What to expect at Thermea Whitby Spa Village

An honest review of Thermea Whitby, the massive Nordic spa near Toronto

Updated: March 2025

Note: This Thermea Whitby Spa Village review is part of the series 100 Baths, my search for the world’s best spas and public bathing rituals. On my first visit, my friend and I were guests of Thermea – when these photos were taken, before the general public hours. I have returned on my own. Opinions are my own and they did not approve this piece.

Thermea calls itself a “spa village” and after visiting I understand why. It’s really big. I’ve found it a wonderful place to bliss out – in the many saunas and the salt floatation pool. It’s also one of the most expensive Nordic spas in Ontario. So is it right for you? I’ve been when it’s quiet, and when it’s busy. I’ve been in summer, and in winter. So read on for what you need to know before you go!

Just want the facts? Jump to Thermea Whitby price list, hours, etc.

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What facilities to they have at Thermea Whitby?

Most of Thermea Whitby spa is dedicated to the practise of hot+cold+relax, where you circulate amongst hot saunas, steam rooms, and pools, cold plunges or showers, and rest areas.

• Six Finnish-style each with its own style, scent, and temperature. These are all located in a no-talking “sauna village.”

• Two steam rooms, one with eucalyptus oil the other with orange and lime oil.
• Three hot pools and on “tempered” warm pool.

• Four cold plunge pools, plus one cold water bucket.

• Hammocks, Muskoka chairs, fire pits, and a “beach” of lounge chairs beside a (non-swimmable) pond.
• Headed domes (winter season)

• Saltwater floatation pool (inside, extra fee)

Check-in and First Impressions

Arriving at Thermea Whitby, you will check yourself in at one of their tablets in a small lobby, get assigned an electronic wristband, then make your way downstairs to the change rooms and actual spa entrance. This might be practical when it’s busy, but I find it impersonal. On my second visit, I realized that nobody asked if I’d been there before, gave me information about what is located where, what free programmes they have, or —importantly—there was no information about the rules of etiquette like which areas are Quiet or phone-free. They could really use an ambassador up here, and some maps.

Your wristband gives you access to your locker and is also how you pay for any food and drink while you’re there. Note: You will need a credit card of Visa debit and they will put a hold of $150 on it to cover any purchases. Anything under that you don’t consume will be refunded. Note that they are cashless—a policy I am generally against but that’s an argument for another day!

There are a lot of lockers—more than 700. When making a reservation, you select the gendered (or gender-neutral) locker area you prefer. On my first visit, we were “inside” beside the women’s washrooms. On my second visit, we were in the large open area that people just walk by—the idea is to take your stuff to change in a nearby gender-neutral stall. I definitely preferred the first area. Even when it got busy, I appreciated that there was a lot of space and I didn’t need to dance awkwardly around other guests, naked and dripping wet, to get to my things. (This is one of my least fave parts of going to most spas.)

Inside your locker is your robe and towel. You should bring your own sandals, they are not provided. There’s a reception area here to take care of any questions or requests – like getting an XL robe. One thing I really appreciated about Thermea Whitby is that you can exchange your damp robe or towels for fresh ones as often as you need.

OK, now on to the adventure!

Saunas and more Saunas

I love a dry sauna. But sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting to find the right temperature for me– hot but not “I can’t breathe” hot. You can adjust some of that by moving up or down the tiers of seats but sometimes you need more. Thermea Whitby has six saunas, with different degrees of heat, so I had no trouble finding the right one.

The doors of three small saunas nestled beside each other in the Sauna Village beckoned. So we started there. The first one we walked into is called Kâbin and it looks like a nice little log cabin. It’s actually the hottest sauna in the village at 90 degrees. Oops! Sorry Kâbin, I need a softer entry.

Next up: Hälo. This sauna is stunning. A vaulted ceiling of rose-coloured Himalayan salt bricks envelops you in a blissful warm environment. But this sauna is also the mildest, at 50 degrees. I would say if you’ve never tried a sauna before start here because it’s just so beautiful and you can acclimatize. I’ve even witnessed people just chilling in here with a book.

