Bulgaria has more than a hundred public mineral baths — from large complexes with pools to small village baths with a single bathing hall. Each is different, so it is worth knowing what to look at before you go.
The water temperature
On each bath's page you will see the temperature of the spring when we know it. The spring is almost always hotter than the water in the pool — hot water is cooled before it reaches the bathing halls. Water around 34–38 °C is pleasant for a long stay; above 40 °C you stay in briefly and in intervals. If you bring children or it is your first time, start with a cooler bath.
The type of water
Mineral waters differ in what they contain: there are soft, lightly mineralised waters, sulphurous ones (with the typical smell), radon, silicon-rich waters and others. A bath's description usually says what the water contains and what it is believed to help with. Remember these are general notes — if you are looking for treatment, ask a doctor.
Sections and days for men and women
Many old baths have separate halls for men and for women, and in others men and women take turns by day or by hour. Check the schedule before you go — or you may arrive on a "women's day" as a man, or the other way round. The site marks this for each bath, and Now! shows only the baths you can go into at the moment, if you have said in your profile whether you are a man or a woman.
Opening hours and season
Public baths often have short hours and a day off, and some open only in summer. Tickets usually stop being sold an hour or two before closing. "Open now" on the site is worked out from the published hours — for a longer trip, call ahead.
Facilities and prices
Some baths have just a shared pool or bathing hall, others private tubs, a sauna, a steam room, massages or an outdoor pool. Prices at municipal baths are usually low, and higher at newer complexes. In your profile in My baths you can mark what you need, and "Now!" will prefer such baths.
What other visitors say
Visitors' ratings and reviews say a lot about cleanliness, staff and atmosphere — things you won't find in the official description. If you have been to a bath, leave a review too: it helps the next people.