The following baths in Hungary offer an exceptional and cheerful time for children and adults as well with their exciting indoor pools.
Aquaticum Debrecen
One of the biggest baths in the area starts Termálfürdő.hu; the Aquaticum has a large swimming pool, several slides, jacuzzis, children’s pool and another pool with elements like waterfalls and even caves ideal for parents with younger or older children.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Aquaticum
Hagymatikum
The bath of Makó is famous for its children’s pool that commemorates the story of Robin Hood. In 2018, the bath was chosen to be the best family bath in the country. The bath also offers relaxing jacuzzis and other pools for adults.
Photo: www.facebook.com/hagymatikum
Aquaworld Budapest
With 15 pools and 11 slides, approximately around one km-length altogether, this is one of the best-known baths of Budapest with exceptional interior design and many facilities for guests like massage, indoor and outdoor pools, swimming pools, jacuzzis, and saunas.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Aquaworld.Resort.Budapest
Hungarospa Hajdúszoboszló
With its 15,000 square-kilometre area, Hungarospa is among the biggest baths of Hungary with indoor and outdoor pools, but the place has its cinema, ice castle, tropical rainforest, Roman baths and many other features.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Hungarospa-Thermal-Hotel
Napfényfürdő Aquapolis
As one of the most well-known baths of Szeged and its area, the place offers a wide range of pools, slides and a unique view tower inside the bath, which means that before sliding down you can get a full panoramic view of the city of Szeged.
Photo: www.facebook.com/napfenyfurdo.aquapolis
Featured image: www.facebook.com/napfenyfurdo.aquapolis
Saunas, steam chambers, thermal water and swimming pools, aroma saunas, and many more facilities await guests at the best indoor thermal baths of Hungary in the region of the Hungarian Great Plain with reasonable prices, offering a relaxing experience.
Apart from its wellness centre, this bath is also famous for its healing thermal water, states Termalfurdo.hu. With 30 and 35 degree Celsius water, the bath provides a relaxing experience for adults and children alike.
Photo: www.facebook.com/hotelandmorehotels
Sárrét Kincse Bath – Püspökladány
The complex also has a wellness centre, along with thermal baths that cure people of joint, bone, and muscle pains. It is also recommended to try the physical and reflex massages.
Photo: www.facebook.com/SarretKincse
Mezőtúr Bath – Mezőtúr
The healing water is excellent for people who have joint, muscle, and gynaecological problems. Besides, there are also several indoor swimming pools and some saunas.
Photo: www.facebook.com/MezoturiStrandfurdo
Jászberény Bath – Jászberény
Sludge therapy and two circle-shaped thermal water pools await guests who would like to relax and have a good rest.
Two indoor thermal baths await people with joint and muscle pains all year.
Photo: www.facebook.com/TermalfurdoTiszacsege
Rónaszék Bath – Kiskőrös
With infra and Finnish saunas, two indoor and outdoor thermal baths, steam chambers, and a wellness centre, this bath is the most well-known and popular in the region.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Kiskőrősi-Rónaszéki-Fürdő
Rózsa Bath – Tótkomlós
This bath has a unique aroma cave alongside thermal water pools, as well as several massage and steam chambers.
Photo: www.facebook.com/furdo.rozsa
Halasthermál Bath – Kiskunhalas
The thermal water of Kiskunhalas is not just healing for people with respiratory and joint problems, but it is also capable of helping people who had some kind of surgery or accident.
Photo: www.facebook.com/halasthermalgyogyfurdo
Akácliget Bath – Karcag
Three outdoor and two indoor thermal water pools await guests all year round.
Photo: www.facebook.com/akacliget
Berekfürdő Bath – Berekfürdő
This is one of the oldest thermal water baths of Hungary that was renovated and reopened in 2015.
Photo: www.facebook.com/berekvizkft
Featured image: www.facebook.com/Kiskőrősi-Rónaszéki-Fürdő
On an ‘experimental’ basis, authorities temporarily allowed bathing at the Római Part (Roman Beach) on the bank of the Óbuda section of the Danube this summer. Previously, swimming was prohibited in the area, but many people fought for the ban to be lifted by the authorities. There are also people, who oppose the idea, as they think the quality of the water of the Danube is not suitable for bathing and that the stream of the river is unpredictable. After consideration, local MPs decided on 24 September to allow bathing.
