08.01.2025

Silent SPA in the thermal baths of Therme Laa

„It´s a good idea always to do something relaxing prior to making an important decision in your life.“ -Paula Coelho, Silent Spa

Relax for a day without looking at the clock. That’s what you need every now and then and even more so during the current cold season. So let me take you to the Silent Spa at Therme Laa. The thermal bath is located in Weinviertel, Lower Austria. Shortly before the border to the Czech Republic. The journey from Vienna takes about an hour by car and there are enough parking lots there, so you don’t have to worry about that. Furthermore, the thermal bath is for age 16 and up. So it isand is an oasis of calm for adults without the screams of children.

The Silent Spa (as a Part of the Therma Laa) has its own entrance area. To the right of the main entrance area to the general thermal bath of Therme Laa, a small, discreet arrow shows the way. From the outside the spa looks very practical and clean, but as soon as you enter the reception you find yourself somewhere completely different. The rooms are all kept rather dark with lots of stone, indirect lighting and different materials that give the room some structure. This concept runs through the entire thermal baths. A touch of gold and geometric patterns give it something luxurious – almost Dior-like.

The thermal area

What is important to mention at the beginning, is that you can only visit the Silent Spa with a lounger reservation. This means there is one reservated daybad and one locker whaiting for you. But the spa is not the biggest – so be quick when making your reservation if you want to visit this thermal spa. After you are warmly welcomed at reception and given the locker chip and brochure about the Silent Spa, you go into the cloakroom. What I found quite cute were the little details in the wardrobe. A gray bathrobe and matching slippers were prepared in the locker. As well as a bathing bag with a large gray bath towel and 2 white sauna towels. So at the beginning there was nothing wrong.

“ … into the heart of the thermal baths „

From the cloakrooms you are led into the heart of the thermal baths. Great importance was also placed on aesthetics. Tall column, indirect lighting and an anticipating feeling. The thermal baths are structured almost like a flower. There is a round core and of which there are 4-petal shaped areas. One of them was the reception. There are berths in the other 3 areas. But I’ll tell you more about that in a separate paragraph.

The food

The day package includes the breakfast buffet and a small cake buffet in the afternoon. That’s why we were there as soon as the Silent Spa opened in the morning, around 9:00 a.m. The restaurant is located right next to the large tower in the middle of the thermal baths. I have to say I was quite surprised that it was completely full at this time. However, after a few minutes of waiting, I managed to get us a table. The breakfast buffet was simple and it was easy to find something you like. There was also a free pot of filter coffee with milk and sugar per table.

Other drinks would have all cost extra. But luckily the orange juice was included. I don’t know about you, but I think orange juice belongs any breakfast if you eat not at home. Whether on vacation, in a restaurant or in a café. Funnily enough, I drink this less at home. Do you feel that way? Please let me know!

In the afternoon, various cakes were offered in the silent spa in the same restaurant. Although I like to eat something sweet every now and then, I’m more of a salty person at heart. So I just grabbed a butter streusel apple pie. The small criticism I have to say here is that no coffee was offered with the cake. Maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea for the future. There were also drinking fountains scattered throughout the Silent Spa where you could drink water or have a glass of water.

Pools & loungers

The silent spa has pools of different sizes and temperatures. These are also distributed throughout the area. Personally, I find this practical so that not everyone has to swim in just one pool. As already briefly mentioned before about the heart of the thermal baths. There is a large circle of column in the middle that rises far above the roof of the thermal baths. And in that middle there is a multi-tiered fountain. It felt like a little private spot in the spa. This pool in the middle was also the largest and, in my opinion, warmest. You could also swim outside from there into a midium sized outdoorpool.

Our lounger was in one of the pedal-shaped areas with another outdoor pool in the middle. The coloure of this pool was green. I’m not entirely sure whether it was the minerals or the tiles, but it looked nice. There was also an indoor pool in a different pedal-shaped area.

In the Silent Spa you have the choice between a single lounger or a double lounger. We decided on a double lounger. This was effectively a four-poster bed. From the outside it was pretty. I liked these light curtains because they looked so light and you still had a bit of privacy, even though the loungers were quite close to each other. Maybe they weren’t the coziest, but it was practical to be able to retreat to your own bunk.

Sauna area

Taking a sauna is the be-all and end-all of a healthy self-care routine. Taking a sauna is healthy because it promotes blood circulation, strengthens the immune system, relaxes muscles, cleanses the skin and purifies the body, thereby improving well-being and relaxation. And what do we want in a thermal bath? Exactly these things. So off to the sauna.

The Silent Spa’s sauna area consists of 2 saunas, a steam bath and a salt chamber. The saunas can be accessed via a staircase leading up to a separate area. You can undress there in peace, as the sauna area is a clothing-free zone. In this small temple you can choose between a 60 degree and a 90 degree sauna. There are also 2 showers and a cold plunge pool. There are plenty of seats to relax and what I found particularly nice was the atrium. The best way to switch off is in the open air surrounded by fresh herbs (those that survived the winter). Sauna infusions are also offered throughout the day. We didn’t use it that day. We were always in the 90 degree sauna between infusions and made our own infusion with ice. Like a private sauna for two.

I’m not a big fan of „colder“ saunas. Therefore we didn’t try the steam bath (45 degrees) or the salt chamber (30 degrees). But I once went into the salt chamber to take a photo because it looks very beautiful. Funy enough, this one had the best view of all. So I would be all for them converting this into a normal sauna.

Massages

Anyone who knows me better knows that I love massages. It is the ultimate highlight for a relaxing day at the thermal spa. And since I love massages, especially body massages, I’ve already had a few of them. I don’t want to disparage any other massage I’ve had, but this one at Silent Spa was definitely the best massage of my life. The ultimate relaxation in just 90 minutes.

“It was the best massage of my life.”

But let’s start at the beginning. The massage area is located directly at reception. There you have to fill out a form in advance, I would say standard routine. As already briefly mentioned before, the area is really nicely decorated. There is also some seating, but enough for the number of people wanting a massage. I had booked the “Silentium” massage which lasts a total of 90 minutes, starting with a total 40-minute back massage.

And I can tell you my back and my fascia have never been so relaxed. Maybe I should force myself to stretch more after exercise. Let’s see. Afterwards I was given a face mask and while it was absorbed into my skin I was given a foot/leg massage. I really sunk into the lounger. Finally, I got a face/head and neck massage. I hope when you read this that at least the words relax you.

Regarding the Silent Spa’s general offering, it can be said that there is not much choice, but it is perfect for that. There is another treatment called “Levitas” and that´s it. An exclusive relaxation treatment from head to toe, including peeling.

My Summary

So one thing you can’t say is that I can’t make photos. I think the thermal baths look a little different in the pictures than when you are there in person. It’s not particularly big, but it’s well attended. In terms of appearance, I think it’s really beautifully designed and stylishly furnished. But you should be prepared for the fact that you are in a slightly smaller thermal spa. There is a small selection in each area, but I think it is completely sufficient for the number of people it´s designed for and the typical clientele witch is the middle class of austria.

I would recommend this thermal spa to those who don’t want to travel far from Vienna and would like to visit a more fancy basic thermal spa but with excellent massages.