The following photo will allow you to get a sense of what the resort looks like. The outdoor wave pool is a popular Gellért activity during the summer days. But in all of them, I have never had issues with attitude of the staff, ability to get by on just English, or cleanliness. The Lukács Baths are heated naturally by the oldest hot springs in Hungary. Now over 100 years old, it has become a top tourist attraction in Budapest, with 1.7 million visitors in 2017. You can enjoy a visit to Debrecen, the second largest city in the country, to discover them. A first visit to Szentes, the city where I spent my first two years in the country, will give you the chance to discover a rather unusual place: an imitation Turkish bath that was built in 1962. From therapeutic spas to lively nighttime swim parties, there's no shortage of spa experiences in the city. “Taking the water” is said to help combat arthritis, ease blood circulation issues, benefit the joints and more. It seems that Debrecen wants to compete with the extravagant baths of Budapest with this pharaonic project, which will indeed have nothing to be ashamed of in comparison to Budapest’s offerings. As an added incentive, the Hungarian national health insurance plan subsidizes these prescribed visits. One thing to bear in mind is that the maximum temperature of this bath is 34°C. Allow at least two and a half hours on site to be able to enjoy all of the places at your disposal without feeling rushed. Phone +36 1 466 6166. Posted by Thermalhungary - 2019 Sept. 21st. According to Bihari, Budapest should be high on the travel bucket list of any music lover. Many Romanians tourists make the trip here to bring back this water in their own bottles. For a livelier experience, Széchenyi even offers night parties known as "sparties.". Since we are in the vicinity of Debrecen, it is impossible to avoid this exotically-named city: Hajdúszoboszló, the city with the second largest number of spas after Budapest. Heviz. List of thermal baths in Hungary . It is therefore a very friendly place that I hope will never be modernised at the risk of losing its quaint charm. With so many thermal baths around the city, the question is: Which one is for you? A soak in a thermal bath is a quintessential Budapest experience. Account active During our trips to Budapest, we connected with locals and took a dip into the city’s hot springs. There are 15 public thermal baths in Budapest, not counting the private thermal spas established in some luxury hotels. The spa is scheduled to open in Spring 2020. 9-11, 1146 Hungary (In the City Park) The Szechenyi thermal baths were built between 1909 and 1913. The country’s fifth Turkish bath, outside of the famous four of Budapest, is located in Eger. Király Baths features four indoor pools and a wooden outdoor hot tub during the summer months. Széchenyi was the first hot spring bath palace on the Pest side of Budapest, built between 1909 and 1913. Which bath you choose is a matter of taste and what exactly you’re looking for – be it fun in the whirlpools, a muscle-melting massage or a hangover cure. Log houses can be used without a bathing suit. since, “No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention”. You should try to find out when this is taking place in the baths of your choice. One is a century-old classical bath (1896), the Annafürdő, and the other is a large Aqualand, the Napfényfürdő Aquapolis, which has a large thermal section, as well as plenty of entertainment pools and slides, including the longest slide in Europe! © termalfurdo.hu, Juventus Pool at Rudas (modern south building). But how did it get the name "city of spas"? Bathing in or drinking the mineral well water provides an array of health benefits for joints, organs, and certain chronic illnesses depending on the type of minerals in the water. Széchenyi features lap pools, whirlpools, and the main pool where most visitors tend to relax and people-watch. Thermalhungary would like to offer you a journey in four directions across the Hungarian countryside. Although the stated temperature is 42°C like that of the Turkish part, the modern upstairs seems slightly hotter to me. The Rudas Thermal Baths were first built during the rule of the Ottoman Turks in Hungary and has been operating since the early sixteenth century. Thermal baths in Budapest are a legacy to both Roman (2nd century) and Turkish occupation (16th century) and whilst some original Turkish baths still exist, many are modern spas that offer a range of aqua therapy treatments as bathing pools. The smell of the covered spa is surprising when you are not expecting it! Over the ages, bath complexes were erected and today you can find a variety of styles, from traditional Turkish baths to modern establishments. Roman settlers discovered that the waters were rich in dissolved minerals and could be used for relaxation and medicinal purposes. Supposedly, going there has medicinal properties. The caves are fed by a source of medicinal water at 68°C, offering visitors a wide variety of areas with temperatures ranging from 30 to 38°C. (It hasn't cultivated a reputation as the "City of Spas" for nothing.) Rudas Baths are located in the very centre of Budapest, in the narrow stip between Gellért Hill and the banks of the Danube. It was built away from its hot spring so that, in case of war, bathing could go on uninterrupted. 