You haven’t seen Budapest without wearing a bathing suit to take a dip in its thermal waters. If the pearl of the Danube has established itself as one of the centers of hydrotherapy in Europe, it is because the culture of bathing is an integral part of Hungarian culture. They stay there for long hours in the heat of summer as well as in the bitter cold of winter. More than a pleasure, it is a lifestyle in itself and a reflex of health.
Hungarians thus redoubled their creativity to create these thermal bath settings with virtuous springs. From rich Secessionist details to Ottoman domes, stepping into the bathroom is a true cultural experience. The small size of the Hungarian capital and the concentration of its spas in the center and then on the banks of the Danube guarantee a relaxing spa trip in the Magyar country.
The Gellért Baths. Art Nouveau style luxury
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Gellert Baths can be the first stop on a spa break in Budapest. housed in a magnificent Art Nouveau hotel and set on the banks of the Danube, they make for a perfect weekend getaway. They owe their name to the Gellert mountain that overlooks them. you probably won’t miss, even from a distance, its historic citadel lit up at night.
Despite successive renovations, the place has preserved the soul of the last century, sometimes enclosed in beautiful wooden furniture, in a neon cafe or even in the twists of Art Nouveau motifs. Then it’s a whole piece of local history that can be read on the walls. Gellert baths, decorated with sculptures by Miklos Ligeti, with an impressive glass roof, Zsolnay ceramics, testify to the splendor of the Austro-Hungarian era.
Well-placed in this luxurious environment, you can enjoy saunas, hammams and baths at temperatures between 12 and 40 degrees. Its waters are especially recommended for circulatory disorders, but also for the respiratory system. Remember to stop at a cafe along the way and take a small bottle of thermal water with you for the journey.
Working hours : daily from 6 am to 8 pm.
Address: Gellért Thermal Baths, Budapest 1118, Kelenhegyi utca 4. Bus / metro / tram stop. Szent Gellért tér – Műegyetem.
Prices: From HUF 7,100 (~€18.50) on weekdays, HUF 8,200 (~€19.50) on weekends. www.gellertfurdo.hu
The Széchenyi Baths are quite a symbol
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It is impossible to avoid the yellow silhouette, the neo-baroque style, the baths of Chechnya. Maybe you’ve even seen these chess players on a Budapest postcard, immersed in their game, immersed in water at 40 degrees. It is a real local curiosity that these people argue with the king and queen in the steam of the thermal waters.
The track route is also not lacking in interest. you can reach the Széchenyi Baths by the famous Millennium Metro or by the old carriage alley located in the large city park, Városliget. The water of thermal baths of Secheny brings its richness from the depths. it is the second deepest spring in Budapest. But even more than the water quality, we appreciate its impressive domes, frescoes and sculptures of sea monsters. The other interest of the place? Beer baths, to be reserved at the entrance for an additional fee, which are absolutely unique among all thermal establishments in the city.
Working hours : daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
Address: Széchenyi Thermal Baths, 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 9-11. Trolley / metro stop: Széchenyi furdő
Prices: From HUF 5,900 (~€17.50) on weekdays, HUF 6,200 (~€18.50) on weekends. Official Website. www.szechenyibath.hu
Rudas bath. Ottoman wonders
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The Rudas Baths are an integral part of Budapest’s Ottoman heritage. Their historical part is a work of art in itself. an octagonal indoor pool reflects the turquoise waters beneath a dome worthy of the Thousand and One Nights. Within these walls, the past meets the present. a change of scenery on the other side of the building, a very modern spa and sauna area opened in 2014, with a rooftop Jacuzzi with a breathtaking view of the Danube.
It’s easy to switch from one to the other and occasionally slip into a sauna. try the aromatic one. – sometimes let yourself be transported by the subdued decor, where lights filter through colored stained glass windows. These spas are probably the most complete in Budapest, as they contain multiple themed saunas, steam rooms, a swimming pool, an Ottoman-style suite, bubble baths and massage jets, as well as an upscale restaurant. open: to the Danube.
Working hours Every day from 8am to 10pm, except for the pool from 6am to 10pm and the hammam from 6am to 10pm.
Address: Rudas Thermal Bath, 1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9. Tram stop: Rudas Gyógyfürdő
Prices: From HUF 5,500 (~€16.40) on weekdays, HUF 6,900 (~€20.50) on weekends. www.rudasfurdo.hu
Szent Lukács baths. the meeting place of the intelligentsia
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Located on the banks of the Danube, on the banks of the Buda, but not far from the Parliament and right in front of Margaret Island, these baths have a reputation for harboring the Magyar soul; in fact, there are few tourists in their waters, but many locals. It is even said that half of Hungary’s politics and history developed in the noise of its bubble baths.
Access is through a secret looking garden. tone is set. Szent Lukács has a labyrinthine side, but it is not unpleasant; each maze of corridors corresponds to a bath, sauna, pool or whirlpool, massage jets and current corridor. Its thermal water is especially virtuous. during the day you’ll find a watering hole selling it by the glass and liter. Do not worry. this odor of sulfur cannot be distinguished by taste.
If you are tempted to spend a day in “Luka”, a little tip: go to its rooftops, where a panoramic view of the solarium and Buda hills awaits you. And a little extra. Entrance to the baths is free for Budapest card holders.
Working hours : daily from 6 am to 10 pm.
Address: Szent Lukács Thermal Bath, 1023 Budapest, Frankel Leó u. 25-29. Tram stop: Margit híd – budai hídfő.
Prices: From 4100 HUF (~ 12.20 EUR) on weekdays, 4300 HUF (~ 12.80 EUR) on weekends. www.lukacsfurdo.hu
This article, published in 2021, is subject to updating.
Source: Le Figaro
I’m Ashley Mark, a news website author for Buna Times. I specialize in writing articles about current trends and breaking news stories. With my passion for uncovering the truth behind every story, I strive to bring readers the most up-to-date information available.