According to Euronews, the representative body of Óbuda-Békásmegyer voted on the issue on September 24, and their decision was to allow bathing and establish a free beach on the Római Part (Roman Beach). Currently, it is not a proper ‘beach’, it is not really suitable for swimming, so a tender has been announced for the designing, building, and maintaining of the new free beach.
Some of the problems include issues with hygiene, as there are currently no public toilets in the area. There are no showers or sinks to properly wash your body and hand, and garbage disposal is also an issue. There are some garbage bins in the area, but it is not suitable for a large number of people, so waste removal needs to be upgraded.
The Danube’s Római Part (Roman Beach)
Source: Országalbum / KRISTYÁK GIZELLA
The location is not set in stone yet either. According to the tender, the area this free beach could be built is between Piroska Street and the property with the topographical number 60002/2. Applicants can freely choose where exactly the beach will be established in that area.
The heyday of beach life at Római Part (Roman Beach) was in the middle and second half of the 20th century. Boathouses and piers swarmed the area, and people played a wide range of sports on the Danube, professionals and amateurs alike. At the weekend, the beach was full, and it was almost as popular as Lake Balaton. Unfortunately, after the end of Communism, the regime change brought with it privatisation, due to which confusing property relations developed. The resorts of several companies became neglected, and dozens of coastal properties were left to decay. The pedestrian path along the Danube was also neglected; only a thin, fragmented strip of asphalt alternating with dusty road sections remained to connect to the buffets, which are still busy today.
The atmosphere of Római Part (Roman Beach) is influenced by the narrow line of trees and the gravel banks which many people try to preserve from mass constructions.
The local government considered the establishment of a free beach at the request of the population, and it made its decision considering the needs of the present day and the local traditions of the area’s past.
However, there is a debate going on, as people’s opinions differ about whether the quality of the water and the rapid flow of the Danube allow for safe bathing. There is some basis to the concern, as sewage is spilt into the Danube in sections above Budapest, including Szentendre and Tahitótfalu.
Water sports at Római Part (Roman Beach)
Source: Országalbum / SIMI
That is why this season was only ‘experimental’. Researchers took water samples several times, and their analysis has been considered by the local government before making its decision. A free beach can only be established in places where the water quality is suitable for swimming.
Samples taken in the first half of 2020 at all four sites showed that the area is suitable for bathing.
Those who oppose the project argue that the stream of the Danube is erratic, and even though no pollution was detected, it can change overnight. They also claim that the Danube is a dangerous river even for professional swimmers, so the risk of accidents is too high. Critics, therefore, deem bathing at Római Part (Roman Beach), “amazingly irresponsible”.
However, at free beaches, the quality of the water needs to be frequently checked, so the water of the Danube at Római Part (Roman Beach) will be constantly monitored after the opening of the facility, and the presence of lifeguards is also obligatory.
Budapest is the city of baths and the only European capital on the continent with a rare thermal bath. There are many historical baths as well as modern ones that you should visit in the city at least once.
Magyarországom reported that during the autumn season, these are the most recommended thermal baths to visit.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath
One of the most well-known thermal baths in Hungary, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, was built more than 100 years ago. With three outside and fifteen inside swimming pools, it is incredibly popular among Hungarians and tourists alike during every season.
Gellért Thermal Bath
On the Buda side of the city, the Gellért Thermal Bath also features the Gellért Hotel. The bath is famous for its exclusive and historical look that is so mesmerising that even world-famous photographers have visited the building, taking photos of stars like Ryan Gosling. The healing thermal water is good for breathing and joint problems.
The bath is famous for its history as it is the only one that remained from the Turkish era of Hungary. The Rudas Bath has the warmest thermal water among all the baths in Budapest, and it is still considered to be an old-fashioned and traditional bath as there are days for only men and only women in the complex.
According to a recent survey, people’s spirit to have domestic holidays will keep up during autumn as well. Several respondents said that they were planning a multi-day trip even though the weather might soon cool down.
According to the survey conducted by Szállás.hu, if it depends on guests, Hungarian domestic tourism will flourish even as the leaves fall. Many people who took the survey mentioned that they are going to go on a multi-day trip somewhere in Hungary. This might be because of the strict measures regarding travelling abroad due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, according to Sokszínű Vidék, they also said that they would go even if they needed to take a couple of days off from work. There is a 16.5% increase in bookings for the September-November period compared to last year’s numbers.
