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Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

The thermal spa baths can be visited on their own or combined with a stay in one of the three hotels on offer at the Balneario de Archena

Archena is home to a hot thermal springs complex which is believed to be among the oldest in Spain, having been in use since the time of the Roman occupation in the third century BC.

The Spa Centre itself offers extensive facilities, with an innovative indoor-outdoor thermal circuit experience complemented by a wide range of medical, beauty and relaxation treatments, attracting both visitors on courses of therapy (principally related to respiratory conditions, articulatory problems and stress) and those looking for a period of relaxation and pampering.

At the heart of the complex is the water which emanates from a natural spring at a temperature of 52.5 degrees Celsius and with a high mineral content which makes it particularly beneficial for treating sore joints and also facilitates the natural repair processes of the skin.

Set in the lush greenery which thrives on the banks of the River Segura at the southern end of the Ricote Valley, this beautiful complex which covers an area of 200,000 square metres, is just 24km from the capital city of Murcia, and lies at approximately 80km from either the airport of San Javier or the airport in Alicante, positioning it as a straightforward and easy journey from anywhere in the Murcia Region or Alicante Province.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

Although the thermal spa centre, the thermal swimming pools and thermal spa circuit can be visited on a daytime use only basis, the complex also offers three hotels with a total of 254 fully equipped rooms, restaurant services and direct access to the various onsite facilities.

Special packages are offered throughout the year, with highly attractive prices for those choosing mid-week accommodation options.

See feed below for further information about the spa facilities, the special packages and treatments available at the complex.

The on-site accommodation:

Hotel Termas

The four-star Hotel Termas is the grandest of the three hotels, not necessarily in terms of the rooms themselves (the Hotel Levante also has four stars to its name) but certainly in terms of the décor and history of the building. It dates from the late 19^th century and many of the details are modelled on the Alhambra palace in Granada, intricate Moorish-style decorative patterns adorning the main staircase in particular and also many other doorways and niches.

Underneath the hotel is the main thermal bath complex, where therapeutic treatments using the warm mineral water are administered, and this is where the wealthy and influential flocked in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, when Archena was the most visited spa in Spain. Here one of the key features is a replica of part of the Patio de los Leones in the Alhambra, a fountain which is no longer in use but stands as a reminder of the prestigious history of the thermal baths.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

There are 67 rooms at the Hotel Termas, all equipped with en suite bathroom, hair dryer, telephone, safe, heating, air conditioning, TV (international channels included) and mini-bar. Room service and restaurant dining are optional, and Wifi is available free in public lounges and the main entry hall.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex The hotel dining-room on the ground floor has been awarded Q for Quality certification, and enjoys views out onto the River Segura. A buffet breakfast is available, as are lunch, dinner and room service.

The cuisine, as befits a spa resort, is based on healthy eating, with menus concocted by a top chef along with a full-time nutritionist. The “Mediterranean diet” is combined with nouvelle cuisine, and recommendations are made for senior diners, family groups, sportsmen, businessmen and other categories of diner.

There is also an impressive wine list, and the seating capacity is 200.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

Underground parking is just a few metres away, a recent development at the Balneario de Archena in order to minimize noise and exhaust fumes and further enhance the atmosphere of relaxation and health.

The Hotel Termas is open all year round, and guests are automatically entitled to free access to the onsite thermal swimming pools. Therapeutic treatments, massages and beauty treatment all entail extra costs, although numerous packages are available to suit practically all guests, including families!

Hotel Levante

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

The four-star Hotel Levante is possibly not the grandest in terms of its history and prestige, but it was completely refurbished in 2001 and even now appears brand new. The Balneario de Archena may be steeped in history, but this is a thoroughly modern and functional establishment designed to maximize comfort.

There are 68 rooms at the Hotel Levante, all equipped with en suite bathroom, hair dryer, telephone, safe, heating, air conditioning, TV (international channels included), telephone and mini-bar. Room service and restaurant dining are optional, and Wifi is available free in public lounges and the main entry hall.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

The hotel shares the ground-floor dining-room belonging to its neighbour, the Hotel Termas, which has been awarded Q for Quality certification and enjoys views out onto the River Segura. A buffet breakfast is available, as are lunch, dinner and room service.

Here the cuisine, as befits a spa resort, is based on healthy eating, with menus concocted by a top chef along with a full-time nutritionist. The “Mediterranean diet” is combined with nouvelle cuisine, and recommendations are made for senior diners, family groups, sportsmen, businessmen and other categories of diner. There is also an impressive wine list, and the seating capacity is 200.

Underground parking is just a few metres away.

