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| The Famous Baths & Spas of Budapest |
Budapest's baths are fun and relaxing -
BYO swimsuit. (Rick Steves)
BYO swimsuit. (Rick Steves)
Budapest is fortunate to have some of the world's finest
Turkish baths. Not only do the baths boast original
Ottoman architecture (consisting of wonderful
octagonal pools, cupolas and colored glass windows)
but offer a unique - and sometimes hedonistic - bathing
experience. And while some, such as the Széchenyi
Gyógyfürdő are more recent, cheap entry prices and
expert masseurs - who happily rearrange your limbs
and muscles in ways that you thought (up until now)
were impossible - are common to all!
Bathhouses usually have two main pools, along with
smaller ones that contain water of varying
temperatures. Elsewhere you'll also find saunas and
steam rooms, together with a wide-array of medical
treatments. Massages come in two flavours, namely
orvosi (a relaxing medical massage) and vízi (water), a
much more rigorous - dare we say sadistic - Turkish
based variant! The Gellért, Rudas, Széchenyi and
Lukács Baths are arguably the best for tourists, while
the Király and Rác enjoy an active gay scene.
Turkish baths. Not only do the baths boast original
Ottoman architecture (consisting of wonderful
octagonal pools, cupolas and colored glass windows)
but offer a unique - and sometimes hedonistic - bathing
experience. And while some, such as the Széchenyi
Gyógyfürdő are more recent, cheap entry prices and
expert masseurs - who happily rearrange your limbs
and muscles in ways that you thought (up until now)
were impossible - are common to all!
Bathhouses usually have two main pools, along with
smaller ones that contain water of varying
temperatures. Elsewhere you'll also find saunas and
steam rooms, together with a wide-array of medical
treatments. Massages come in two flavours, namely
orvosi (a relaxing medical massage) and vízi (water), a
much more rigorous - dare we say sadistic - Turkish
based variant! The Gellért, Rudas, Széchenyi and
Lukács Baths are arguably the best for tourists, while
the Király and Rác enjoy an active gay scene.
The Széchenyi Spa is the largest thermal
bath of Budapest. The neo-baroque
baths were built in 1913. Its thermal
springs were discovered in 1879 - they
are the deepest and warmest thermal
wells in Budapest. It is a vast complex of
indoor and outdoor pools, the premier
medicinal bath of the Pest side of the city,
situated in the middle of the City Park.
bath of Budapest. The neo-baroque
baths were built in 1913. Its thermal
springs were discovered in 1879 - they
are the deepest and warmest thermal
wells in Budapest. It is a vast complex of
indoor and outdoor pools, the premier
medicinal bath of the Pest side of the city,
situated in the middle of the City Park.
"No question, Budapest is hot — literally.
The city sits on a skinny layer of earth above thermal
springs, which power its many baths. Splashing and
relaxing in Budapest's thermal baths is the city's most
worthwhile activity. Though it might sound intimidating,
bathing here is far more accessible than you'd think.
The two baths I recommend are the best known, most
representative and most convenient for first-timers: one
casual, the other elegant. Both are equally good.
To soak with the locals, head to the Széchenyi Baths
complex. Relax and enjoy some Hungarian good living.
After checking in and changing, you follow the crowds to
a series of indoor pools (quite hot — most around 104
degrees Fahrenheit). Beyond these pools, you'll find
your way outside, where women and men float blissfully
in the warm water. Intellectuals and Speedo-clad elder
statesmen stand in chest-high water around
chessboards and ponder their next moves. This is the
city at its best (and cleanest).
Budapest's more touristy bath destination is at Gellért
Baths, located in a fancy hotel. You'll pay more than at
Széchenyi, you won't have as much fun and you won't
run into nearly as many locals — this is definitely a
more upscale scene. But if you want a soothing,
luxurious bath experience in a fancy setting, this is the
place.
Whether relaxing in the Széchenyi Baths or surveying
the city from Castle Hill, seasoned travelers like
Budapest more and more with each return visit. A city of
stories, local flavor and proud history, Budapest will add
Hungarian spice to any European trip."
- From Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door
The city sits on a skinny layer of earth above thermal
springs, which power its many baths. Splashing and
relaxing in Budapest's thermal baths is the city's most
worthwhile activity. Though it might sound intimidating,
bathing here is far more accessible than you'd think.
The two baths I recommend are the best known, most
representative and most convenient for first-timers: one
casual, the other elegant. Both are equally good.
To soak with the locals, head to the Széchenyi Baths
complex. Relax and enjoy some Hungarian good living.
After checking in and changing, you follow the crowds to
a series of indoor pools (quite hot — most around 104
degrees Fahrenheit). Beyond these pools, you'll find
your way outside, where women and men float blissfully
in the warm water. Intellectuals and Speedo-clad elder
statesmen stand in chest-high water around
chessboards and ponder their next moves. This is the
city at its best (and cleanest).
Budapest's more touristy bath destination is at Gellért
Baths, located in a fancy hotel. You'll pay more than at
Széchenyi, you won't have as much fun and you won't
run into nearly as many locals — this is definitely a
more upscale scene. But if you want a soothing,
luxurious bath experience in a fancy setting, this is the
place.
Whether relaxing in the Széchenyi Baths or surveying
the city from Castle Hill, seasoned travelers like
Budapest more and more with each return visit. A city of
stories, local flavor and proud history, Budapest will add
Hungarian spice to any European trip."
- From Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door
- Family Activities
- Family Outings in Budapest
- The Budapest Zoo
- Family Day-trip Ideas
- The Danube Bend
- Where to Go on Rainy Days
- Bird Watching Vacation
- Travel Guide
- Wooden Toys
- The Hungarian Vizsla Dog
- Schools
- Churches
The Gellért Spa is one of the most
prestigious thermal pool of Budapest
with its famous sparkling bath, open-air
pool with artificial waves and full medical
services. It was built in 1918, at the foot
Gellért Hill, next to the beautiful green iron
bridge (Szabadság).
The Art-Nouveau main hall of the bath is
topped by a vaulted glass roof. The
gallery surrounding the pool is supported
by monumental Roman-style columns.
The spa is decorated with a wealth of
original Art-Nouveau furnishings, artistic
mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass
windows.
prestigious thermal pool of Budapest
with its famous sparkling bath, open-air
pool with artificial waves and full medical
services. It was built in 1918, at the foot
Gellért Hill, next to the beautiful green iron
bridge (Szabadság).
The Art-Nouveau main hall of the bath is
topped by a vaulted glass roof. The
gallery surrounding the pool is supported
by monumental Roman-style columns.
The spa is decorated with a wealth of
original Art-Nouveau furnishings, artistic
mosaics, sculptures, and stained glass
windows.
| Your path here: wellness, hot bath, spa, hot spring, sauna, medicinal bath, medicinal spa, medical services, health tourism, wellness tour, wellness trip, wellness treatment, lifestyle, wellness, hot bath, spa, hot spring, sauna, medicinal bath, medicinal spa, medical services, health tourism, wellness tour, wellness trip, wellness treatment, lifestyle, wellness, hot bath, spa, hot spring, sauna, medicinal bath, medicinal spa, medical services, health tourism, wellness tour, wellness trip, wellness treatment, lifestyle, luxury, luxurious bath, expert masseurs, medical massage, steam room, sauna |
Budapest, Hungary
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