Emblematic pool of Rudas Spa
Photo: www.facebook.com/pg/rudas.gyogyfurdo/photos
rudas-bath
Photo: rudasfurdo.hu
The urge to travel persists, as almost half of the respondents will take their days off in autumn, and 43% of them plan to have a recreational holiday. Bookings are 21% and 14% higher than they were last September and October. Interestingly, as of now, the bookings are 22% lower in November than they were in 2019.
As Lili Kelemen, the spokeswoman of Szállás.hu, said: “People tend not to plan so far ahead right now; they prefer to book closer dates, and last-minute trips are also quite common”.
The cooler autumn weather is perfect for visiting a spa or swimming in a warm thermal bath, but it is also favourable for those who want to go hiking. As the summer heat wears off and the leaves start to turn into a plethora of beautiful colours, more people plan to have a trip and see the brilliant wonders nature provides.
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
Aquaticum Debrecen
Source:
facebook.com/Aquaticum
After months of uncertainty, confinement, and working from home, many people enjoy a little time outdoors.
Although many people choose different destinations and means of relaxing in order to recharge their energies, the average value of bookings is 65,000 forints (~€182).
All historic baths in Budapest closed in March due to the novel coronavirus epidemic. Many have reopened since then, except for Király Thermal Bath and Gellért Bath. Luckily, Gellérth Bath opens on 1 September. All services will be available except for the wave pool.
Most of Budapest’s baths opened their gates in the middle or end of May. The last spa of Budapest Gyógyfürdői Zrt. that remains closed is Király Thermal Bath. Since the establishment is in need of a serious renovation, they do not have the necessary resources to reopen.
Due to the many new rules and restrictions these institutions need to follow, several of them changed their ticket prices. On the one hand, given that only a few pools are open, tickets ought to be cheaper for less service. On the other hand, baths are allowed to welcome much fewer visitors due to the virus, plus they need to follow stricter hygienic rules that cost a lot of extra money. Therefore, many baths operate with higher expenditure and less profit.
Luckily, Gellért Bath is among those the ones that decided to cut their prices, Turizmus Online reports.
Price changes
Gellért Bath used to be one of the most expensive historic baths in the capital. This seems to be changing now.
Pre-coronavirus (before March 2020), a daily ticket with a locker cost around 18 Euros on weekdays and 19 Euros on the weekend. This fall, the same ticket will cost 11 Euros on weekdays and 13 Euros on weekends.
The so-called Zsigmond Clubcard continues to grant discounts at the bath. Guests with Zsigmond Clubcards will be able to use the spa for 3 Euros/day all week.
Due to the months-long shutdown of the bath, the validity of already issued Zsigmond Clubcards is going to be expanded, but locker prices increased to 9 Euros/day.
Renting a locker for 15 times used to cost 240 Euros, now, guest can do the same for 146 Euros (tickets valid until 31 December 2020).
Restrictions still in effect
Indoor pools are not yet open to the public, only restrooms and dressing rooms. To slow down the coronavirus epidemic and to avoid further infections, all the Hungarian baths introduced safety restrictions for guests. The following places are not allowed for guests to use: indoor pools, saunas, indoor slides, amusement elements inside the pools, thermal bath services, health services, baby pools and wave pools.
Budapest is without doubt the city of baths, therefore no holiday is complete without visiting at least one hot spring in the Hungarian capital. Thermal baths offer an endless number of entertainment opportunities for everyone, but there are a few things worth considering before your visit.
Budapest has a dozen thermal baths, all very popular among Hungarians and foreign tourists alike. Whether you are visiting the most famous baths or the lesser-known places, here are some rules that every visitor should keep in mind, based on a list compiled by Frugal for Luxury.
Visit on a weekday
It is worth doing some rescheduling to your trip to visit the thermal baths on weekdays: not only will you save some money as tickets are cheaper during the week, but you will also avoid the crowds that usually flock there on the weekends.
Select the type of ticket you need
Most thermal baths offer many different types of tickets, usually to determine the length of time the ticket enables you to use the facilities. If you are only planning on a quick afternoon splash, there is no need to pay for a full-day ticket. Please note that tickets are for no re-entry in most of these places: once you go out, you will not be able to go back in.
Kid-friendliness
Some may worry about taking their kids to these places, but the general experience is that these places are very welcoming with families and their children and that kids do have the opportunity to have fun there. And if they have had too much of it, a staff member is usually always ready to help out with band-aids or anything else.