Hotel León

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex The three-star Hotel León is one of three hotels at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths and spa complex, and is located towards the northern end of the premises next to the Termalium area. This contains swimming pools and a massage, relaxation and beauty complex, and guests are also welcome to make use of the medical services provided at the Balneario and a host of other facilities which make staying at the complex a rounded experience rather than a purely therapeutic one.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

Each of the 117 rooms, distributed on three floors, provides direct access to the thermal baths underneath the neighbouring Hotel Termas without any need to venture outside, and all are equipped with a complete bathroom, air conditioning, heating, TV (including international channels) and telephone. Laundry service and a foreign exchange desk are also available for guests, as are bicycle hire and, at a small additional cost, medical care.

Accommodation at the Balneario de Archena thermal baths spa and hotel complex

The hotel restaurant located on the first floor, provides a buffet service and is a popular eating option not only with guests and day visitors but also among guests at Hotel Termas and Hotel Levante. As in the neighbouring establishments, the cuisine is mostly Mediterranean, combined with specialities from all over Spain.

The hotel is located almost directly above the underground parking. There is also a large events room for celebrations of all kinds, holding up to 400 guests.

Click here for details on the full range of treatments available at the Balneario de Archena.

Address

Carretera del Balneario s/n, Archena, 30600, Murcia

Tel: (+34) 968 688 022

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20 minutes from the city of Murcia, the Balneario offers thermal spa baths, spa circuit, accommodation and thermal spa treatments

The thermal baths complex of the Balneario of Archena has been in use since the time of the Roman occupation of this part of the Iberian Peninsula in the third century BC and offers a full range of thermal spa leisure options including thermal baths, thermal spa circuit, health and beauty treatments as well as a hotel and restaurant complex which is open throughout the year.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

At the heart of the Balneario is the water which emanates from a natural spring at a temperature of 52.5 degrees Celsius and with a high mineral content which makes it particularly beneficial for treating sore joints and also facilitates the natural repair processes of the skin.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

In addition, the thermal bath complex in Archena, it has to be said, is one of the most attractive places in the Region of Murcia, set as it is in the lush greenery which thrives on the banks of the River Segura at the southern end of the Ricote Valley.

Treatment, massage, saunas and recreational areas
There are three main areas at the Balneario de Archena offering therapeutic, beauty and relaxation treatments and recreational activities.

1. The Balnea thermal spa circuit (circuito Termal Balnea). This is a comprehensive and extensive spa circuit in which bathers pass through a wide range of different elements both inside and outside of the spa complex.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

The Balnea Thermal Spa Circuit includes various saunas at different temperatures and levels of humidity, one of which is heated purely by the water of the spring while others use a variety of techniques. In addition there is a cross-current pool of minero-medicinal water with a temperature of 30 to 31ºC, a lemon pool (with fresh lemons floating in water at a temperature of 34 degrees), a flotation pool providing conditions similar to the Dead Sea, a cold water pool at 20 degrees, an igloo at approximately 2ºC, contrast showers, corridors containing alternating jets of warm and cool water, warm hammocks and infrareds.

The facilities also include onsite eateries in the Termalium area at the La Piscina snack bar and the Restaurante del Agua.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

In addition, a wide range of beauty and health treatments (including facials, massages etc) are offered in the Centro de Estética The beauty treatments include facial cleansing, oxygen Termalium (cleansing and hydration), “Termalium Caviar” (exfoliation and relaxation massage), cell refreshment anti-aging therapy, cleansing and collagen veil, hydration, face and scalp massages, beauty body massages, chocolate massage, chakra stone massage, psychosomatic Ayurveda, cellulite draining massage, peeling massage, lymphatic body drainage, foot reflexology, slimming and firming treatment and a vitamin C citrus bath. Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

The beauty centre is open:

Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 20:00
Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 19:00. (see feed below for full information)

Pricing
A complete 2-hour circuit of the facilities in the Balnea spa area of the Balneario de Archena is priced at 25 euros during the week and 35 euros at weekends for those who are not staying at the hotels in the complex: guests at the Hotel Termas, Hotel Levante and Hotel León receive a 5-euro discount.
Open: 7 days a week from 11:00 to 21:00
Age limit: 14. Minors aged 14-18 must be accompanied by an adult.

2. SPA Thermal swimming pools
The swimming pools of the Balneario de Archena are filled using the waters of the thermal spa and provide year-round fun and relaxation for adults and children both indoors and outdoors.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

For youngsters there is an additional special pool with slides, and also an area which generates a current around a small circuit, which is particular popular! For the grown-ups, meanwhile, there are two main pools, one indoors in the lush green setting of the Balneario and the other under cover, and a series of Jacuzzis and jet showers.

