Velký Meder is one of those places in Slovakia that families visit all year round. The reason is the thermal baths, though a weekend can be filled without spending two days beside the pool. Here is how we would plan it.
Friday evening: arrival and the park
If you arrive in the early evening, take your time. Children need to run after the journey, and the park is ideal for that.
Ours covers 35,000 m² and is more than a lawn: there is a lake, a farm of Rye Island (Žitný ostrov) animals, horses, a lookout tower and a wooden barn. A walk around it fills exactly the time before dinner, and the children fall asleep without protest.
Saturday morning: the thermal baths
Thermal Corvinus is 700 metres from us, a ten-minute walk. If you would rather not carry bags and inflatable rings, there is our free transfer.
The baths have seven indoor pools open all year round, with six outdoor pools added in summer. For children, the water slides are the main draw. The grounds cover 8.3 hectares and sit in a woodland park, so there is shade to be found.
Please check opening hours and admission prices on the operator’s website before your visit, as they change with the season.
With younger children it is worth arriving right at opening time. Mornings tend to be calmer, and you will reach lunch without rushing.
Saturday afternoon: horses and animals
After lunch, most people have no wish to go back into the water. This is where it helps that the programme continues on the grounds themselves.
Horse riding here works even for complete beginners. It is a ride through the park and the basics, not training. For children, meeting a horse is often the highlight of the day, even if they do not end up daring to mount.
Besides the horses, the park has an animal farm, fishing on the lake for the more patient, and sports pitches. We also hire out bicycles.
There is more about what you can do in the park on the Experiences page.
By the children’s age
Toddlers up to three. Facilities decide it: where to change a nappy, where to leave the pushchair, whether there is somewhere to warm a bottle. The thermal baths have warmer pools that suit the youngest better than the large swimming pool. A cot is available on request.
Pre-schoolers. The best age for animals. The farm, the horses and the feeding hold their attention better than any pool. Plan a shorter programme: one thing in the morning, another in the afternoon, a rest in between.
Younger school children. Slides, bikes, pitches. At this age they last the whole day and want to be outdoors the entire time. Expect them to drag you out on a second trip as well.
Teenagers. They need something of their own: a bike, fishing rods, a pitch. And wifi, which we provide free of charge.
What to pack
Beyond the obvious, we have found it worth mentioning:
- flip-flops and your own towel for the baths,
- insect repellent, because we are by the water and the park is green,
- something for the rain, even when the forecast says nothing,
- a change of clothes for the children, if animals or horses are on the agenda,
- trainers for cycling, as the embankment is no place for sandals.
Meeting a horse for the first time: what to expect
For most children it is their first time, and parents tend to ask the same two things: whether the child will be frightened and what they should wear.
How it usually goes. You start by getting to know the horse from the ground: a stroke, a treat, a walk alongside it. Only then does the saddle come into play. Children who are nervous at first settle down after a few minutes beside the horse. It helps that the horse is standing still and in no hurry.
What to wear. Long trousers that do not chafe, and sturdy shoes with a smooth sole and a heel, not sandals, flip-flops or trainers with a chunky tread. A helmet is always required.
What to leave behind. Loose scarves, long chains and anything that could get caught. Tie hair back.
When a child takes fright. Do not push. Even simply stroking the horses and watching them from a safe distance is often the highlight of the day for small children, and next time they may well be braver.
What to ask us. The suitable age, how long a ride lasts, what exactly it includes and what the current conditions are. Write to us in advance so we know what to expect. We are happy to tailor it to who is coming.
Sunday: a trip into the surroundings
If you would like to see something beyond the gate, Rye Island has plenty to offer:
- Malkia Park, a big-cat reserve and a classic family outing on Rye Island.
- The Kolárovo water mill and the museum of milling on the Little Danube.
- The Číčov oxbow lake of the Danube, a protected stretch of water and a paradise for birdwatching.
- The Gabčíkovo lookout tower, with a view of the hydroelectric works.
- Győr in Hungary, about 25 km away, with the Audi Aréna, Xantus zoo and the basilica.
The full overview, with distances, is on the Surroundings page.
When it rains
The indoor section of the baths runs all year round, so rain will not cancel the weekend. Here at the manor house there are also board games, table tennis and a gallery of paintings by contemporary artists. The tour takes only a moment, but children enjoy being allowed to look at the pictures up close.
How to survive a rainy Saturday
Forecasts change, and with children it helps to have a plan B ready in advance:
- The indoor section of the baths runs all year round, and in the rain there are, paradoxically, fewer people.
- The museum of milling in Kolárovo is under a roof, and the guided tour holds children’s attention.
- Here at the manor house there are board games, table tennis and the painting gallery.
- The animals on the farm are outdoors in any weather, and in wellies it is even more fun.
Where to stay
For a family stay, the room type is what matters. We have 13 rooms and apartments in seven categories, including family suites with two bedrooms and two-room suites for six people. The children sleep separately and the parents have the evening to themselves. A cot is available on request.
Your stay includes home-style half board with special diets catered for, a transfer to the baths and free parking in the closed courtyard.
Take a look at our rooms and apartments or at the stay packages, which are available only when you book directly.
Frequently asked questions
Is Velký Meder suitable for small children?
Yes. The thermal baths have both an indoor and a summer section, and there are plenty of places nearby to go once the children have had enough of the water, from the animal farm to the Malkia Park big-cat reserve.
What is there to do in Velký Meder when it rains?
The indoor part of the thermal baths is open all year round. Here at the manor house there is also a gallery of paintings, board games and table tennis.
Do you have a cot?
Yes, a cot is available on request. The family suites sleep up to six people.
