site.btaBalneohotel Aura in Velingrad to Reopen in May After Refurbishment

Balneohotel Aura in Velingrad will reopen to visitors in mid-May following renovation work, manager Slavka Evtimova told BTA.

The renovation is primarily cosmetic, with changes in colour design. To maintain the accommodation facilities, refurbishment is carried out every spring, when the season is relatively less busy, Evtimova added. Services offered by the spa centre will remain unchanged.

The hotel holds a Medical Spa classification and is one of only three hotels in Velingrad to offer Medical Spa balneotherapy procedures. It features two indoor warm mineral pools with jacuzzis, a year-round outdoor mineral pool, and a saltwater pool. The spa centre offers a variety of therapeutic options, including a contrast pool, Finnish and herbal saunas, a steam bath, and a tropical shower for relaxation and detoxification. The spa area is certified in a number of treatments and prevention programmes for various health conditions, such as chronic pulmonary diseases, arthritic and rheumatic conditions, and stress relief. Each programme includes individual consultations with doctors and specially designed procedures to ensure the most effective results.

The hotel offers a balneopackage as a paid alternative to the National Social Security Institute programme. The spa centre employs qualified rehabilitation therapists, kinesiotherapists, and massage therapists. Among the services offered are the Aura deep tissue massage, anti-stress massage with essential oils, and luxurious relaxing massages with chocolate or honey. Additional therapies include volcanic stone therapy, citrus therapy, and spa packages such as "Sweet Dreams" and "Exotic Magic" for deep relaxation.

Hotel Aura is a preferred destination for recovery procedures involving hydro and physiotherapy. It is at full occupancy during the summer and around the New Year holidays. The hotel manager reported 2025 as more successful than the previous one, but said she was skeptical of the current year, given the global economic situation.

BTA presents news from certified spa, wellness, and medical spa centres in Bulgaria in its BG SPA: Salus per aquam, Health Through Water feature. Their total number exceeds 200. The initiative, organized in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, is linked to Europe's leading health tourism event, the HEALTHXCHANGE SUMMIT, which will be held from May 11 to 13, 2026, in Varna, Sts. Constantine and Helena, Golden Sands, and Albena. BTA will be the event's main media partner.