Banya with massage in Chișinău: which massage to choose after the steam room, in what order and at what price
· 8 min read
A massage after the steam room works noticeably better than the same massage at a salon: the muscles are already warm, blood flow is up and the skin is soft, so the therapist can go deeper without pain and relaxation comes faster. The right order is warm-up, steaming, contrast, a short rest and only then the massage. At Woloshin banya in Durlești massage is available in every format: in the public Dragon bath a 30-minute classic massage is included in the visit as one of the treatments of your choice, and in the private Stejar programs in-house masseurs work with your party. Below: which massages we offer, what they cost and how to build the visit.
Why massage in a banya works better
- Heat does half the job. After 2–3 rounds in the steam room the muscles are warmed through and the fascia is pliable, so the therapist does not need 15 minutes to loosen your back — they go straight to what is tight.
- Circulation is already up. Steam dilates the blood vessels and the cold pond trains them. Massage afterwards flushes metabolic waste from the muscles more efficiently — this is how you clear soreness after training or a long flight.
- The skin is ready. After steam and a scrub, oil or honey absorbs evenly, and the soap wash and kese peeling only make sense on a steamed body.
- The mind switches off. There is no phone and no queue in the corridor; between treatments you lie by the pond with tea, and the massage lands on a body that is already calm.
The right order: steam — contrast — massage
- A warm shower and 10–15 minutes in the steam room without whisks — the body gets used to the heat.
- Rest for 10 minutes, water or herbal tea.
- Whisk steaming with a master (10–30 minutes) — this is the “bath massage” itself: the oak whisk works as a hot compress and a gentle vibro-massage at the same time.
- Contrast: the pond, a tub or a bucket of cold water. Then 15–20 minutes of quiet so the pulse returns to normal.
- Massage — on a warm but already calm body. Straight out of the steam room is not the moment: the heart is still working under load.
- After the massage, rest rather than steam: 20–30 minutes lying down, tea, a light meal. Going back into the steam room after a massage cancels its effect.
Which massages are available and what they cost
Prices are from our bath menu and valid in September 2026. All massages are performed by the complex’s in-house masseurs; steaming is done by steam masters.
| Massage | Duration | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic massage | 30 minutes | 500 MDL | Back and neck after a week at the computer; included in Dragon packages as a treatment of your choice |
| General classic massage | 60 minutes | 900 MDL | The whole body, the “baseline” after the steam room |
| Classic massage | 90 minutes | 1400 MDL | When you want everything worked through without rushing |
| Neck and shoulder massage | 20 minutes | 400 MDL | Tension headaches, “office neck” |
| Royal massage | 60 minutes | 1000 MDL | From toes to head, ending with sound healing |
| Hot stone massage | 45 minutes | 800 MDL | Deep relaxation, cold feet, chronic tension |
| Honey massage | 30 minutes | 800 MDL | Skin and lymphatic drainage; done on steamed skin |
| Four-hands massage | 30 minutes | 1000 MDL | Two therapists in sync — the most relaxing option |
| Anti-cellulite massage | 45 minutes | 1000 MDL | As a course, after a scrub and the steam room |
| Hot herbal foot massage | 25 minutes | 400 MDL | Feet soaked in a herbal infusion, then a foot massage |
| Massage with sound healing | 30 minutes | 600 MDL | Massage to the vibration of singing bowls |
| Head massage | — | 300 MDL | Release tension, “reset” the head |
| Children’s massage | 20 minutes | 300 MDL | Gentle and relaxing, for children in the private baths |
Whisk steaming is a massage too
In the Russian tradition steaming with a master is the bath massage: the oak whisk warms like a compress, drives the steam onto the body and kneads the muscles with pats and rubs. Our classic steaming costs 300 MDL for 10 minutes, 500 for 20 and 750 for 30; four-hands steaming is 1000 MDL for 20 minutes. There are signature versions too: “Anti-stress” with herbs (1000 MDL, 30 minutes), “Honey bath” (1000 MDL, 40 minutes), “Trypillian steaming” in the clay bath (800 MDL). A good combination for one visit: 20 minutes of steaming, contrast, rest, a 30-minute classic massage.
Programs with massage already included
| Program | Where | Guests | Included | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White / Green / Red Dragon | Dragon, public | any number | 5 hours + 1 / 2 / 3 treatments of your choice — a 30-min massage can be one of them | 1200 / 1600 / 2000 MDL per person |
| Love Story | Stejar, private | 2 | 5 hours, 1 steam master and 1 masseur for the couple | 10 000 MDL |
| Seven Wonders | Stejar, private | 1–12 | 5 hours, 1–2 steam masters and 1–2 masseurs | from 10 000 MDL per party |
| Phoenix | Stejar, private | 1–10 | 6 hours, 2 steam masters and 1 masseur | from 18 000 MDL |
| The Tsar’s Bath | Stejar, private | 1–10 | 6 hours, 2 steam masters and 2 masseurs | from 24 000 MDL |
| Nordic Paradise | Valhalla, private | 1–6 | 4 hours with a steam master; massage is added separately (500 MDL / 30 min) | from 4000 MDL per party |
When to postpone a banya massage
Massage and the steam room are a load on the body, pleasant as it is. Skip them with a fever or a cold, in the acute phase of any inflammation, during flare-ups of heart and vascular disease, with skin rashes, and within 24 hours of drinking alcohol. Pregnant guests and people with chronic conditions should check with their doctor in advance and tell the therapist about problem areas on the spot — they will adjust the intensity. Children in the private baths get their own gentle massage.
How to book a banya with massage
The number of masseurs per shift is limited, so order treatments together with your booking rather than on arrival. In the public Dragon pick the package with the number of treatments you need and mention the massage when booking online or by phone +373 76 00 57 77. For two people Love Story fits best: both a steam master and a masseur work with the couple. The complex is in Durlești, stradela 1 Codrilor 44, 20–25 minutes from the centre; open daily 10:00–23:00, Thursday is the sanitary day.