But like Goldilocks I kept trying for the sauna that was “just right.” I found it in Aromä, which uses scent and is 80 degrees. Ah, exhale.. On both visits, this was my fave sauna. It evens has a cauldron.

This entire Sauna Village area is a Quiet Zone. Multiple signs say so. But, you know, people either don’t read signs, or they don’t care. And unlike say Scandinave, there are no wandering staff policing this. (Although I have witnessed some people get a talking to for talking.) Two things are important to note: you won’t find Silence here, there will be whispered conversations. But also, it should be quiet. If you don’t want to be quiet, don’t come to the Saunas!

The Aufguss Ritual at Thermea Whitby Spa

Thermea Whitby spa offers free guided rituals and meditations throughout the day in their largest sauna, Loggä. I’ve heard of Sauna Masters and Towel Waving but I had not experienced this before so had to check that out. (See the sign at the downstairs reception for the list. Nobody told us about this, you kind of had to know.)

A gong sounds, indicating a ritual is about to start in this sauna, which seats 90 people in amphitheatre style. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a gorgeous view outside but all eyes are on our “ritual artisan.” I actually don’t want to detail what happens next because part of the pleasure was the surprise. But know that you will get hot, and it smells great. You can also leave the room at any time if it’s not for you. The Aufguss rituals are free with your thermal waters admission, just listen for the gong and show up.

Which way to the pool?

The hot pools are popular. There are three, but not that big, and they fill up fast. Still, I appreciate that they are so wonderfully hot, and you just have to wait a bit as everyone circulates and space opens up.

There is also a “temperate” pool but it’s actually pretty cold. If cold plunge is your thing, you’ll have your choice of spots all over the spa.

One of the best things to do at Thermea Spa Village is nothing. Pick a Muskoka chair, a beach lounge chair, a hammock, etc. There are many places to chill, either with your partner or alone.

In the winter, they offer heated domes (for both lounging and eating) and have a large canvas tent with beds inside as well.

Floating in space in Thermea’s Kalla saltwater pool

And now…the showstopper, the number one reason to visit Thermea Spa Whitby: the saltwater floatation pool.

My first time here, I hadn’t yet visited the Dead Sea to experience weightlessness in the water, so I was excited to try this. It’s an add-on to the thermal experience you need to pay for in advance. Then your wristband will unlock the space for you.

It’s dark down here. Dark and very quiet. Love that! Before going to the pool you put on headphones and lean back on a bench while a soft voice tells you about the saltwater and how to enjoy it. For example, if you have any nicks or cuts on your skin you can use the packs of petroleum jelly to cover them, so you don’t feel any stings.

This whole space is beautiful. It’s otherworldly, like a cenote or a cavern, with soft lanterns. I grab a foam headrest and make my way into the water. It’s very shallow, and super buoyant, and it takes a bit of practise to actual get your body to lay down. I will admit my first time was not graceful but I got the hang of it!

Laying in the salt pool was like no other float I’ve ever had. There is music playing beneath the water. (You can wear earplugs if you don’t want to listen to it.) Your body moves gently about the pool and sometimes my friend and I bumped into each other, but that was no bother. We did this in the morning ,and found there was a lot of space: the spa has a video display on the main floor before you enter telling you how many spots are available (capacity 30) so you can decide if/when you want to go. We had the place almost to ourselves for a while but even when a few groups arrived it did not feel crowded.

This was such a relaxing experience we did it twice on our visit, about 30 minutes each time. And I could have stayed down here longer but I also didn’t want to turn into one giant pile of salt. It’s half the price of the thermal experience itself, but I feel well worth it.

Don’t forget to shower well afterwards you will be full of salt! And maybe don’t wear your most expensive bathing suit for this either.

Can you talk at Thermea Whitby?

I’ve written before about issues surrounding quiet at day spas.

Thermea has a good compromise: the “sauna village” is a quiet zone, with no photography allowed. The other spaces, such as the pools, beach area, etc. welcome polite conversation and discrete photography – if you can see someone else in the background, you shouldn’t take the photo. Also, no TikTok dances please.

On my first visit, in the summer, we arrived right at 8am and it was very quiet. I’d say until about 10am we had a lot of spots to ourselves. Later in the afternoon, we shared the pools, saunas and restaurants with other guests of different ages but I didn’t hear any loud noises or obnoxious behaviour. It was all very civilized.

