Bad Vilbel is on the upswing: mega thermal baths and new sports pool start in 2026!

Bad Vilbel is on the upswing: mega thermal baths and new sports pool start in 2026!

The plans for the Bad Vilbel thermal baths are taking concrete shape! Klaus Minkel, managing director of Stadtwerke Bad Vilbel, has announced that construction of the municipal sports and indoor swimming pool should begin in spring 2026. Construction of the thermal baths itself could also start in the first half of 2026. This development is a ray of hope for the region, which is struggling with a poorly developed spa structure and is in urgent need of upgrading. So far, only a few outpatient spas offer a limited service.

Minkel points out that the thermal baths are absolutely necessary to secure the “spa” status for Bad Vilbel. The aim is to increase the number of overnight stays from the current 120,000 to a whopping 500,000 per year. Comparatively positive experiences from the thermal baths in Erding, which attracted 1.9 million visitors last year, serve as inspiration for the Bad Vilbel plans. The Bad Vilbel thermal baths will offer different wellness zones and adventure pools and will pursue a sustainable focus.

Criticism and challenges

As is often the case with large projects, there is also criticism of the thermal baths. This mainly relates to economic unprofitability and is classified by Minkel as party politically motivated. In fact, an additional sports and indoor swimming pool, which includes eight lanes and a teaching pool with a lifting floor, could increase the city's attractiveness. The building permit for the sports and indoor swimming pool is expected at the end of January 2026, while the thermal baths will have a planned construction period of around two years.

Another aspect that concerns Minkel is the multiple delays in the project, which are often due to changes in plans - in particular the tests regarding geothermal energy and brine water. Minkel has taken note of citizens' concerns, but emphasizes that the corona pandemic caused a large part of the delays. He asks residents to be patient as the project is about to be implemented.

The Therme Group: A global network

The Therme Bad Vilbel is not just a local project, but part of a larger vision of the Therme Group company. This was founded in Austria in 2011 and has since set itself the goal of developing wellness facilities in major cities around the world. Therme is already active in Europe with several projects and after the Therme Erding was taken over in 2024, the Therme Bad Vilbel will expand the portfolio while at the same time offering an area for sustainable recreation. Another major success was the entry into the US market with a 26 percent stake by the Georgetown Company, which acts as the exclusive development partner for US projects.

The spa facilities are spacious, mostly over 500,000 square feet in size, and offer a variety of options for all ages, including thermal baths, wellness treatments and botanical gardens. This model is also followed in Bad Vilbel, with the focus clearly on a holistic offering for physical and psychological well-being.

The Bad Vilbel thermal baths are expected to become an attraction not only for spa guests, but also for tourists who long for relaxation and leisure activities. The goal is to transform Bad Vilbel into a hot spot for wellness-oriented leisure activities.

So it remains exciting to see how the next steps in the realization of the thermal baths will develop. With a good hand and a little patience, Bad Vilbel could soon shine in new splendor.