Although every Hungarian hotel all across the country is fully booked, experts believe that there is no other great business than thermal baths and spa hotels. Many statistics showed that Hungarian guests do not like to pay for services except for bathing.
According to hvg, it is an impossible mission to find an available room in hotels with thermal baths and spas. The renovated and newly opened Danubius Resort & Spa on Margaret Island attracted more visitors and guests than last year, which is an 8% increase. Hunguest, another Hungarian hotel brand in the country, also reached incredible numbers and rules the country’s tourism.
The Hungarian hotel business showed some great numbers in the past few weeks. The number of visitors has increased. Nearly 13 million people spent at least one night in hotels and 5.8 million in Hungarian ones. The average number of nights these guests spent in the country is two. Experts stated that there is still room for improvement and brought up the example of Vienna where hotels’ capacity is twice as much as in the Hungarian capital.
In the first part of the year, 590 new rooms were added to Hungarian hotels, and this number will increase up to 1400 and 1600 in the future. The price of these rooms increased by 10% in the last few months.
It is a general fact today that if there is no thermal bath or spa in a hotel, no guests will arrive. Another fact is that Hungarian guests do not like to pay for further services the hotel offers, only for bathing. This is the situation in Hungarian tourism today, but there is still room for more and more similar facilities across the country.
Furthermore, the Liszt Ferenc Airport in Budapest still needs some more improvements to increase the number of arriving guests in the country. In Paris, for example, visitors do not have to travel to the French capital to reach other points of the country because the airport there has its own train services.
Seasonal tourism no longer exists, according to experts, because of baths. The same number of tourists visit Hungary in February and in other months thanks to bathing facilities. Moreover, Budapest will face many improvements in the future, and as a result, Hungary does not have to be afraid of becoming unattractive to foreigners.
Featured image: www.csaszarhotel.hu
The most beautiful historical baths in Hungary
It is known that Budapest is the thermal bath capital of the world. Many of its baths were built centuries ago. Cartourmagazin collected the five most beautiful historical baths you can visit in Hungary.
It is known that Budapest is the thermal bath capital of the world. Many of its baths were built centuries ago. Cartourmagazin collected the five most beautiful historical baths you can visit in Hungary.
Széchenyi Bath
Photo: www.pixabay.com
Széchenyi Bath is one of the biggest bath complexes in Europe. The bath is supported by the second deepest well of Budapest, which is 1,246 meters deep. The 76-degree-Celsius hot water contains lots of useful minerals and materials, including sodium, calcium magnesium hydrogen carbonate, sulfates, fluoride, and meta-boric acid. There are 21 pools in the bath, so every guest can find just the right one. There is also a variety of wellness services to choose from.
Rudas Bath
Photo: Facebook.com/BudapestGyogyfurdoi
Rudas Gyógyfürdő was renewed not so long ago, and it is very popular among tourists. It was first built in 1550, during the time of the Ottoman rule. It retains many of the key elements of a Turkish bath, exemplified by its Turkish dome and octagonal pool. The bath has six therapy pools and one swimming pool where the temperature is between 10 and 42°C. It is suitable for those who are eager for some relaxation instead of partying. The bath was in the spotlight a couple of days ago because the much-beloved all men naked bath was recently banned due to the alleged public sex that was happening.
Gellért Bath
Photo: www.gellertbath.hu
The building of today’s Hotel Gellért and Bath was built between 1912-1918 in art nouveau style. Most of the workers were Russian prisoners of war. Its water (35 °C to 40 °C) comes from Gellért Hill’s mineral hot springs. The water contains calcium, magnesium, hydrocarbonate, alkalis, chloride, sulfate, and fluoride. The medicinal water can help people with degenerative joint illnesses, spine problems, chronic and sub-acute joint inflammations, vertebral disk problems, neuralgia, vasoconstriction, and circulatory disturbances; inhalation problems for the treatment of asthma and chronic bronchitis problems.
Palatinus
Photo: Facebook
The 15th of June this year marked the 100th anniversary of Palatinus’s opening to the public. It was Budapest’s first-ever open-air bath. It used to have only three pools and a special court reserved for water sports on the Danube. The main pool, called the “grand pool,” boasted a surface of 5,000 square metres, and it used to be the largest outdoor pool in Europe. The bath was first restored in 1937 when the cloakroom and the crowd-favourite “wave pool” were added.