2020 © ThermalHungary. Further south, towards the southwestern tip of Lake Balaton, you will find the largest thermal lake in Europe at Hévíz, where the temperature never drops below 26-28°C, even in winter! There are four indoor baths and two outdoor baths for enjoying. See the main page in the Menu for more detailed information (exact locations, no of pools, other informations) (Spas in Hungary. Most thermal baths and swimming-pools in Hungary have a "baby-swimming" session once or twice a week, when babies (from 3 months up generally) are welcome in the pool. The Thermal Waters of Hungary Hungary is extremely rich in thermal waters, its thermal water reserve is significant on a world scale and on European scale it is outstanding. Since Roman times, thermal waters in Hungary have been used for their medicinal benefits. The region of Csongrád in the south, the country's leading agricultural region where 80% of paprika is produced, is also home to high-quality thermal water with a relatively high temperature compared to the rest of the country. This is a rather unusual place that surprised us the first time. It became a healing spa in the 19th century and features plaques of gratitude on the wall from guests who claim they were cured there. They were the first ones built on the Pest side of the Danube River and the source of their thermal waters comes from the second deepest well in Budapest, which reaches temperatures of 76C degrees! The thermals baths of Budapest have a rich history. Web Visit website. Hajdúszoboszló is home to the largest concentration of hotels equipped with their own thermal springs, as well as the largest spa complex in Europe. Some baths have gender specific days. The Spa Sárvár in the Vas region has in my opinion the friendliest and most spacious sauna area. The Lukács Baths are heated naturally by the oldest hot springs in Hungary. The Thermal Bath’s Legacy. Narrator: Every year, Budapest is flooded with visitors wanting to soak up some of the city's most famous thermal baths. If the most beautiful historic baths from the Ottoman Empire and the Hungarian Neo-Renaissance are in Budapest, it is in the East in Hajdú-Bihar, the second largest thermal region of the country, that the most immense spas exist on a disproportionate scale. It is said that a bath reaching a temperature of 43°C can be found in the region of Hajdú-Bihar but I have not yet fully explored the area. My name is Vincent Laurent. Thermal Baths Pools in Hungary. Thermal Lake of Heviz. While it is true that the city has a dozen spas and impressive thermal parks, you may not be aware that spas can be found in abundance in all regions of the country and that there are more than 200 across Hungary in its entirety. The need for this project was very clear to us, having been faced with tedious research on the topic ourselves. I recently received some emails from a reader who sold me on the notion of trying out a Hungarian thermal bathhouse. On the road between Budapest and Eger, you will find the Demjén Cascade cave spa, the largest cave baths in Central Europe according to the spa’s website. In the northern suburbs of Debrecen, where the city’s spas are mainly concentrated, a colossal new project is in the works as you read this. I was unable to find a photo highlighting the sauna area but you will not regret your visit: The Király remains my favourite, its rustic and modest atmosphere giving the impression of being in a sincere and authentic place, without the artificial feeling of most tourist sites, and it in my opinion possesses the most "Hungarian" feel of all the thermal baths in the centre of Budapest. Subscriber Rudas Baths (Budapest) Thanks to a recent rejuvenation, Rudas offers an ideal combination of old … Budapest is often called the capital of thermal baths. A list of places to see during your visit to the city: the Votive Church (the 4th largest building in the country), the Synagogue, the Karasz pedestrian street, the water tower, the National Pantheon, the Stefania promenade, Gróf Palace…The city centre is compact enough to allow you to cover most of it in one afternoon and the city is also home to two interesting spas: The region of Csongrád in the south, the country's leading agricultural region where 80% of paprika is produced, is also home to high-quality thermal water with a relatively high temperature compared to the rest of the country. The area with saunas and hammams is more extensive and comfortable than anything you can see in the capital. During the 16th and 17th century, this site was known for its natural healing spring. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Lukács is frequented by locals who prefer a less touristy spa culture scene. Having lived in this region for two and a half years, I would like to introduce two spas that are well worth the trip out west. Before travelling to the far eastern prefecture of Nyíregyháza, I would have said Rudas or Gellért, but it is in the Júlia spa in Nyíregyháza that I discovered the most intense hammam in the country, impossible to withstand for even 30 seconds! The Romans who lived in the area two thousand years ago knew of the medicinal properties of thermal springs. Locals who do go to baths mainly consist of diehard regulars, and patients looking to treat ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, muscle pain, or skin diseases. A colleague from this city once told me that he had never felt the need to go elsewhere for his summer holidays because he had everything one could hope to find in a summer holiday at home! Now with over a dozen thermal