Photo: Pixabay
Lockers are included in the price
It might not be that obvious that the ticket you purchase does include a locker for your belongings. You are given a bracelet you can use to open the locker door. If you forget the number of your locker, just scan your bracelet on the screen provided.
Pack your pool slippers
Pool slippers or flip-flops are just as important as your swimsuit: if you do not have a clean(!) pair, you might be directed to the store to buy one – you will want to save that money for something else.
Bring a swimming cap
If you are planning to use the swimming pool, you will most likely be asked to use a swimming cap. Better to bring your own than having to buy one on the spot (see above). Also, if you have long hair, you might get asked to tie it up before entering a pool.
Old men playing chess at Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Photo: Wikimedia Commons by Alex Proimos
Bring your bottle of water
We highly recommend that you bring your own water – especially if you are visiting in the blazing summer heat or if you are planning to do a sauna session. Each thermal bath has at least a few water fountains, in case you need to refill your bottle.
Respect other people’s privacy
Many people visit thermal baths to relax and enjoy the healing power of hot springs. Whether it is the sauna or an immersion pool, keep in mind that other people might not be interested in other people’s storytelling or having wild kids splashing in the pools.
Revenue of Budapest spa operator BGYH could drop by 60 percent to 8-9 billion forints (EUR 26m) this year even under an optimistic scenario that there will be no second wave of the coronavirus epidemic, the recently appointed CEO of BGYH said in the Monday edition of business daily Világgazdaság.
All the spas operated by the company were closed from March 15 until May 30 because of Covid-19, Ildikó Szűts told the paper.
Originally, they projected 5-6 percent rise of revenue after a 20 percent increase to 18.4 billion forints last year, but now “constant crisis management” is going on, she said. The CEO projected losses of 3-4 billion forints this year that should be recouped in the next few years. Several of the investments planned by the earlier management have been halted, among them the reconstruction of the denoted Turkish Király Bath.
“At present we must launch only those investment projects that generate enough income to materially help mend the consequences of the crisis situation”, she said.
The landmark Gellért Hotel will operate until December 31, 2021 as to their knowledge, therefore the Gellért bath will operate till that date for certain, she said in response to a question.
The hotel and the spa had been constructed together, therefore the renovation of the spa “must be put on the agenda” once the renovation of the hotel starts,
Szűts said. In the meantime plans should be drawn how a five-star spa hotel and a connected five-star spa could be shaped. The bath is in a bad condition, its engineering system is outdated, and resources must be found for the “gigantic costs” involved, she said.
Property developer Indotek Group purchased the Gellért Hotel from Danubius Hotels Group in 2019. Indotek said at the time it plans to renovate the complex, preserving it, while upgrading it to a five-star hotel within a few years.
It is very sad that this outrageous behaviour exists, and the worst part is that with the advancement of technology, especially camera technology, it is becoming easier to hide devices and use them against unsuspecting adults and children. Fortunately, in this case, the police successfully caught the perpetrator, and he will soon face legal consequences.
According to 24 and Police, on 31 July, the police station in Győr received a report of a suspicious 38-year-old man from Győr, who
made a video recording of two young girls in a changing room of a public beach using a camera hidden in a baseball cap.
The arriving police arrested the man at the scene and took him to the Győr Police Headquarters. He was interrogated as a suspect for the criminal offence of child pornography. The local police station is currently investigating the exact circumstances of the criminal offence, but
The coronavirus has probably turned everyone’s life upside down. Many people either cancelled their holidays, chose different destinations, stayed for less time, or chose to stay at home altogether. Unfortunately, this summer will never be what it was before, but no worries. A new trend seems to be emerging, and it is called ‘staycation’. More people chose to stay in their own country or city and discover the beauty of their homeland. This article will give you some ideas about what you can do in Budapest.
Thanks to Travelo, if you live in Budapest or only want a short trip to Hungary’s capital either from abroad or from other parts of the country, you are sure to find something that you might like. Although some forms of restrictions are still in place, generally, COVID-19-related restrictions have been relaxed a little bit in many countries. Here is what you will need to know about the restrictions concerning Hungary. Now that you have familiarised yourself with what you must and must not do and how to be safe, let us move on to the recreational activities you can do.