Hévíz
facebook.com/heviz.info
Lake Hévíz is the biggest curative, thermal lake of Europe. From a bird’s eye view, this 4.5-hectare-big lake reminds the viewer of an enormous raindrop. It used to be a dangerous swamp, thanks to which the lake has both cold and hot springs. This results in the attractive feature of the bath that the 38°C water does not fall under 20-22°C in the coldest weather either. Thus, the bathing season never ends – not even in autumn or winter. The medicinal water rich in minerals and the mud are said to heal locomotor disorder and rheumatic diseases successfully.
Hungary is located in central Europe, and the capital is Budapest. It shares a border with Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Slovenia. One of the critical factors in the reputation of Hungary is its hospitality to visitors. Also, you can discover an ideal mix of history and modern times in Hungary. Hungarians proudly cling to their ancient Magyar tradition while at the same time, keeping themselves updated with the latest trends around the world.
The city can sometimes be a mix of culture and exceptional beauty, making it the perfect place to visit. Hungary occupies a strategic position between the mainland routes between Western Europe and the Balkan Peninsula. Hungary is also an oasis for writers, musicians, and artists who had been heavily influenced by this graceful city. Below you will find interesting facts about Hungarians from their language to some of them wearing colored contacts to alter their eye color:
Population and languages
The Hungarian community is about 10 million people, and the official language is Hungarian. It is mentioned that the Hungarian language is most difficult to learn, which could be the case, particularly in Europe, as no other style is similar to this language. The main reason why Hungary language is different is that it comes from the steppe of Central Asia and the ancestors who founded Hungary as a country.
The eye colors of people in Hungary
Genetically and optically, one cannot clearly differentiate the eye colors of people in Hungary because Hungary has a mixed population, and with the eye colors of no significant difference. Even by photography, it is hard to get a general consensus as some wear colored contact lenses. The average eye color of the Hungarian may be challenging to determine because Hungary is a very ethnically diverse nation. Hungary is located in Central Europe and the last millennium has experienced a fair share of migration and the blending of different countries and ethnic groups.
Almost all European phenotypes are found in Hungary. The average Hungarian eye color can vary between blue and brown color which is visible. Some Hungarians wear colored contact lenses to change their eye color.
Local customs
Like every other country, Hungary has its traditions. For example, it is customary to make toast and return it. It is customary to provide gifts to the host of a meal. Also, note that smoking is also restricted and banned in most public areas. However, travelers can smoke on long-distance trains. Casual clothing is acceptable in most places and formal for promotions. Tips between 10 and 15% are common for all services, including restaurants, bars, nightclubs, taxis, etc.
It is rude to toast with your beer glasses
History explains in detail that during the defeat of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 against the Habsburgs, about 13 Hungarian generals were executed, and the Austrians who defeated them toast their beer glasses after each execution. After the war, the Hungarians vowed not to toast with beer glasses. It is more than 150 years since the incidence, but it is still a custom.
The first foreign fast-food restaurant was McDonald’s
Just before the collapse of communism in 1989, Mcdonald’s established itself as the first foreign fast-food restaurant in the country. However, it was not the country’s first fast-food restaurant. This is because there was also a local fast food chain called City Grill and another called Paprika.
Hungary is among one of the oldest countries in Europe
Hungary was founded in 1000, which means that it is older than countries like France and Germany.
There are cowboys known as “csikós” in Hungary
The Hungarians traveled on horseback to Europe and even today cowboys can be seen in the plains of Puszta.
You cannot name your child if it has not been approved by the government
You can name your child with a list of pre-approved names by the government, but note that if you want to give a name to your child with a name that is not in the list provided by the government, you must submit a request and wait till it is approved.
The Hungarian alphabet contains 44 letters
This is one of the exciting facts about Hungary. It includes 44 alphabetical letters; this is why the Hungarian language is known to be truly unique and different from other European languages.
There are lots of Hungarian inventions
The Rubik’s Cube is a Hungarian invention. Also, there other remarkable designs by Hungarians such as the holography, the thermography camera, and digital data processing. Besides that, the first-ever helicopter to fly was also designed by a Hungarian.
The Hungarian inventor behind the world-famous Illy coffee
In Hungary, your last name comes first
When somebody writes or introduces his name in Hungary, the last name comes first.
