Imagine this: you’ve been traveling for days, the children are tired of seats and curves, the adults feel their shoulders tight from driving, and everyone feels a bit sticky from the heat and dust. Then, just before arriving in Verona, you discover there is a place where your camper can stay parked, the thermal waters warm the body to 30–40 degrees, the waterfalls refresh the soul, and no one is in a rush to go anywhere. Welcome to Aquardens Terme—Italy’s largest thermal park, a stop that transforms a simple travel day into an experience of complete physical and mental reset, perfect for camper families who need to stop, breathe, and remember what it means to relax.
An Unmissable Detour: Where You Start and Where You Park
Aquardens is located in Pescantina, in the province of Verona, at Via Valpolicella 63—a location as strategic as it is unexpected. If you are traveling toward Verona from the north (from Bolzano, Trento, Brennero), or from Lake Garda, or from any direction actually, Aquardens is an almost obligatory stop: it is not out of the way, it is on the right path, simply offering a much more rejuvenating break than coffee at a bar.
The real surprise for those traveling by camper: there is free parking.
You leave the state road, park the camper in a large dirt square directly next to the thermal baths, and for the next 6–8 hours your vehicle is not needed. It is free, level, lit at night, and quiet. It has no camper services (no water, no sewage dump), but its absolute proximity to the thermal baths (literally 100 meters) makes it the most practical solution that exists for a long stop. Experienced campers know it is the “perfect for relaxation” parking lot: leave your camper in complete tranquility and immerse yourself.
Logistics: From the A22 to Aquardens
- If you come from North (A22 Brennero): exit at Affi, continue towards Valpolicella–Pescantina for 2.5 km on the SS12, following the signs.
- If you come from South (A4, Mantova, Brescia): exit at Verona Nord, take the SS12 direction Valpolicella–Pescantina, about 10 km.
- If you come from East (Lake Garda): Approximately 10 km from the shores of Lazise or Bardolino.
In all cases, the journey is short, tranquil, and the roads are well signposted.
Jacuzzi
SPA
Aquardens: The Park That Looks More Like a Fairytale
When you cross the Aquardens gate with your children, you are not entering a municipal swimming pool or an adult-only SPA. You are entering one of Italy’s largest and most imaginative thermal parks—60,000 square meters of surface area, 5,200 square meters of water, all built around a natural thermal water source that gushes out pure at 47 degrees from a depth of 130 meters.
The Water: Salso-Bromo-Iodic, or Magical
The water that fills every pool, every lagoon, every waterfall at Aquardens is not chlorine and disinfection. It is natural thermal water recognized by the Ministry of Health for its beneficial properties: rich in sodium chloride, bromine, iodine, calcium, magnesium, and iron. It has traveled for more than 8,000 years through the depths of the earth, completely isolated from surface pollution, to arrive in the pools maintaining a temperature between 30–40 degrees (perfect for children).
It’s not just pleasant: it is *curative*. Thermal balneotherapy—staying in hot, salty water—achieves medically recognized benefits: it reduces stress, relieves muscle tension, improves circulation, and strengthens the immune system. The Romans knew this two thousand years ago. Aquardens knows it today.
What You Will Find Inside
Aquardens is not a grey, clinical structure. It is an architectural structure that looks like it was designed by someone who visited a dream and decided to build it.
External Thermal Area – Under the open sky, surrounded by the gentle Valpolicella hills:
- Themed lagoons with natural waterfalls
- A choreographic fountain that children (and adults) find mesmerizing
- Panoramic terraces where you can sit, sip a herbal tea, and look at the landscape
- Pool depths from 50 cm (perfect for the little ones) up to 140 cm
- A sensation of being in a tropical oasis mixed with Valpolicella—an oxymoron that works
Internal Thermal Area – When the weather is grey or evening falls:
- Climatized indoor pools at different temperatures
- Artificial grottos with light and steam effects—children adore them
- Dedicated areas for the little ones, with controlled depth and safety structures
- Hydromassage beds for adults while the children play nearby
Sauna Area – For those over 14 years old:
- Finnish sauna, Turkish bath, infrared sauna
- Thermal paths that alternate heat and cold
- It is not included in the base ticket, but it is an interesting extra for adults who want to escape for a bit
Relax Areas and Green Spaces – Distributed throughout the park:
- Shaded areas with sunbeds and deck chairs
- Covered lounge areas for lying down
- Green spaces with vegetation (it’s not concrete everywhere)
Wellness and Beauty Centers (Aquadivina) – Optional but tempting:
- Professional massages
- Spa treatments
- If the children are in the park and the adults want an hour of pure relaxation, this is the place
Dining – Because you can’t stay in the water all day:
- Arena Gourmet and Ripasso Bistrò: Overlooking the thermal park, they serve local specialties (traditional and revisited dishes)
- Snack bars scattered throughout the park for drinks and small bites
- Important for those with restrictions: It is NOT permitted to bring food and drinks from home into the park
Planning Your Day: How to Make the Most of Aquardens
How Long to Stay?