Visiting on a weekday afternoon during March Break, it was much busier. The parking lot was full. The saunas were sometimes all full. So, prepare for that. But for the most part it didn’t feel over capacity, we always found a spot to sweat or soak.

What can you eat at Thermea Whitby spa?

In terms of the Thermea Whitby menu, there are three restaurants on site, each with different menus and price points.

It’s a spa, so nothing is “budget,” but you can choose between light meals in the lounge, finer dining in the restaurant, or the rooftop beer garden for snacks and drinks and snacks and looking out over the village, and the heated domes in winter. You could technically eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here all in different restaurants. They have vegetarian, gluten-free and non-alcoholic options, which we both appreciated. The service was very good and the food was delicious.

The cost does add up though. And note that wherever you eat they apply an automatic 18% tip to your bill. Even at the beer garden where you order from a counter.

Final Impressions

It feels like this is one of my longest spa reviews, and I still haven’t covered all the things to do at Therma Spa Village in Whitby. It really is quite large, with so many options. I suggest you spend a full day here to enjoy everything you’re paying for.

I loved the attention to detail. Like individual showers, which have like an antechamber that locks where you can put your clothes or toiletries and they won’t get wet. Like the gong signalling when the ritual will start so you don’t have to wear a watch or keep looking at the time. The Kalla capacity display. The use of scent throughout the space. Really thoughtful.

For improvements, in addition to better communication at check-in I would like to see umbrellas or shade in the beach areas – we didn’t use this part because sun protection is really important to me and it was way too blazing that day. I could use a larger hot pool. And I’d prefer to choose my own tips. It’s also too bad there aren’t discount days to make it more accessible. But I think it’s a good value considering everything on offer.

If you book the first time slot of the day, and head down into Kalla when things get busy, you can make avoid crowds. But if you are looking for a serene, quiet, private spa…this isn’t it. It’s a whole Village after all!

Know Before You Go

My last visit was March 2025. Always check their website for latest info and promotions. Note that Thermea Spa Village is 19+.

Where: Thermea Spa Village Whitby is located 4015 Cochrane St, Whitby, ON, 60km east of Downtown Toronto. Free parking is available. If you don’t have a car, it’s accessible by public transit. From Toronto you can take the Go Transit Lakeshore East train to Ajax, Whitby or Oshawa and then local buses to very close to the entrance. (We took the Go Train to Ajax, then an Uber to the spa to save time.)

When: Open Daily 8am to 10pm. Reservations are required. Book on-line or call +1 866-484-1112. There’s no time limit, once you’ve entered you can stay as long as you like but there is no re-entry. Three restaurants are on-site for guests only: The Lounge is open 9am to 9pm daily– it serves basic breakfast pastries to 11am only. Le Resto for more formal dining is open 11am to 9pm daily.  Biergarden has a great patio and is open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 7pm and Friday and Saturdays to 8pm. You have to be a guest of the thermal waters to access the restaurants.

What to bring? A swimsuit (mandatory) flip-flops or sandals (mandatory) and your water bottle (no glass bottles allowed). Recommend a sunhat and sunglasses in summer, or a toque in winter. A novel for reading in a hammock is always a great idea. There is no wi-fi. Your entry fee includes a robe (which you can change when it gets wet as often as you need) unlimited towels and a locker. Extra-large robes are available. A plastic bag for your wet suit is provided in your locker.

Change rooms are spacious and very well-equipped with quality shampoo, conditioner and body wash, hair dryers and straighteners. Gender-neutral changing areas are available.  

How Much: Thermea Whitby’s Thermal Experience is $119 any day of the week. It is not included if you book a massage or treatment. I’ll say this again because it’s unique among Nordic Spas around here: if you book a massage you still have to pay the full price for the waters. Adding access to the Kalla flotation pool is $59 and very much worth it. Rhassoul product for your hammam experience is an additional $58. Various packages with treatments and meals are available.  At check-in, they require a pre-authorization of $150 per person on your credit card. Any amount not spent on food/drinks will be returned at check-out. Once inside you can stay as long as you like.