Hungarians love spas
The famous baths of Budapest in Gellért and Széchenyi are hot springs in Hungary. The country has about 1,500 spas, including 450 public ones. Lake Hévíz in western Hungary is the second largest thermal lake in the world and is located near Lake Balaton (not a thermal lake, but the largest lake in Central Europe).
Traveling to Hungary
By Air – International airlines operating from Hungary are Aeroflot, Air France, British Airways, Easy Jet, KLM, Lufthansa, Sky Europe, Swiss, United Airlines and Wizz Air. Budapest Ferihegy International Airport in Hungary is the largest airport in the world about ten kilometers southeast of Budapest.
By the river – MAHART offers a daily hydrofoil service between Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest from April to October.
By train – The country is part of the train network connecting European metropolitan areas. Hungary is compared to 16 European cities, and there are 47 international trains daily to Budapest via a direct train connection.
Prohibited items in Hungary
Preserves, meat or milk products, narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic drinks with an alcoholic content of more than 60%.
Hungary is known as the home of the world’s first official vineyard
The first officially documented winery is located in Hungary, the Tokaj wine region. Wine production dates back to the 5th century, so it is not surprising that this region has received the world’s first wine title. Since 1737 it has been on the World Heritage.
Budapest is often called the capital of thermal baths. 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.
Thermalhungary would like to offer you a journey in four directions across the Hungarian countryside. You will get to see several remote spas that, because of their own unique qualities and infrastructure, really hold their own against those found in the capital.
My name is Vincent Laurent. I come from France and have been settled here in Hungary since 2011. 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.
The need for this project was very clear to us, having been faced with tedious research on the topic ourselves. 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.
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!
Budapest is often called the capital of thermal baths. 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 medicinal spas of the West
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.
Located near the Austrian border, the Bükfürdő Spa is a wellness complex combined with a modern spa and open-air summer park. Many German, Austrian and Czech tourists, especially senior citizens, come here to take advantage of the medical expertise offered to them and to experience the water with its high concentration of sulphate; I have yet to see water with a higher sulphate content anywhere else in Hungary.
The smell of the covered spa is surprising when you are not expecting it! The area with saunas and hammams is more extensive and comfortable than anything you can see in the capital.
fb/bukfurdo
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! This is a rather unusual place that surprised us the first time.
The 4.4-hectare lake has a depth of 38 metres and is fed by a source containing sulphur and minerals. Thanks to the high flow rate of the lake, the water is renewed in its entirety every 72 hours.
The rich sources of Csongrád
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. Many Romanians tourists make the trip here to bring back this water in their own bottles.
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. This combination of periods gives the place a unique atmosphere. You will find a 41°C pool; for comparison, the capital’s hottest pool, Rudas, is 42°C.
The city of Szentes is largely heated by thermal water in the winter.
I would advise you to then continue on to Szeged, the third largest city in the country. The city centre of Szeged is very welcoming and lively, and visiting the streets and squares of the centre makes for a pleasant time. 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:
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! The cave baths of the North-East
Both of the two mountainous regions in the North-East of the country are home to a thermal spa carved into the rock, as well as the only multi-century Turkish bath to be found outside of Budapest.
The country’s fifth Turkish bath, outside of the famous four of Budapest, is located in Eger. A beautiful city in its own right, Eger is a historical site with a heavy tourist presence. 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. One thing to bear in mind is that the maximum temperature of this bath is 34°C.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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. 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.
The immense baths of the East
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. You can enjoy a visit to Debrecen, the second largest city in the country, to discover them.
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. The spa is scheduled to open in Spring 2020. See it for yourself:
The project may appear surreal but the site is well and truly under construction! 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.
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. Hajdúszoboszló is home to the largest concentration of hotels equipped with their own thermal springs, as well as the largest spa complex in Europe. I am planning to visit soon, and I will definitely share my experience with you. 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! The resort has the largest outdoor swimming pool in Eastern Europe. The following photo will allow you to get a sense of what the resort looks like.
The hottest bath
To my knowledge this is the Rudas in Budapest, specifically the Juventus bath in the modern section from 2014. Although the stated temperature is 42°C like that of the Turkish part, the modern upstairs seems slightly hotter to me. 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.
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! Rudas seemed moderate in comparison.
