The Burgenland thermal baths of Bad Sauerbrunn and Lutzmannsburg can also be reached by public transport from Vienna. Buses can be used without changing trains or a combination of train and bus. For holders of the new climate ticket, there are no extra costs for the journeys.

While the Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg is one of the most famous bathing establishments in Burgenland, few people know that there is also a small thermal bath in the district of Mattersburg, more precisely in Bad Sauerbrunn. This scores with low admission prices, but this primarily serves the connected rehabilitation center. In Sauerbrunn - in contrast to Lutzmannsburg - there is nothing for children, but those looking for peace and quiet can get their money's worth here. With the climate ticket, these two thermal baths can also be reached at no extra cost. Alternatively, you can also use it to go to Stegersbach, Bad Tatzmannsdorf and Bad Loipersdorf. More details in this article.

Almost unknown: Heiltherme Bad Sauerbrunn

The Therme Bad Sauerbrunn is one of the smaller baths in Burgenland and less well known. It is connected to the local health resort and is only open to the public at certain times. The maximum length of stay is three hours. It is extremely quiet here, because the primary focus is on relaxation, which is why there are no fun offers such as slides. The entrance fee is comparatively cheap at 17 euros.

Due to the corona pandemic, the Bad Sauerbrunn thermal baths are currently only accessible to spa guests. It is not foreseeable when this can be used again by the general population. Operator Vamed is monitoring further developments and will provide timely information in the event of changes.

The Therme Bad Sauerbrunn can be reached by public transport from Vienna with the Postbus line 1155, which now runs infrequently. Blaguss Reisen runs comparatively frequently on line 7491. Both bus routes are included in the transport association Ostregion and thus in the climate ticket. The closest stop is Bad Sauerbrunn Schubertallee. From there it is about a five minute walk.

Bad Sauerbrunn train station is closer to the thermal baths. From there it is about a minute's walk (the pool is diagonally opposite the ÖBB stop). From Vienna, for example, you have to change trains in Wiener Neustadt. The diesel railcars of the Austrian Federal Railways usually run hourly from platform 21 with the destinations Sopron or Deutschkreutz. The climate ticket is valid on this route.

Classic in the district of Oberpullendorf: Sonnentherme

The Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg is much better known than Bad Sauerbrunn. This was opened many years ago as "Babablub" and later it was given the name that is still used today. Due to the many fun possibilities, it is primarily aimed at children and young people, who can, for example, get their money's worth on the long water slide. But there are also quiet areas that are aimed more at people who want to relax. Lutzmannsburg sees itself as a spa for the whole family.

Numerous hotels have settled around the baths, some of which have included entry to the thermal baths in the overnight price. However, this is not the case with all accommodation establishments, which is why this question should be clarified with the reception when booking.

The district of Oberpullendorf is only extremely poorly connected to the rail network, as trains on the so-called Burgenlandbahn have only run as far as Deutschkreutz for many years. The section of line to Kőszeg (Hungary) has been shut down or has already been partly removed. In the Neckenmarkt-Oberpullendorf area, there are seasonal trolley services for tourist purposes.

The consequence of this is that public transport in the Burgenland district of Oberpullendorf is almost exclusively provided by buses from Postbus and Blaguss Reisen. From Vienna and Wiener Neustadt, bus line 7491 runs without changing to directly in front of the Lutzmannsburg thermal baths. However, it should be noted that not all courses stop in front of the bathing establishment, which is why you should look for suitable connections for the outward and return journey using the timetable or the ÖBB Scotty app. Connections with a change at the main square in Oberpullendorf are also possible. This is easily possible.

Another option is to take the ÖBB to Wiener Neustadt and then take a regional train to Mattersburg (destination: Sopron / Deutschkreutz). There you can change to Postbus or Blaguss Reisen and continue the journey to the Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg.

ÖBB, Postbus and Blaguss can be used with the climate ticket

The Postbus route 1155 and the Blaguss route 7491 are a small specialty in the transport association Ostregion, because in contrast to many other bus lines, it is not the VOR but the Postbus or Blaguss that is the line concessionaire. This is a remnant from the past, because the bus service used to be organized by the VVNB. In contrast to the VOR, this was an association of entrepreneurs, so that the concessions lay with the companies and not with the association. The VOR, on the other hand, works according to the allocation principle, i.e. the lines are advertised publicly. However, old concessions have grandfathering until this expires.

It was a long time ago, but in the past you didn't have to rummage through two timetables, but Blaguss and the then ÖBB train bus used to have a shared service, so that there was only one timetable. After the termination of the cooperation, Postbus massively thinned out the frequencies, so that the private competitor now carries out the vast majority of the connections.

Since Postbus does not run continuously between Vienna and the Therme Lutzmannsburg and the number of connections to Bad Sauerbrunn is extremely small, the postbuses are not presented in this article. As a rule, Mercedes buses are used. Occasionally other types of vehicles also drive, but they are equipped in the same way. Some of the buses have WiFi, but no toilets.

On the routes to Central Burgenland, Blaguss Reisen uses both scheduled buses and coaches that run on the route as a makeshift. Most of them are vehicles that were manufactured by the Mercedes sister company Setra. Some buses are also equipped with a toilet, others are not. However, one should not completely rely on the fact that there really is a quiet place, because it is a normal intercity line and not a long-distance bus route. However, all buses are equipped with free WiFi. Most vehicles also have sockets where you can charge a laptop or smartphone, for example.

Wheelchair users should register their journeys by telephone

It should also be noted that high-floor intercity buses or makeshift high-floor coaches are generally used on this route. In concrete terms, this means that wheelchair users need help getting in and out of the vehicle. The bus drivers are happy to do this. Nevertheless, it is advisable to book in advance by telephone.

This information must also be given for the Mattersburg Railway (ÖBB line between Wiener Neustadt and Sopron/Deutschkreutz via Bad Sauerbrunn and Mattersburg). With a few exceptions, this route is served by older Jenbacher diesel railcars. In contrast to their successors, which only run at certain times, these are not barrier-free, but can only be reached via a comparatively steep staircase. This is of course very bad for wheelchair users, because without outside help there is almost no chance of getting into the Jenbacher railcar. It is therefore important to register in advance by telephone with the ÖBB. They then want to provide appropriate staff to help wheelchair users get on board.

While the small thermal baths in Bad Sauerbrunn can be reached quickly from Vienna in just over an hour and that - if you consider that the climate ticket and normal tickets (exception: Vorteilscard) are valid on both the train and bus - very often, you have to travel quite a bit to Lutzmannsburg muster up patience.

There are fast courses that cover part of the route on the autobahn or expressway, but the majority of through coaches drive from Wiener Neustadt or Mattersburg via the federal road through the villages. The distances are not particularly large, but journeys on the B50 can take a long time. Since the number of buses that run without changing to the Lutzmannsburg thermal baths (and back to Vienna) is lower than those that require a change in Oberpullendorf, you should definitely check the ÖBB Scotty app or the timetable inform and plan.

Nevertheless, there are ways to travel to the Bad Sauerbrunn and Lutzmannsburg thermal baths with the climate ticket. The bus company Dr. Richard maintains a long-distance route with line G1, with which Bad Tatzmannsburg, Stegersbach and Bad Loipersdorf can be reached. More about this in this article.