Stubičke Toplice: Wellness, Culture and Trails

In Stubičke Toplice, you can combine different aspects of a stay: wellness, the history of the spa and time spent on trails in the Medvednica landscape. The places and routes below give you practical ideas to help with your planning.

Wellness and bathing tradition

The Wellness Center at Special Hospital Stubičke Toplice offers a pool, a whirlpool, underwater and dry massages, Turkish, Finnish and infrared saunas, and a relaxation area. The hospital provides services for private users and tourists. Its offerings also include specially developed wellness packages prepared by medical staff, as well as medical and anti-stress massages for the face and body. Check the current offerings and access conditions before making specific plans.

The bathing tradition also dates back a long way: the historic spa and bathing complex of Stubičke Toplice was built between 1811 and 1814 by Maksimilijan Vrhovac, Bishop of Zagreb. The Chapel of St. Catherine on Kapelščak was built in 1814, also at the bishop’s instigation, to serve the nearby spa. It serves as a parish church and is designated as a cultural asset under preventive protection.

The Betlehemska spilja (Bethlehem Cave) is located in the parish church park. It contains a permanent exhibition of nativity scenes and the Tomb of Christ. Together with the chapel, it introduces another cultural theme of the area beyond its spa architecture.

Educational trails and historic routes

The Kamenjak historical educational trail is 1,200 meters long and has an elevation difference of 87 meters. Rest areas and information boards provide insights into local biodiversity; the trail can also be used for outdoor school activities. It leads to the Galženjak oak, which is protected as a natural monument. In local oral tradition, the tree is associated with the 1573 peasant revolt.

Another historic route leads to the Horvatove Stube (Horvat Steps). From Pila in Stubičke Toplice, you can reach the stone steps on a one-hour hike. Vladimir Horvat built the 500 steps by hand between 1946 and 1953. The area around the steps features karst caves, shafts, disappearing streams, rocks, sinkholes and karren—a landscape where the history of the route and the karst formations offer different points of interest.

Woodland landscape and Lake Jarki

The wooded slopes of Medvednica descend through the Stubičke Toplice landscape toward the thermal springs. Within the wider municipality of Općina Stubičke Toplice, 80 percent of the area lies within Medvednica Nature Park. There are four hyperthermal mineral springs there, reaching temperatures of up to 69.7 °C.

Lake Jarki, a sports and recreation lake, is associated with nature-based recreation, fishing tourism and outdoor school activities. On foot, the route to the lake passes through historic Kapelščak and follows a forest road. The lake lies among the forests of Medvednica Nature Park. A wooden fishing lodge nearby is used for various activities.

More trails in Općina Stubičke Toplice

The Kapelščak educational and recreational trail starts in Maksimilijana Vrhovca Park and climbs toward the viewpoint and the Chapel of St. Catherine. Allow about 45 minutes to cover the two kilometers at an easy walking pace. The trail has information boards, eco-messages, wooden benches and waste bins; check the current condition of these facilities on site.

For longer hikes, Trails 38 and 39 offer different routes. Hiking Trail 38 leads from Stubičke Toplice to Main Trail 1 on the Medvednica ridge. Hiking Trail 39 runs from the Zagorje side through Stubičke Toplice and Pila to Sljeme, the summit of Medvednica, and has two access points. The full hike to Sljeme takes about four hours; the actual time depends on pace and conditions.

A cycling loop

A cycling tour is also described: the easy Stubičke Toplice loop is 10 kilometers long and starts in the town center. Check the current route and signage before setting out, as route information and conditions may change.

Discover more destinations: Strmec Stubički

Go to the main travel overview: Općina Stubičke Toplice.