The best sauna area
The Spa Sárvár in the Vas region has in my opinion the friendliest and most spacious sauna area. 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. I was unable to find a photo highlighting the sauna area but you will not regret your visit:
My favourite bath in Budapest
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. The small bath in the outdoor courtyard is the only bath in the capital where I always get to chat with Hungarians. It is therefore a very friendly place that I hope will never be modernised at the risk of losing its quaint charm. My favourite in all of Hungary
The aforementioned Turkish imitation of Szentes is the one from which everything began, the origin of my desire to discover them all. Discover all the thermal baths of Hungary on our interactive map!
Here is Debrecen’s insane futuristic thermal park – VIDEO
The Harkányi Gyógy- és Strandfürdő (Spa and Waterpark of Harkány) was voted to be the spa of the year. The winning spa of the competition offers opportunities for recreation to every age group with its parks, slides, spa, and waterpark.
According to sokszinuvidek.24.hu, the organisers have announced the result on the official website of the competition. In its ancient park of 13.5 hectares, we can see trees that are hundreds of years old, and fountains, covered by hand-made Zsolnay eosin – take a look at some masterpieces of Zsolnay ceramics here. Harkány is not only committed to the refreshing, relaxing, and healing treatments, but also to the holistic therapies that create harmony between the body and the soul – as you can read on the spa’s website.
The Hungarospa of Hajdúszoboszló got the second place, and the third is taken by the spa of Zalakaros. The more and more popular spa of Makó, called Hagymatikum, got ahead of the spa and aquapark of Jonathermál in Kiskunmajsa. The favourite spa of locals was chosen to be the waterpark of Miskolctapolca, getting in front of the aquapark of Nagyszénás. You can check out the top eight aquaparks listed by thermalfurdo.huhere.
The mineral water that can be found in the Pesterzsébet spa is unique in Hungary since it contains not only salt but also iodine and bromide. Furthermore, the buildings serving the demands of the bathers are very modern, so it is absolutely worth a visit for everybody who wants to relax or enjoy the summer on a cool Budapest beach.
A unique spa and beach
According to index.hu, the spa does not have a long History dating back to the Ottoman times but its early 20th-century ancestor built near the Danube was already very popular in the bathing community of Budapest. Only later was it discovered that the ground hides a tremendous amount of mineral water containing not only salt but also bromide and iodine
like in only 1 or 2 other places in Hungary.
By the 1930s, the Pesterzsébet spa already had many swimming pools and even a fun pool with a unique pool wave generator. In the 1950s a new bath building was erected in the style of the Turkish baths like Rudas or Király – nobody knows how the Communist leadership could enable it. Since the spa and the beach created around it were very popular among local people, it functioned until 2005 and was reopened only this week after a total renewal. Here is a video on how it looks like now:
In fact, the most spectacular part of the new complex is the bath building. It is a general trend in Budapest that architects try to build spaces around the beaches that can be open during the whole year because this is how spas can have income and staff every month. Since the district already has a swimming pool,the local leaders wanted to create a bath with wellness section, pools that can be used by children,
spaces for relaxation and healing services.
The difficulty of the task was to create 1,000 square metres of usable bathing space for the public and hide twice that space for ventilation and machines.
Photo: MTIThe spa has 13 different pools, photo: facebook.com/BudapestGyogyfurdoi
As the three architects, Bence Dobos, Csaba Nagy and Zsolt Nagy, explained to Index, the solution was transforming the building into a sandwich of three layers: up and down machinery while between the two floors they placed the public bathing space. The starting point of the planning was the so-called Turkish bath built in the 1950s. They placed the different pavilions around that and created spaces from where its stone walls can be seen.
Modern spaces, beach and 13 different pools
They used almost 10 thousand square metres of granite stone because it resists the effects of the mineral water better than the ceramics. Of course, they used ceramics, too, in order to make the bath more colourful. The big central pool creates the feeling as if the water surface was contiguous and never-ending while the changing rooms were put into a so-called glass box.
According to index.hu, there are no useless spaces in the bath building, the interior is constantly changing, and the whole complex became very elegant.
Modern environment for 21st-century demands.
There are multiple wells in the spa each having its unique mineral water composition. Around those, there are spaces for relaxation and therapy but there are saunas, pools for children and a separate pool, as well, in which people can talk or even play chess without being bothered by anything.
The beach can accept 1,800 guests while the bath 450. On the beach, there are wave pools, pools for children and, of course, a pool that can be used for even water polo matches. Unfortunately, there are no trees, but there are a lot of modern changing rooms. There are also no buffets because there will be food trucks serving the needs of the visitors.