Margaret Island, Photo: YouTube John Feher – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBaoct6LizAk_8lhsx6It1Q
Take a walk
After this long and unexpected quarantine, probably everyone longed for some company or at least some fresh air and cultural experiences. Well, as the quarantine ended, people started to arrange more and more outdoor programs. One of the easiest programs while enjoying the summer sunshine is to simply take a walk in the city. There are actually a couple of places you can go; one of the most obvious but still perfect options is Margaret Island. It is a welcoming little piece of nature in the middle of the Danube with a track for runners and even some ruins from ages past. Going with the green environment theme, you can also visit the popular Városliget in the heart of the city. The little oasis is good for walking as there are several memorials there, but dog owners also like the places with large open grassy areas. Not to mention the fact that the Budapest Zoo is just a few steps away from Városliget, but if you would prefer some more culture, you can visit the Fine Art Museum. Currently, it is housing an exhibition called ‘The age of Duerer’.
A good program would also be to visit one of Hungary’s most beautiful graveyards, the Fiumei Road Cemetery. There is also an app you can download that helps you plan your trip and can tell you some information about the plethora of beautiful memorials there. For those who want to admire the view, a new lookout just recently opened in Budapest. If walking is too slow for you and you would like to turn up the pace a little, you can go around Budapest using the ‘MOL Bubi’ system to rent a bike and travel across the city with the help of this map of all the cycling roads in Budapest.
Photo: www.facebook.com/kultikterasz
Watch a movie
There was maybe one thing that was good following this quarantine; more and more people started to use their creative sides, and many people have come up with solutions to keep themselves and others entertained while being safe. Take, for example, the cinema industry. Unfortunately, all regular cinemas had to close, and this has led to the reappearance of car cinemas featured in many older American movies. In the past two or three years, this would have been a strange thought, but now it seems like it is a good idea. Not only that, but other outdoor cinemas started to pop up in Budapest as well. This new trend of garden cinemas might be the perfect choice for a romantic evening. You could also watch a movie on top of a building if you wanted to.
To turn the rooftop idea up to 11, you have the newly opened sky bar at Mariott, but if that was not enough and you would like to be more adventurous and try out crazy new things, well, Cortile Hotel is for you. There is a swimming pool on top of the hotel from which you could watch the sunset with your significant other.
Do not worry, however, if you want a normal cinema experience because, in Hungary, most if not all cinemas reopened a few weeks back. They introduced several measures to ensure your safety, such as hand sanitisers, and they sell fewer tickets to avoid large crowds. There are also manystrange exhibitions around Hungary, many of which you will find in Budapest. They might be worth taking a look at.
Photo: www.facebook.com/GelartoRosa/
Have some snacks
Well, Hungary is famous for many things, but almost anyone knows we like food. Hungarian cuisine is world-famous, but if you do not like it, do not worry, it is certain you might find some restaurant or buffet in Budapest that satisfies your needs. You could follow where the famous gastro-blogger, Mark Wiens, ate in Budapest and even try out the same dishes if you want to. If you want something lighter, something sweet, or a warm drink to start your day, I would recommend going to one of Budapest’s many classic coffee houses. The atmosphere is very welcoming, and it is the perfect place to have a little chat with your friends over a warm cup of coffee. Talking about something sweet, a new confectionery recently opened in Budapest that makes crazy cakes. They look amazing, and I am certain that they taste just as good. For those who want to have some cold delicacies during the summer, here are the best ice cream places in Budapest.
Last but not least, Budapest is famous for its many baths. Unfortunately, they all had to close for some time during the first wave of the epidemic, but with some restrictions, they were able to reopen and await guests once again. Your experience might even be better now that there are no big crowds; only a couple of people are allowed to be in the area of the baths. You can see which baths are open and how much they cost.
The area of the thermal bath and beach is 3 hectares, and it can welcome almost 1,000 guests in the summer period and 340 people during winter. Furthermore, it has three thermal pools, a fun pool and a sauna, offering an excellent opportunity to cool down on an unbearably hot summer day to everybody.
According to magyarepitok.hu, the investment cost 3.5 billion HUF (EUR 9.9 million). Bábolna paid 1 billion HUF from EU allowances, 1.3 billion from its budget and 1.2 billion from a bank loan. And there is even more than just a thermal bath and beach! Next to the facility, there is a park and boating lake created on the territory of a former brick factory.
