathing forms a dense culture of its own.
What makes the Hundertwasser spa Bad Blumau special?
The Rogner Bad Blumau is no ordinary bath but a walk-in Hundertwasser artwork: 2,400 different windows, green, walkable roofs, golden domes and curved lines. It is fed by the Vulkania healing water from 3,000 metres deep. The architecture made Austrian thermal bathing famous worldwide.
What does Styria offer beyond the thermal baths?
In the north Alpine wellness: Schladming-Dachstein with glacier, ski circus and the mountain climate of the Ramsau. In the south the pleasure wellness of the “Styrian Tuscany” — the South Styrian Wine Road with Sauvignon Blanc, pumpkin-seed oil and the cuisine of the volcanic country. Plus Graz with its UNESCO World Heritage old town as the cultural anchor.
Styria or Salzburg — what is different?
Styria: the thermal bath is the defining element — the highest density of thermal baths in Austria, with Hundertwasser architecture and volcanic healing water, complemented by wine pleasure and Alpine wellness on the Dachstein. Green, culinary, relaxed.
Salzburg: more focused on the healing cure (the Gastein healing gallery), the high Alps (Hohe Tauern) and ski circuses, with the Mozart city as its cultural anchor. More Alpine and medically deeper, but without Styria's density of thermal baths and wine.
When is the best time to travel?
The thermal baths run all year round and have their cosy high season in winter. For the South Styrian Wine Road autumn at harvest time is especially beautiful; for Dachstein and Enns valley hikes summer (May to October).
Winter sports in Schladming-Dachstein and the Ramsau from December to March. Spring and autumn suit as quieter shoulders for thermal and pleasure weeks.
Styria — spa hotels & holidays
Thermal country — Austria's densest spa landscape
The thermal and volcanic country of eastern Styria has the highest density of thermal baths in Austria. On volcanic underground healing-water resorts line up — led by the Rogner Bad Blumau, Friedensreich Hundertwasser's total work of thermal art with 2,400 windows, green roofs and the Vulkania healing water from 3,000 metres deep. The Heiltherme Bad Waltersdorf, the Therme Loipersdorf and Bad Gleichenberg complete the offering. Here thermal bathing is no fringe phenomenon but the defining wellness culture of an entire landscape.
Schladming-Dachstein — Alpine wellness and glacier
In the north Styria rises to the Dachstein. Schladming counts among Austria's best-known winter-sports addresses — World Cup night slalom, part of Ski amadé — while the Dachstein glacier (2,995 m) with Skywalk, suspension bridge and ice palace forms a year-round snow and mountain-climate ground. The Ramsau am Dachstein counts as a cross-country stronghold. Here Alpine mountain sport combines with the mountain air that carries the wellness profile of the Enns valley.
Southern Styria — pleasure wellness in the “Styrian Tuscany”
The south of Styria is a hill landscape of vineyards not called the “Styrian Tuscany” for nothing. The South Styrian Wine Road along the Slovenian border produces Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling of world rank; add Styrian pumpkin-seed oil, the Buschenschank wine taverns and the cuisine of the volcanic country. Pleasure wellness in which eating and drinking belong to well-being — rounded off by Graz, the UNESCO World Heritage city and culinary capital of the pleasure region.