AquaCity is an affordable, luxury water park and spa that is virtually self-powered by the solar energy and geothermal energy from vast underground lakes beneath the plains of northern Slovakia. It was the first winner of World's Leading Green Resort in 2007 and won the award again in 2008, in the World Travel Awards, voted for by international travel agents. Now it is a globally recognized example of how to create sustainable tourism, one of the most pressing issues the travel industry faces today.

Unique Location

In the north east of Slovakia, between the High and Low Tatry mountain ranges, AquaCity is a swimming and relaxation paradise, with a wellness center and geothermal water park. It is the first tourism project in the world with almost zero emissions, as it uses the energy of mother earth. This has given it its recognition as the most environmentally friendly resort in the world and Europe's number on Carbon Neutral Resort. For environmental reasons, an integrated energy concept was created which makes use of the geothermal reservoir of water in subterranean lakes, up to 2000m below ground. Nevertheless, economic considerations also played a part since the resort has an enormous energy requirement.

AquaCity is a bathing and sports paradise, a wellness centre and adventure park.

AquaCity provides its customers with two hotels, an award winning 3* and the 4* Mountain View hotel, a family water park, health spa and massage center, 300-delegate conference center, 14 geothermal pools and Jacuzzis, including an indoor 50m long Olympic sized pool, indoor and outdoor pools with jets, bubble benches, flumes, toboggans and a swim up bar, a restaurant, choice of bars and coffee shop. The wide range of facilities is designed to appeal to families, couples, groups of friends and businesses alike. Since it opened its doors in 2004 AquaCity has been regularly expanded and developed and set against the stunning backdrop of the High Tatras Mountains it is very much the getaway to exploring this wonderful mountainous region.

Cutting-edge Facilities

Guests at AquaCity even have an opportunity to experience CryoTherapy, a revolutionary, alternative healing therapy that uses extremes of temperature to stimulate the body's natural healing processes, to alleviate numerous medical conditions. CryoTherapy involves spending up to 2 minutes in a small room chilled to minus 120 degrees C, followed by a vigorous gym warm up. Exposure to such extremes of temperature under close medical supervision stimulates the release of natural healing enzymes and hormones to ‘kick start’ the body into self-healing and regeneration. Since the 1980s it has been used in both medical and sport treatments. It is believed to bring relief to a range of ailments, such as rheumatoid joint problems, multiple sclerosis, eczema, Parkinson's disease, back pain, osteoporosis and fybrositis. It is also claimed to be good for reducing cellulite, improving skin condition and helping those suffering from depression.

AquaCity provides variety to its customers with a range of facilities.

Another cutting-edge AquaCity facility is Chromotherapy, a natural alternative healing process in which colour and light are used to balance a person's physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing. It helps customers to relax and rest in order to cope better with the stresses and strains of 21st century living. Chromotherapy has a long tradition in medicine and it is thought that colour and light have been used for health treatments since ancient times, with historic roots in ancient Ebyptian and Chinese culture.

Sustainable Energy

AquaCity is virtually self-powered, using geothermal water and solar power. This means that it saves around 27 tonnes of Carbon from entering the atmosphere each day by virtually eliminating its CO² emissions. The resort generates most of its electricity requirements using photovoltaic solar panels and co-generation units, an important part of this sustainable building concept.

The energy used to heat the shower water, the hotel and leisure buildings is drawn from 15,000 year old geothermal lakes, found just a few kms from the resort, at depths of up to 2,000m. Using Europe's largest heat exchangers and state of the art heat pumps, the heat energy is drawn off the water, the water is then recycled and the process repeated, before finally it is returned to the river to start the natural process all over again.

AquaCity is virtually self-powered, using geothermal water and solar power.

AquaCity also holds the accolade of having the world's first solar powered pool complex, the Blue Sapphire Pool Centre, was created in 2007. Each of the five circular pools are geothermally heated and each one offers different massage and Chromotherapy effects, with waves, water fountain and pulsating underwater currents. The big draw of the Blue Sapphire Pools takes place each evening with a holographic laser and music show, with images projected onto a 9m high wall of water.

To date over 2.5 million guests have experienced the fun and environmental benefits of
AquaCity's green practices and with its ability to save money by being green, passing the cost benefits onto customers, it's likely to continue to be a popular destination for years to come.