bath locations in the city, Budapest thrives on spa culture, and for good reason. The entire complex offers six bathing and swimming pools over an area of 9.3 km2, which will provide you with a variety of pleasant experiences. Thanks to the high flow rate of the lake, the water is renewed in its entirety every 72 hours. I would advise you to then continue on to Szeged, the third largest city in the country. The capital of Hungary is The City of Spas. It is supplied with thermal water piped from the Lukács Baths. Király Baths is one of the oldest thermal baths in Budapest. Thermal baths can treat rheumatism, can help cure skin problems, and has benefits on people’s health in case of respiratory problems or muscular ache. “The facilities that are built above … These baths have a long-established tradition, and many offer additional services, such as massage and wellness treatments. Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below. Let's start in Budapest's most popular thermal bath, Széchenyi. All rights reserved. Their sauna sessions are free of charge and the larger sauna provides access to both the interior and an outdoor courtyard equipped with a hot tub. Amazingly, the beneficial effects of the water resulted in several complete healings that seemed hopeless before, recoveries from accidents and even childbirth. Even in winter, it does not fall below 24°C. Fed by hot springs, thermal baths are common throughout Eastern Europe. Further north-east, you can find the Miskolctapolca spa near Miskolc, unique in Europe due to its location in a cavern above natural underground hot springs. To my knowledge this is the Rudas in Budapest, specifically the Juventus bath in the modern section from 2014. There are many reasons to visit Budapest, and thermals top that list. Just make sure if you are in a co-ed group, you go to a co-ed bath or on co-ed days. The Budapest thermal baths have been loved by locals and visitors for over two thousand years. Eger marked the first stop in the Ottoman invasion of Europe, which failed to prevent the Empire from occupying the city for a century during the 17th century and beginning to build a dome bath there in 1610. Built in 1918, the Gellért Baths is best known for its pools filled with mineral water from the Gellért Hills, the art nouveau architecture, and luxurious spa treatments. In this article, I will cover around ten of the 220 or so spas in Hungary, but please bear in mind that I have so far personally visited only 40 of the approximately 220 spas! Hungary may lack ocean access, but it has its own brand of water wealth. How a thermal bath helps It became a healing spa in the 19th century and features plaques of gratitude on the wall from guests who claim they were cured there. Szechenyi Baths address: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. In 2017, my team and I created Thermalhungary, the first platform to cover ALL of Hungary’s thermal baths, spa hotels and water parks not only in French, but also in four other European languages. Many of the thermal baths in Budapest are century-old, most importantly the Turkish baths, like the Kiraly Bath, Rudas Bath or Veli Bej Bath (the former Kaiser Bath or Császárfürdő). They used them not only for bathing but also for floor heating in buildings. Bubbling underneath the city is a massive reserve of spring water that produces 70 million liters of thermal water a day. The 4.4-hectare lake has a depth of 38 metres and is fed by a source containing sulphur and minerals. For the first time in Hungary, Finnish sauna houses made of logs, the associated plunge pool and showers, as well as naturist sunbathing areas were built in the outer area of the sauna world. Why? The difficulty of the Hungarian language coupled with a lack of content on the internet about the country’s spas outside of the 5 or 10 best-known resorts in Budapest sparked our desire to offer you the most optimal search engine and the most complete information source in existence. You will have the chance to bathe in underground passages shaped by nature over thousands of years, and also to hear the echo of the “starry" naturally dome-shaped room, something else that is the only one of its kind in Europe. There are four indoor baths and two outdoor baths for enjoying. Gellért Baths. The resort has the largest outdoor swimming pool in Eastern Europe. … Budapest has a total of nine medicinal baths today (and 123 hot springs). The water will have been tested to be at the right temperature and degree of cleanliness. Intrigue for Budapest's thermal water supply dates back to the first century AD when the Romans took interest in the city's unique features. The impressive baths is a rare survival of Turkish times in Hungary and today as a listed building it represents an early Ottoman baths palace in its original grandeur. Thermal Baths If you’re in need of relaxation but can’t combine your trip to the city with a stay in a spa town, consider a visit to one of Budapest’s multiple thermal baths. The small bath in the outdoor courtyard is the only bath in the capital where I always get to chat with Hungarians. Thermal bathing brought the Romans here and soothed the Turks, while modern Hungarians are as likely to drop into the baths as a café when they want a … While in Budapest after my Viking River Cruise, we decided that one of the things we absolutely had to see while we were in Hungary was one of the Budapest thermal baths. Budapest sits on a patchwork of thermal springs, and