The thermal bath in Bábolna, Western Hungary. Photo: facebook.com/pg/Babolnafurdo
Klára Horváth, the mayor of the town, said during the inauguration of the bath that they also built a power plant using methane gas extracted from the thermal water and with which they produce heat and electricity.
Furthermore, the water coming from the earth is useful to treat gynecologic and musculoskeletal disorders. The well supplying the pools is 1,290 metres deep, and the hot water coming from it is 38-40 Celsius degrees containing salt, hydrogen-carbonate, and iodide ions that are not only anti-inflammatory but it also
improves the cardiovascular system.
Photo: facebook.com/pg/Babolnafurdo
In Bábolna, Róbert Burger, former leader of the local agro-industrial conglomerate, dug two wells in 1983. Thermal water came from both (600m – 38 Celsius degrees; 1,200 metres – 51 Celsius degrees) but they were not able to use it then. In contrast, today, the town has great further plans. For example, they would like to build a swimming pool next to the bath and they already have a promise that the state budget will support that project.
Photo: facebook.com/pg/Babolnafurdo
Based on the coronavirus rules, only 525 people are allowed to enter at the same time, but they can use the 200 square metres big fun pool and the 100 square metres big spray-park, as well.
Photo: facebook.com/pg/Babolnafurdo
The city plans to build further pools, a sauna and steam rooms, too. Moreover, they would like to build a swimming pool next to the beach
It might be surprising that public baths had a completely different function in the Middle Ages than they have today. They provided space not only for relaxation but also for public sex and prostitution.
Doctors often made rules for bathing, mainly because they thought that the clear herbal water had a healing effect. In that age, people believed that it served as a treatment of infertility thanks to the healing power of the spring or thermal water. The assumption was not unfounded as during the pilgrimages, many women managed to become pregnant who used to have problems before.
In the Middle Ages, anyone who could afford it had a tub in his home, but the majority of people went to the rivers, lakes, or bathhouses. The latter, however, offered other services as well;
as a result of which, they became central places for public sex.
Public baths were initially created to give people the opportunity to relax in the pools, enjoy the warm water, but soon their role completely changed. At first kings and aristocrats went to the baths, but later such institutions were established for the more impoverished strata as well, where they could enter either for free or in exchange for some money.
The Hungarian author Dr László Józsa describes in his book Sex in Medieval Hungary that in the large pools of public baths, men, women and children relaxed completely naked or sometimes wearing small aprons. Furthermore, it was also possible to watch the others from the edge of the pool or the bridge built above. According to Femina, public baths quickly became the centre of social life and offered much more than bathing or relaxing that would be completely unacceptable today.
Initially, people went to such places to eat, drink, play cards and gossip, and as a result of nudity, more and more people chose bathhouses to satisfy their sexual desires.
In the Middle Ages, public baths meant sexual freedom, which was enjoyed not only by those with loose morals, but also by women who were considered “decent women”.
As these institutions gained popularity, more and more sexual services were provided to the guests, including masseurs and prostitutes. Public baths soon converted into brothels.
Authorities overlooked everything that was going on in the baths, but the Church vehemently opposed and fought against it. The popularity of bathhouses ended due to the rapidly spreading syphilis epidemic in the 16th century. Most of them were locked up as no one visited them, while the rest were no longer used for sexual purposes due to the fear of illness.
After a full chemical and bacteriological check-up, all Hungarian indoor swimming pools, saunas, and thematical elements are allowed to welcome guests again in hotels and thermal baths as well.
Turizmus reported that from June 18, all indoor swimming pools in the country welcome guests again since the state of emergency due to the coronavirus epidemic has come to an end in Hungary. This includes pools smaller than 15 square-metres, like baby pools, thermal pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and steam baths. Although the coronavirus has ended in Hungary, it does not mean that we can forget about it.
Until the epidemic does not end in the world, the Hungarian government obligated citizens to keep the distance, watch out for hygiene, inform themselves about the current safety measures at baths and hotels, and obey the staff’s orders.
The following rules are valid in all Hungarian baths:
Entering with high fewer and diarrhoea diseases is forbidden.
Wearing clean slippers is mandatory in the whole area of the establishment. Without it, guests are not allowed inside.
Before and after using the pools, showering with soap is mandatory with warm water.
Hand-washing is mandatory as regularly as possible.
Only a limited number of people can use one pool at the same time; the number is in connection with the size and capacity of each bath’s swimming pools.
