Čatež ob Savi and its spa, a century of warm water by the Sava

Čatež, a village by two rivers

SURS put Čatež ob Savi at 422 residents on 1 January 2026, and the village is part of Brežice municipality. The tourist board places it where the Sava and the River Krka meet, two of Slovenia’s longest rivers, and speaks of the country’s largest thermal riviera.

What Terme Čatež offers

Two water areas that complement each other. The summer riviera covers about 10,000 m² outdoors, with slides, a lazy river, wave pools, a children’s water park, Pirate’s Island and an Olympic-size pool for proper lengths. It opens from mid or late April to mid-September, 10:00 to 18:00 in April, May and September.

The winter riviera opens 365 days a year, 9:00 to 21:00, with more than 6,500 m² under three domes. It has a 77 m slide with light effects, which the resort presents as Slovenia’s longest indoor slide, waves you can learn to surf on, a fast river, a pirate ship and the Adventure Tree, which showers rain onto a pool. A water passage leads to an outdoor section with a water mushroom. For adults, the Wellness Riviera adds saunas and wellness across almost 1,000 m².

Both rivieras take hotel guests and day visitors alike, and tickets can be bought online to avoid queuing. For food without leaving the water, Bar Valovi in the indoor riviera serves homemade ice cream and simple meals by the pool. Among the places to stay, Terme Čatež promotes its new Hotel Toplice - Family Inn, aimed at families, and the Grand Spa Terme. Thrill-seekers will also find a jumping toboggan, a kamikaze slide and a black-hole slide with light effects that drops into the outdoor section.

A hundred years of spa tourism

The thermal water was known long before, but organised tourism began in 1925. That year the Attems counts, who had owned the Čatež plain since the early 19th century, built a small Swiss-style hotel, the Zdraviliški dom, with 34 rooms, 62 beds and 18 thermal baths. They later added a humbler house for guests of lesser means. Terme Čatež marked its centenary in 2025 and says it was the first to heat its accommodation with thermal water.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Čatež ob Savi before prices climb.

Making the most of a day at Čatež

I’d come for a full day, or two with children, and break up the pools with a visit to Brežice Castle, a few minutes away. If you’re after something quieter, look at the other spas in Slovenia. For family plans, my guide to Slovenia with kids will help too.

If you would rather have a local show you round, book a guided tour in Čatež ob Savi and choose by the reviews.

Once your dates are set, check which hotels are still free in Čatež ob Savi before prices climb.