Thermopylae [GR]
Splash Down Score 💧💧💧
Thermopylae's hot springs are not just hot in temperature, but also in historical fame. The “300” Spartans healed their muscles here, Hercules bathed after his exhausting labours, and Roman general Sulla raved about these as one of the best hot springs in Europe. But are these springs still as epic as legends will have us believe?
Get ready to plunge into one of Greece's not-so-hidden gems: the Baths of Thermopylae.
The Stuff of Legends 💪🔱
Thermopylae is not only a bathing mecca, but a place of history.
🏺 This is where the Spartan-Persian war famously took place, as depicted in the Gerard Butler romp “300”.
🏺 The hero Hercules (Heracles) needed some serious R&R after tackling his infamous Twelve Labors. Enter the Baths of Thermopylae: nature's own day spa, complete with mineral-rich, steamy waters. Legend has it that these waters worked like a charm, rejuvenating his god-like muscles and soothing his heroic, yet undoubtedly sore, limbs. Imagine soaking in the same waters as Hercules - no promises you'll emerge a demigod, though!
🏺 The Baths of Thermopylae served as a rejuvenating retreat for Roman generals, including the notable Sulla, who sought their therapeutic waters after exhaustive military campaigns. These legendary springs provided not just physical relief but a peaceful oasis for rest and reflection for these battle-hardened leaders.
What’s Makes The Waters Godly? 🌊
This isn't your average H2O, it’s a sulphur-rich stream. You can actually smell the sulphur even as you exit the freeway. Sulfur water contains dissolved minerals including baryte, epsomite (magnesium), and gypsum - which is what gives it the smell, but also it’s healing properties. Sulphur is believed to be detoxifying, oxygenating, muscle-relaxing, and even bone-strengthening.
The colour of the water is a bright, clear sapphire blue. It looks so electric blue that my friend asked if it was safe to bathe because it looked like it could be radioactive. The minerals have coloured the riverbed intense gemstone colours of purple, green, and blue.
It was a perfect temperature and the steam is visible and becomes quite magical as the day fades, especially as you look downstream and see the silhouettes of bodies bathing.
But Wait, There’s a Twist To This Epic ⛈️
Despite their legendary status, these springs are like the underrated indie-band of hot springs - amazing in the curative qualities but less-than-enchanted in their appearance. Reviews on Tripadvisor reveal Thermopylae’s weaknesses:
"Not Quite Olympus"
"Came for a Herculean experience, got more of a mortal one. The place could use a bit of a facelift."
"Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness? Hercules must've left in a hurry and forgotten to clean up."
Why The Fall From Grace? 🙅♂️
Well, apart from its infamy, in the modern topology of Thermopylae, the baths are quite literally on the side of a major Greek freeway!
Our first impression of the spring was underwhelming and a bit scary, especially because we arrived in winter as daylight was fading. As you reach the base, it looks more like a power plant than a natural wonder, with a concrete box (a Greek speciality!) at the source of the spring operating as a small plunge pool. My friend thought I was taking her to a spa, so she was trying to be upbeat but I could tell she was concerned.
However, as you look to your left you notice the tell-tale sign of steam billowing up in a winding line, which reveals that there is a whole stream of hot springs. Actually, it’s about half a kilometre worth of some of the best thermal springs in Europe that I’ve experienced, with little pools, cascades, and rocks to submerge and soothe your body.
Recent Raves ✨
The good news is supposedly in 2023 a large clean-up of the area was completed. I visited in December 2023, and there was no rubbish but it did feel generally down-and-out being on the side of the highway with ugly industrial buildings around. But what can you expect, it’s Greece! If you don’t like gritty, you won’t like Athens either!
Here’s what some people said more recently in their reviews:
"I felt like I was soaking in history. The warmth is just right, and there's this sense of tranquillity that you can't find anywhere else!"
"Nature's Own Spa - the water's effects are no myth. My skin felt rejuvenated, and there was a noticeable ease in my muscles. It's like Mother Nature herself gave me a massage."
"Underrated Gem - why isn't this place more crowded? The setting is serene, the waters are blissful, and the historical significance is the cherry on top.”
Splash Score
While the Baths of Thermopylae are steeped in history and natural wonder, a sprinkle of extra care and landscaping to separate the highway could elevate the experience from good to godly.
But if you're looking for a bath that combines a bit of history, a dash of myth, and a whole lot of relaxation for free - Thermopylae's pretty dreamy.
The setting isn’t romantic, but the way you feel after emerging from the water is!
Cost: Free
Water: Spa, Retreat
Temperatures: 30-40º C / 86-104º F
Location: Outdoor
Organised/ Unorganised: Unorganised
Pool style: Stream/ River
Nudity?: Maybe
Best season for bathing: Winter or late Autumn
Atmosphere: 💧💧💧
Aroma: 💧
Bathing Comfort: 💧
Beauty: 💧💧
Cleanliness: 💧💧💧
Social appeal: 💧
Splash Score: 💧💧
In the end, we had an amazing and mystical time here in this steamy river during the crisp Greek winter. But I guess, even in the land of gods and heroes, sometimes things are more human than divine!
