Terme Sabine di Cretone

What to expect

Terme Sabine is a summer pool complex at the foot of the hill village of Cretone, a frazione of Palombara Sabina in the province of Rome. It sits on Via dell’Acqua Sulfurea, below the Monti Lucretili, and is about 30 km (19 miles) north-east of Rome. On a hot July day it is a popular escape from the city, more like a lido with mineral water than a spa.

The water is a calcium-sulphur mineral water, and the operator says it has been recognised by the Italian Ministry of Health since 1987. Italian rules call a water sulphurous when it holds at least 1 mg of hydrogen sulphide per litre, and you will smell it. What you will not feel is heat. The operator gives the pool temperature as about 73°F23°C. That is pleasant for swimming in summer and cold for anything else. If you are looking for a hot soak, this is the wrong place.

There are three large outdoor pools, one of them set aside for children. The operator says the water is continuously replaced from the spring. Around the pools are lawns and rows of umbrellas and sunbeds, with a hot-food counter, a bar, changing rooms and a cloakroom.

The pools and facilities

Beyond swimming, the complex runs aqua gym, tennis, padel and five-a-side football, a summer kids’ club and ceramics courses. A wellness area offers massages and beauty treatments. You can also book a private jacuzzi for an hour (€30 for two people, €40 for three or four).

The spa side uses the sulphur water for inhalations, aerosols, ear insufflations and a sulphur Politzer treatment for the ears and nose, with courses of 10 to 12 sessions. A May 2026 guide also listed drinking cures and mud treatments. These are medical treatments, booked separately from a pool ticket.

Prices and booking

The 2026 price list (for the non-reserved area) is:

• Adults: €12 Monday to Friday, €15 at weekends and on holidays, €10 after 2 p.m.
• Children 6 to 12: €9 on weekdays, €11 at weekends and on holidays, €9 after 2 p.m.
• Under 6: free.
• Multi-entry passes: 5, 10 or 20 entries, from €45 for five weekday visits.
• Extras: sunbed, lounger, umbrella or cabin €6 each.

Reserved areas cost more and include a second person. A Silver spot (two loungers and an umbrella) is €27 on weekdays and €35 at weekends; Gold is €40 or €45; Platinum VIP, in the front row by the pool with a table, is €50 or €60. All three are cheaper after 2 p.m. June 2, June 29 and August 15 are charged as holidays. Palombara Sabina residents get 50% off single weekday entry.

A May 2026 travel article quoted lower prices (€10 on weekdays), so prices may have been raised for 2026. The operator’s own list is the one to trust. You can book online, buy tickets in advance at partner shops in Guidonia Montecelio, or pay at the desk. Call +39 0774 615100 for information.

Getting there

• By car from Rome: Drive north-east to Palombara Sabina, about 30 km (19 miles) from the city, then follow signs for Cretone and the terme. The pools are at the foot of the hill, north of the village. The spa has its own car park next to the pools on Strada dell’Acqua Sulfurea.
• By train: Take the FL1 regional line (Fiumicino Aeroporto to Orte) toward Fara Sabina and get off at Piana Bella-Montelibretti. The SAP shuttle bus runs from the station to the terme in a few minutes. Check the shuttle times before you travel, especially on Sundays.

When to go

The complex opens only in summer. In 2026 it ran from May 28 to September 13, every day from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with no midday break. Weekends in July and August are the busiest and most expensive. Weekdays in June and early September are quieter and cheaper. Outside the season there is nothing to visit. The operator had not published 2027 dates in October 2026, so call before planning a trip around opening day.

Rules and etiquette

• No animals, not even small ones.
• Swimsuits in the pools; this is a family lido.
• Reserved spots are assigned, so do not move furniture into the reserved rows.
• Medical cures are booked separately and start with a consultation.

Where to stay nearby

There is no hotel at the terme. Palombara Sabina, the main town of the comune, has guesthouses and restaurants a short drive away, and the medieval village of Cretone sits on the hill just above the pools. Most visitors come for the day from Rome.

Safety notes

• Supervision: keep an eye on small children around the large pools.
• Sun: shade is mostly from rented umbrellas. Bring sun protection and water.
• Sulphur: the smell can be strong, and the water can tarnish silver jewellery. Leave it at home.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Terme di Fiuggi, about 55 km (34 miles) south-east in a straight line, are a cold drinking-water spa rather than a bathing one. For naturally hot water in Lazio, drive north to Viterbo for the free Bullicame and Piscine Carletti pools, or the Bagnaccio thermal park. Closer to Rome, QC Termeroma at Fiumicino is a large day spa.