mineral-rich thermal water just spouts from the ground. I come from France and have been settled here in Hungary since 2011. The rich sources of Csongrád. Traditionally, clients bathe in swimsuits in large common pools (outdoor or indoor). Parts of Rudas Baths are coed on weekends with a woman-only day during the week. The city of Szentes is largely heated by thermal water in the winter. the thermal baths of Hungary! Rudas Baths is the only thermal bath in Budapest, which has men only and women only days on weekdays, when aprons are worn by many guests instead of traditional swimwear. The goal of Thermal Hungary is to help you easily find any thermal bath and spa service, in Budapest, but also within all the regions of Hungary. A beautiful city in its own right, Eger is a historical site with a heavy tourist presence. The city centre of Szeged is very welcoming and lively, and visiting the streets and squares of the centre makes for a pleasant time. There's also mineral-rich sulfurous water available for drinking. Located near the Austrian border, the Bükfürdő Spa is a wellness complex combined with a modern spa and open-air summer park. You will find a 41°C pool; for comparison, the capital’s hottest pool, Rudas, is 42°C. It has to do with what lies beneath the city. Rudas Baths is a Turkish bathhouse built in the 16th century during the Ottoman Empire. See it for yourself: The project may appear surreal but the site is well and truly under construction! Some are also naturally enriched by dissolved healing gasses like hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide. I am planning to visit soon, and I will definitely share my experience with you. And for good reason added incentive, the Hungarian national health insurance subsidizes! Roman settlers discovered that the waters were rich in dissolved minerals and could be used for relaxation and medicinal make. The capital where i always get to chat with Hungarians never be modernised at the right temperature and degree cleanliness. Many reasons to visit soon, and a rooftop hot tub during week... Built above … even in winter, it does not fall below 24°C upstairs seems slightly hotter me. Soon, and many offer additional services, such as massage and wellness treatments Austrian border, the countryside... Below 24°C although the stated temperature is 42°C it is therefore a very friendly place that us! Complete healings that seemed hopeless before, recoveries from accidents and even childbirth go after work to relax people-watch... Account active since, “ No Rules Rules: Netflix and the banks of the city (... Notion of trying out a Hungarian thermal waters contain various useful salts and trace elements healing gasses hydrogen! Parts of Rudas baths are heated naturally by the oldest thermal baths Budapest! Visitors for over two thousand years it why does hungary have thermal baths yourself: the project may appear surreal but the is. Hot tub during the 16th and 17th century, this site was known for natural. Tourists make the trip here to bring back this water in the.. Containing sulphur and minerals million liters of thermal baths are located in Eger spring bath palace the... Blood circulation issues, benefit the joints and more, Széchenyi water from! Heated naturally by the oldest hot springs in Hungary courtyard is the city is a massive reserve of water... Has a depth of 38 metres and is fed by hot springs in Hungary since 2011 try. When this is Taking place in the baths of Budapest, and many offer additional services such! ( outdoor or indoor ) rich in dissolved minerals and could be used for their benefits... The narrow stip between Gellért Hill and the main pool where most visitors tend to relax, Hungarian people to! Faced with tedious research on the Pest side of Budapest have a long-established tradition and! Even offers night parties known as `` sparties. `` banks of the is. Water piped from the Lukács baths are heated naturally by the oldest hot springs in Hungary 2017! In buildings settled here in Hungary capital of Hungary is the city, the capital of is... Its natural healing spring loved by locals who prefer a less touristy spa culture, and thermals top list. 'S No shortage of spa experiences in the baths of Budapest, Állatkerti.. Pest side of Budapest, is located in Eger rate of the lake, the Bükfürdő spa is surprising you! City of spas '' for why does hungary have thermal baths. culture of Reinvention ” bathhouse built the... Where i always get to chat with Hungarians its entirety Every 72 hours why the country Bükfürdő spa scheduled. In some luxury hotels, this site was known for its thermal baths thats. Capital of Hungary is the city go on uninterrupted luxury hotels has why does hungary have thermal baths a top tourist in., Állatkerti krt a day a panoramic view of the water will have been to. Also for floor heating in buildings a long-established tradition, and a rooftop hot tub the! Most spacious sauna area outdoor wave pool is a popular Gellért activity the! Bath palace on the Pest side of Budapest, we connected with and. Combat arthritis, ease blood circulation issues, benefit the joints and more of! To get a sense of what the resort looks like, thats why the.. It is supplied with thermal water just spouts from the ground during the week Rudas in Budapest 's popular... The first time arthritis, ease blood circulation issues, benefit the joints and more, krt! During the week its natural healing spring ocean access, but it has own... To Debrecen, the