July the 31st, 2026 – A massive investment is aiming to totally transform continental Croatian tourism, with the majority of the focus on the overlooked Daruvar Spa.
Croatia has officially unveiled the fully renovated and expanded Daruvar Spa, a €20 million project that the government says marks a major step in strengthening the country’s continental tourism and positioning it as a leading European destination for health and wellness travel.
Poslovni reports that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković attended the opening ceremony, describing the project as one of 15 major investments designed to reshape Croatia’s tourism offer beyond the Adriatic coast. He noted that €13.2 million of the investment was financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NPOO), while the overall goal is to create a year-round tourism industry with high-quality facilities that attract visitors throughout all seasons, not just the summer months.
The renovation has transformed one of Croatia’s oldest spa resorts, whose history stretches back nearly 2,000 years, into a modern wellness and rehabilitation destination. The project included the complete reconstruction of 77 existing accommodation units and the construction of 13 new rooms at the Hotel Termal.
Guests can now enjoy newly renovated thermal pools featuring massage zones, an expanded sun deck, and a modern pool bar. The investment also introduced a new recreational and tourism centre with a multifunctional sports hall that will be used by both spa visitors and Croatian war veterans staying at the nearby Veterans’ Centre.
Among the new wellness facilities are beer baths, oak baths, salt rooms, cryotherapy chambers, and hyperbaric chambers. Spa director Ratko Vuković described the beer and oak baths as unique products that reflect Daruvar’s local identity and wellness tradition.
Local officials called the redevelopment a turning point for the region. Daruvar Mayor Damir Lneniček said it is the city’s largest investment in the past 45 years, adding that it will stimulate not only tourism but the broader local economy. Bjelovar-Bilogora County Prefect Marko Marušić said the upgraded spa has the potential to become the “locomotive” of Croatia’s health tourism sector by setting new standards in quality and visitor experience.
The project also focused on sustainability and digitalisation. Alongside modernising the facilities, the investment included a digital transformation of operations, the installation of photovoltaic power systems, and electric vehicle charging stations to improve energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
According to Plenković, the Daruvar project is part of a broader national strategy involving 15 spa and health tourism developments, with 10 located in continental Croatia and five along the coast. The wider programme is backed by a €356 million tourism investment package, of which €320 million comes from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Other destinations included in the programme are Veli Lošinj, Stubičke Toplice, Lipik, Varaždinske Toplice, Topusko, Terme Bjelovar, Biograd na Moru, Makarska, Crikvenica, and the island of Korčula. The government says the investments are intended to diversify Croatia’s tourism offer, reduce seasonal dependence, and strengthen the country’s position in the growing European health and wellness tourism market.
Although continental Croatia currently accounts for less than five percent of the country’s total tourism traffic, officials believe projects such as the redevelopment of Daruvar Spa will help unlock its significant growth potential by attracting domestic and international visitors throughout the year while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.