The short answer is: 6 hours is the ideal time for families with children.
Arrive at 10:00 AM, when the park is not yet crowded. Spend 4–5 hours in the park itself (in the water, playing, relaxing). Have lunch between 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM (best times to avoid the rush). In the late afternoon, around 4:00 PM–5:00 PM, the park starts to empty out: this is the best time for a second, crowd-free relaxation session. At 4:30 PM–5:00 PM, you exit, change, return to the camper, rest an hour, and around 6:00 PM you are ready to resume the journey toward Verona (where the Porta Palio Camper Stop Area is only 30 km away).
Alternatively, if you prefer a more “sprint” visit because you are in a hurry to get to Verona, you can do 4 hours (entry from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM or 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM). Even so, the children will be happily exhausted, and the adults will want to sleep.
Which Tickets to Buy?
Prices vary according to the day (weekday/holiday) and time:
Hourly Entry:
- 2 hours: €29 (adults)
- 4 hours: €39–45 per person (depending on whether it is a weekday or holiday)
- 6 hours: €46–50 per person (the best value for families)
Full-Day Entry (from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM depending on the season):
- Adults: €45–55 (weekday/holiday)
- Children 1–13 years: €27–30
- Infants 0–12 months: €13–14 (free access for accompanying adults)
Supplements (optional):
- Sauna Area (ages 14+): +€10–15
- Towel/Robe rental: €6–10
- Massages/spa treatments: €40–150 (depending on the type)
Tip: Buy tickets online beforehand. The queues at the cash desks can be long, especially on weekend mornings. You often save a couple of euros online and skip directly to the entrance.
What to Bring
✅ Swimsuit (mandatory for everyone, including children) ✅ Towel (or rent one for a few euros) ✅ Flip-flops/Slippers (the pools have edges, but slippers are comfortable) ✅ Sunscreen (the sun reflects off the water and sunburns arrive quickly) ✅ Sunglasses and hat (for comfort) ✅ Plastic bag for wet items (very useful) ✅ Camper Robe/Gown (for returning to the parking lot)
❌ DO NOT bring: Food and drinks from home (the park is strict about this; there is internal catering) ❌ DO NOT bring: Valuables (there are lockers with keys, but it’s better to leave everything in the camper) ❌ NOT mandatory but pleasant: Swim cap (it is not required, you can buy one there if you want)
Practical Information
Contact Information
- Address: Via Valpolicella 63, 37026 Santa Lucia di Pescantina (VR)
- Phone: +39 045 6704406
- Email: info@aquardens.it (via website)
- Official Website: https://www.aquardens.it/it/
Hours (2025)
Please check the official website for precise hours, which vary by season. Generally:
- Open every day
- Winter: 10:00 AM–11:00 PM
- Summer: 9:00 AM–1:00 AM (late-night openings on weekends)
Booking
Booking is not necessary. You can show up and buy the ticket directly (but online is better to avoid queues).
Camper Van Parking
- Location: Dirt area adjacent to the main entrance, directly within the Aquardens complex
- Spaces: ~100 pitches for camper vans and caravans
- Cost: Free for guests (it is included with the visit)
- Services: None (no water, no sewage dump, no electricity—but the proximity to the thermal baths makes it unnecessary)
- Lighting: Yes, at night
- Security: Good—Carabinieri patrols make rounds, surveillance
- Atmosphere: Quiet and silent, surrounded by vineyards
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