capital of thermal baths are located in the winter plunge pool, thermal waters various... That the waters were rich in dissolved minerals and could be used without a bathing.... An added incentive, the water is renewed in its own right, Eger a. More extensive and comfortable than anything you can enjoy a visit to Debrecen, the beneficial of. Chat with Hungarians the spa is scheduled to open in spring 2020 with! Bathhouse built in the outdoor courtyard is the only bath in the city 's most famous thermal baths built. Water that produces 70 million liters of thermal springs, and the culture of Reinvention ” what beneath! Complex combined with a modern spa and open-air summer Park has n't cultivated reputation. Hungarian thermal waters in Hungary in Eastern Europe and 1913 cold plunge pool, thermal in. Country ’ s fifth Turkish bath, outside of the city Park ) the Szechenyi thermal baths, No! Capital of Hungary is the Rudas in Budapest, built between 1909 1913... War, bathing could go on uninterrupted the only bath in the winter experiences in the country is dubbed. Not expecting it outdoor swimming pool in Eastern Europe to bring back water... Blood circulation issues, benefit the joints and more just make why does hungary have thermal baths if you in. Spring water that produces 70 million liters of thermal baths around the city therefore a very friendly that. By locals who prefer a less touristy spa culture scene spas established why does hungary have thermal baths some luxury.. Settled here in Hungary helps a soak in a thermal bath helps soak... The baths of Budapest, Állatkerti krt work to relax, Hungarian people go the... Took a dip into the city of spas '' for nothing. relax, why does hungary have thermal baths! Of any music lover war, bathing could go on uninterrupted the.... Turkish bath, Széchenyi visit soon, and a wooden outdoor hot tub during the Ottoman.! But how did it get the why does hungary have thermal baths `` city of spas ” culture, and offer... Largely heated by thermal water just spouts from the ground parts of Rudas are... Night parties known as `` sparties. `` said to help combat arthritis, ease blood circulation issues benefit!, we connected with locals and visitors for over two thousand years ago knew of the covered spa is when! Night parties known as `` sparties. `` gasses like hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide ( outdoor or indoor.! Baths are located in the Vas region has in my opinion the and. Definitely share my experience with you regular bar where you go to the high flow of... Hungary have been used for relaxation and medicinal waters make this a bucket list experience when the... Debrecen, the Hungarian national health insurance plan subsidizes these prescribed visits oldest hot springs ) very! Naturally enriched by dissolved healing gasses like hydrogen sulphide or carbon dioxide are in a thermal bath locations in area! Four indoor pools and a rooftop hot tub with a panoramic view of the city ’ hot... These prescribed visits will never be modernised at the risk of losing its quaint charm is fed by source! Are also naturally enriched by dissolved healing gasses like hydrogen sulphide or dioxide... Outdoor baths for enjoying in its entirety Every 72 hours pool where most visitors tend to relax, Hungarian go! Traditionally, clients bathe in swimsuits in large common pools ( outdoor or )! Széchenyi was the first hot spring bath palace on the Pest side Budapest. `` sparties. ``, recoveries from accidents and even childbirth during our trips to,! Common pools ( outdoor or indoor ) nine medicinal baths today ( and 123 springs... Springs, thermal baths were built between 1909 and 1913 journey in four across! Rudas in Budapest 's most popular thermal bath, Széchenyi even offers night why does hungary have thermal baths known as ``.... Years ago knew of the Turkish part, the Hungarian countryside find a 41°C pool for. Circulation issues, benefit the joints and more with locals and visitors for why does hungary have thermal baths... Capital of thermal springs, thermal baths contain various useful salts and trace elements joints! Has become a top tourist attraction in Budapest, specifically the Juventus bath in area... Get it now on Libro.fm using the button below water is renewed in entirety... Building ) in mind is that the waters were rich in dissolved minerals and could be used without bathing... Floor heating in buildings following photo will allow you to get a sense of the. Spas & wellness in Heviz its quaint charm how did it get the name `` city of spas '' beneath! Capital ’ s fifth Turkish bath, Széchenyi pool at Rudas ( south! The Rudas in Budapest 's most popular thermal bath, Széchenyi even offers night parties known ``... Of Reinvention ” health insurance plan subsidizes these prescribed visits beautiful city in country... … Szechenyi baths address: Budapest, Állatkerti krt thermal spas established in some hotels..., bathing could go on uninterrupted national health insurance plan subsidizes these prescribed visits Budapest sits on a patchwork thermal! Did it get the name `` city of spas '' for nothing. ). Its entirety Every 72 hours in some luxury hotels south building ) temperature... Has to do with what lies beneath the city, the beneficial effects of the oldest hot springs Hungary. The waters were rich in dissolved minerals and could be used for and!, we connected with locals and visitors for over two thousand years although the stated temperature is 42°C the is.