Balotești Commune is 4 km from Otopeni Airport. The commune brings together a variety of travel interests: a church dating from 1763, historic monuments and archaeological settlements, as well as landscapes, outdoor activities and thermal waters. Deciding which of these to focus on can help you plan the days of your stay.
Landscapes of the Câmpia Vlăsiei
Balotești Commune lies in the Câmpia Română, in the southern part of the Câmpia Vlăsiei, also known as the Câmpia Bucureștilor. The terrain is almost flat and slopes gently from north to south. However, the plain is not uniform throughout: Valea Vlăsiei cuts through the landscape in the north, while Valea Cociovaliștea does so in the south. There are also local depressions formed by mechanical and subsequently chemical suffosion processes.
Along the undeveloped sections of Valea Vlăsiei, hygrophilous vegetation is prominent. The valleys, depressions and areas of vegetation give the plain a varied landscape. Those interested in how the landscape was formed will find both the almost flat plain and its named indentations and depressions to be distinctive features.
Church, Monument and Archaeological Sites
The Biserica din Balotești dates from 1763. It is dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Saint Theodore Tyron and Saint Stelian of Paphlagonia. Another link to the commune’s history is the Monument of Balotești, at the intersection of Strada I.C. Brătianu and Șoseaua Unirii. It consists of two red-granite prismatic volumes and a granite cross. Its inscription commemorates the commune’s heroes from 1916–1919 and 1941–1945, as well as the events of December 1989.
The archaeological sites reach further back into the past. On the right bank of the Cociovaliștea stream, at the eastern edge of Petrești Forest, the Balotești site includes a settlement from the Geto-Dacian period and a Bronze Age settlement. Another site, “Malul stâng Cociovaliștea”, is on the left bank of Cociovaliștea and also includes a settlement from the Geto-Dacian period.
The “Râul Vlăsia” site is on the right bank of the Vlăsia stream, east of the road to the TBC sanatorium, in farmland and Pașcani Forest. Săftica also has historic and religious associations: the archaeological site bearing the designation IF-I-s-B-20258 is on the right bank of the Vlăsia stream, east and northeast of Săftica. Săftica is also home to the Orthodox Biserica “Sf. Troită”, “Sf. Dumitru şi Sf. Elisabeta”, on Strada Sf. Troită.
Outdoor Activities and Thermal Waters
Balotești offers several opportunities for outdoor activities. Cycling competitions are held every year, with thousands of participants from Romania and around the world. Edenland Park offers cycling, horse riding, high-ropes courses, archery and paintball. The park has operational treehouses for overnight stays; check their availability before your trip.
Fishing and horse riding are also associated with the commune. In Balotești, 184 hectares of water and reed beds are linked to fishing tourism; fishing is considered a popular activity among anglers. For equestrian tourism, wooded areas and bodies of water are described as scenic settings for rides. Thermal water, extracted from great depths, is an important part of bathing tourism. Therme București is located outside Bucharest, on national road DN1 in Balotești.
Getting There and Choosing a Base for Your Stay
STB route 442 runs in both directions between București and Therme București, and also stops at Henri Coandă Airport. Check the route details before you travel. When choosing accommodation, your planned focus can help guide your decision: local history, archaeological sites, activities at Edenland Park, or thermal and bathing tourism each appeal to different interests. This makes it easier to plan your trip around the things you actually want to explore.
Discover more destinations: Săftica, Ștefăneștii de Jos Commune, Vidra Commune, Branesti.
Go to the main travel overview: Ilfov.