Full-day tickets here are priced at between 10 euros and 22 euros for adults depending on the time of year, with discounts for children (7 euros to 12 euros) and for evening-only sessions. Whole-day visits are recommended, allowing a chance to eat at the bar or the Restuarante del Agua.

Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.

The swimming pools are open between November and March from 10.00 to 21.00, from March to June and from 1st September to 31st October between 10.00 and 22.00, and in July and August from 10.00 until midnight.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

Full pricing is as follows:
November until March open from 10:00 to 21:00
Weekdays: adults 10€, evening-only admission 7€ (from 18:00), children 7€.
Weekends and public holidays: adults 17€, evening-only admission 13€ (from 18:00), children 11€.
March until October, plus 2nd to 10th December and the Christmas period: March to June and from 1st September to 31st October between 10.00 and 22.00, and in July and August from 10.00 until midnight.

Weekdays: adults 14€, evening-only admission 8€ (from 19:00), children 8€.
Weekends and public holidays: adults 22€, evening-only admission 15€ (from 19:00), children 12€.

NB: During July and August the night-time reduced price period begins at 21:00 with the facilities closing at midnight

3. The thermal baths on the underground floors of the Hotel Termas
In this area of the Balneario a wide range of thermal treatments is available.

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex Most of the properties of thermal therapy lend themselves to both therapeutic and preventative medicine, particularly in the fields of respiratory and articulatory problems (painful joints) as well as countering stress, and the results achieved at the thermal baths in Archena are extremely positive, providing an improvement in quality of life for patients by reducing pain, improving mobility and lessening the dependence on pharmaceuticals.

The facilities on the second basement level of the Hotel Termas have been awarded the seal of quality by the Spanish tourist authorities, and a fully qualified medical team is present to oversee treatments and to prescribe them.

See feed below for full range of treatments available, ranging from 14 and 45 euros. See feed below for full details of how to book, price lists and treatment descriptions.

Therapeutic treatments

Treatments are prescribed by the onsite medical team, which includes three specialists in hydrology who perform an exhaustive initial check on all customers staying in the hotels and monitor their progress minutely. The treatments available in the spa underneath the Hotel Termas include the following:

Archena massage: the flagship treatment at the Balneario consists of a massage using thermal mud which is then showered off with water from the thermal spring. This is particularly effective at reducing muscle spasms and tension.

Thermal mud: a clay poultice containing thermal water is applied to the joints at a temperature of 45ºC. Beneficial for rheumatic diseases, painful musculo-skeletal conditions and the effects of trauma.

Termarchena: a small thermal circuit consisting of a steam room, a thermal water pool at 37ºC, a corridor with contrast showers (hot and cold) and two cabins providing 5-7 minutes of manual friction with mud and ice on the back.

For respiratory conditions there are also facilities for steam from the thermal spa to be breathed in directly, and a host of other therapeutic and physiotherapeutic options are provided.

All of the above are located in the Roman baths under the Hotel Termas, but the Balneario complex also includes numerous other treatments, all using the spring water, in the Balnea thermal circuit.

Hotel accommodation

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

Hotel Thermas (4-star)

Hotel Levante (4-star)

Hotel León (3-star)

(Click for more information about the hotels or see feed below)

Practical details

What to take with you

Visitors to the Balneario de Archena are reminded to take with them a dressing-gown (white is preferred), at least one bathing costume, flip flops or similar, a bathing cap and a towel. For hotel guests the dressing-gown is included, and they can also be hired at the Balneario at a small extra cost.

Food, refreshments, souvenirs

Balneario de Archena, thermal spa and hotel complex

Apart from the hotel dining-room restaurants in the Termas (á la carte) and the León (buffet) there are also various other opportunities to grab a bite to eat or drink, including the “chiringuito” at the swimming pools, the cafeteria in the Casino (with its beautiful shady terrace), and a snack-bar. Another option is the Restaurante Del Agua, next to the swimming pools, and in summer the Bar Azul on the river bank offers live entertainment every Friday evening.

There is an onsite souvenir shop which also sells the most indispensable items for visitors: bathing caps, flip-flops, dressing gowns and swimwear!

How to get to the Balneario de Archena

Heading north from the city of Murcia on the A-30 motorway towards Madrid, take the exit at kilometre 121, where Archena is clearly signposted on the MU-554 road. Once approaching the town follow the signs for “Balneario de Archena”: these take visitors on a rather roundabout route, encircling the whole town before entering from “the other side”, so to speak, but trust the signs – they do work!

The only sign which might be easy to miss is just about the last one, when the route appears to be taking visitors back out of town towards Villanueva del Río Segura and Ulea. This is a right turn just after a Repsol petrol station: be on the lookout!