Children’s pools are only allowed for children; adults are forbidden to swim in them.
Guests must stick to the rules as the staff of the bath is always supervising them and report inappropriate behaviour.
Keeping the 1.5-metre distance is mandatory.
In dressing rooms, keeping the distance is mandatory, and the stuff sanitises the area regularly. Restrooms are sanitised every hour. Washing hands and keeping a distance is a must along with regularly taking a shower. In swimming pools, only a limited number of people can swim, and the regularly used areas are sanitised every half hour. Eating and drinking in the pool are forbidden.
From one angle, the stones almost look like skulls. The beehive stones in Szomolya have 117 cabins, the most in any beehive stone group in Hungary.
Wellness and sightseeing
If you want a relaxing long weekend with your significant other, you should definitely check out one of Hungary’s many beautiful baths. Or, if you want to bring your children along, there are many child-friendly spas and baths as well.
While most of the big festivals, such as Sziget and Balaton Sound, had to be cancelled due to the pandemic, many of the amazing smaller ones are still happening. The slight problem is that most of them have been rescheduled to the same weekend. However, there are not only music festivals worth going to.
The Levander Festival of Tihany is on until the end of June.
The Balatonboglár Harvest Festival will take place between August 19-23. This is Hungary’s biggest free-entry festival.
The Flower Carnival of Debrecen will be happening August 14-21.
Debrecen will also host a long series of events, called Campus Eleven, as their Campus Festival had to be cancelled. The event series will take place between August 19 and September 19.
The Paloznak Jazz Picnic Festival will also be held near Lake Balaton between August 20-22.
Although Sziget will not be happening, smaller festivals are worth visiting, as you may discover many amazing Hungarian performers and bands.
Everything wine, beer, and food
If you are a fan of beer, there will be boat rides in Budapest each night, starting July 1st. The events include the tasting of handcrafted beers, music, and a boat tour of the beautiful Hungarian capital. You can check for more info and tickets here.
There are also wine tastings if beer is not your thing, for which you can get tickets here. Or, if you want to bring your partner on a romantic date night on the Danube, you can definitely check the romantic dinner option here.
As the restrictions are lifted more and more places, including swimming pools and thermal baths reopen in Hungary. Still, indoor pools are not yet open to the public, only restrooms and dressing rooms. To slow down the coronavirus epidemic and to avoid further infections, all the Hungarian baths introduced safety restrictions for guests.
The following places are not allowed for guests to use: indoor pools, saunas, indoor slides, amusement elements inside the pools, thermal bath services, health services, baby pools and wave pools.
The following rules are valid in all Hungarian baths:
Entering with high fewer and diarrhoea diseases is forbidden
Wearing clean slippers is mandatory in the whole area of the establishment, without it guests are not allowed inside
Before and after using the pools showering with soap is mandatory with warm water
Hand-washing is mandatory as regularly as possible
Only a limited number of people can use one pool at the same time; the number is in connection with the size and capacity of each baths’ swimming pools
Children’s pools are only allowed for children; adults are forbidden to swim in it
Guests must stick to the rules as the staff of the bath is always supervising them and reports inappropriate behaviour
Keeping the 1.5 meters of distance is mandatory
In dressing rooms, keeping the distance is mandatory, and the stuff fertilises the area regularly. Restrooms are fertilised every hour. Washing hands and keeping distance is a must rule alongside with regularly taking a shower.
In swimming pools, only a limited number of people can swim, and the regularly used areas are fertilised every half hour. Eating and drinking in the pool are forbidden.
While visiting restaurants and bars, only workers can stay inside the establishments. The guests are seated outside wand have to keep the distance.
Chlorine in the water proved to kill the coronavirus. To find out more information, click on the article below.
The European Commission and the European Environmental Agency have reported that more than two-thirds of the Hungarian baths have high-quality water. However, there are ten with bad quality water.
The Commission and the Agency published their annual report on Monday. They tested 22,295 baths in the whole of Europe in 2019, 95 per cent of which passed the minimum quality requirements set by EU legislation, reported hvg.hu.
88.4 per cent of the 257 baths that were tested in Hungary met the required minimum. According to the report, 7.8 per cent of the cases did not have enough data to be able to be qualified.
According to the findings, seaside baths have better quality water generally, then continental ones.
1.3 per cent of the water in the tested baths in the European Union, the UK, Albania and Switzerland were deemed low-quality last year, which is the same result as in 2018.
In Hungary, 3.9 per cent, that is ten baths, did not meet the requirements, which is higher than 2018’s 3.2 per cent.
An interactive map, which you can view here, also shows the quality of the baths. The waters of the Tuzsér Free Beach, the Vásárosnamény-Gergelyiugornya Free Beach on River Tisza, the Pócsmegyer Pázsit Lake, the Makó Maros Adventure Beach, the Tiszasziget Lake, the Felsőgöd Beach, the Dánfok Free Beach, the Sziksósfürdő Naturist Beach and Camping, the Itató and Moson were found low quality, as the map shows.
The number of baths with an “excellent” qualification did not fall back much as compared to 2018. In Europe, the percentage dropped from 84.9 to 84.6 per cent, while in Hungary it was 72.3 per cent in 2018 and 70.8 per cent last year.
In 2018 95.2 per cent of baths met the required minimum in Europe, and 88.9 per cent in Hungary, while in 2019 the numbers decreased to 94.9 per cent in Europe and 88.4 per cent in Hungary.
Before the coronavirus epidemic, Budapest was one of the hubs of European tourism attracting many people from all over the world with its architecture, natural beauty, thermal baths, party district, etc. In the last few months, tourists disappeared, but thanks to the end of the lockdown, they might slowly return, and The Telegraph says it is still worth visiting the Hungarian capital for the following reasons.
According to The Telegraph, before the Covid-19 pandemic, “Budapest was long an Eden for carefree wee-hours revellers.” The Hungarian capital was under a strict lockdown in the last two months, so people went outside for only a walk or to buy the necessities. That was extremely important because global experiences showed that the virus spreads quicker in big cities. However,
the city now opens again.
“Shopping at supermarkets and drugstores between the hours of 9 am and noon remains the domain of those 65 and over, but terraces, a lively staple of Budapest summers, beckon to the rest of the city residents once again. Even indoor dining and imbibing is now possible at restaurants and bars,” wrote Alia Akkam, a travel journalist.
She says that it was strange to arrive in the 7th district (part of the party district) in June and to see that there were no tourists. That is because, currently, Hungarian citizens, permanent resident card holders of the European Economic Area, those who have close Hungarian relatives, and diplomats with resident cards are the only ones allowed to enter Hungary,
followed by a 14-day quarantine.
Ms Akkam says that she headed to Szimpla Kert, the most famous ruin bar of Budapest, the first time she could.
Photo: www.facebook.com/szimplakert
“The most colourful and famed of its kind, it always translates to curious throngs of folks from around the world, often queuing behind ropes for a drink or two,” she says about the place. “I ordered a fröccs, the Hungarian go-to quencher of the season that pairs carbonated water with white wine – although rosé is an equally common request – from one of the masked bartenders and sat down on one of the wobbly stools,” she added.
Then, she went to Kőleves Kert for a second drink.
Photo: www.facebook.com/Kőleves
Palatinus Strand was one of the first thermal baths to reopen in Budapest. “Relaxing in these gurgling pools alongside strangers is another beloved Budapest ritual, but all the vaunted historic ones, including Széchenyi, Gellért, and the Ottoman-style Rudas, are still shuttered for the time being. However, this pastime can once again be relished, albeit on a different scale, amid the open-air pools of modern Paskál in the residential Zugló neighbourhood, or better yet, at Palatinus Strand. Both reopened on May 30,” she said.
Due to the global epidemic, Hungary’s baths and spas remained closed for March and April. However, most of them opened their gates in the middle or at the end of May. Due to the many new rules and restrictions these institutions need to follow, several of them changed their ticket prices.
Spas are being strictly regulated. Indoor pools must remain closed, and only those spas are allowed to operate medicinal pools that possess an official permit to use disinfectants for cleaning the water.
On the one hand, given that only a few pools are open, tickets ought to be cheaper for less service. On the other hand, baths are allowed to welcome much fewer visitors due to the virus, plus they need to follow stricter hygienic rules that cost a lot of extra money. Therefore, many baths operate with higher expenditure and less profit.
Therefore, termaonline.hu decided to collect all of the spas where the prices changed either for the better or for the worse, szeretlekmagyarorszag.hu reports.
Some baths are trying to invite more people by offering cheaper tickets, while others increased their prices to keep their heads above water the whole season.