Festivities will accompany the 100th anniversary of Palatinus, Budapest’s first open-air bath’s birth: you can join the fun on the 15th of June, on Margaret Island.
As turizmusonline.hu reports, the 15th of June marks the 100th anniversary of Palatinus’ opening to the public: a world’s first feat as an open-air bath. It all began with three pools and a special court reserved for water sports on the Danube. The main pool, called the “grand pool” boasted a surface of 5000 square metres: the largest in all of Europe.
The first restoration in 1937 saw two main additions: the cloakroom and the crowd-favourite “wave pool”, which is decorated by Endre Bálint’s surreal mosaics.
If you decide to hop in on the 15th, you will encounter countless activities and programmes. Water-fights, face painting, treasure hunt: you name it! A deliberately family-friendly event, the birthday party will include acrobatic and dance shows in and out of the water.
There are no additional fees required for the party: a single ticket will suffice.
Palatinus is just one of Budapest’s world-famous baths: you can find more information about them here and here.
One of Budapest’s most beautiful bathhouses, the Rác Baths, has been renovated and ready to open its doors to the public since 2011, but eight years later, said doors are still closed because of legal battles and disagreements. But now there is a chance it may finally be able to let visitors in.
They will provide over €21,511,595 for the local government of Budapest to acquire the ownership of the Rác Bath and Hotel buildings during the liquidation procedure, revealed the Assembly of the Capitol’s submission for next Wednesday’s meeting, reported Index.
After the acceptance of the submission proposed by Gábor Bagdy deputy mayor, the Assembly asks the manager of REK Rác Fürdő Eszközkezelő Ltd. to make an offer for the Rác Bath and Hotel buildings, that is, the whole real estate complex’s ownership, up to €22,745,160.
According to the proposal, the ltd 100% owned by the local government of Budapest would get an interest-free membership loan of about €23,048,138.
In the aftermath of a project which was launched in 2002 to renovate the Rác Bath and to build a hotel to join it, the Assembly decided in the summer of 2015 to propose the liquidation of Rácz Nosztalgia Ltd. and Rác Beruházó Ltd. On February 21, 2018, they decided that in order for the bath to open its doors as soon as possible, the capital would like to purchase the ownership of the Rác Bath and Hotel.
After the acquisition of the ownership, the local government of Budapest with the involvement of REK Ltd. will immediately begin the proceedings necessary to open the bath, renovations, as well as “considering the possible operation alternatives for the superstructure of the hotel, including the issues associated with the accounting of the granted loan with the continuous involvement of REK Ltd.”
You do not have to wait longer to enjoy swimming and sunbathing, as some of the beaches in Budapest are preparing to open this weekend. These include Palatinus, Dagály, and Paskál, while the Csillaghegyi pool opens later in May. Other beaches open in June.
Turizmus online reports about the opening dates of several beaches in Budapest, also detailing the entrance fees and other useful information.
The beaches to open this summer season are Palatinus, Dagály and Paskál, opening on the 27th of April, while Csillag Pool opens on the 18th of May. The traditional summer beaches take a while longer: Római beach opens on the 2nd of June and Pünkösdfürdő on the 15th of June. Also, the Pesterzsébeti Jódos-Sós Gyógy- és Strandfürdő beach opens in the second half of June.
The design plans for the Pesterzsébet Bath photo: termalfurdo.hu
The latter beach is about to open for the first time in 13 years, as it was under renovation. The changes applied to the establishment include a new parking lot with 100 places, 11 roofed pools (among them an iodic, a saltwater pool, a children’s pool, one from which you can swim outside, on the therapeutic side a weight bath and a tub, and Kneipp pool). The water at this beach is excellent for curing musculoskeletal and gynecological problems, while the iodine has beneficial effects on the cardiopulmonary system, has demulcent and antiseptic effects, and bromine has antidepressant and stress-relieving effects.
Some beaches do not operate with an entrance fee, while others have an entrance fee of 1000 forints (EUR 3). There are, however, discounts available for children, students, pensioners, and families. Turizmus online writes that discounts are because beaches are trying to create a safe and quality beach experience for a wide range of customers.
Besides, those pupils that finished their school year with all A-s are awarded a beach ticket with which they can enter any beaches in Budapest for free.
This incentive was introduced so that children will aspire to perform better in school.
Please note that cash is not accepted at any beaches in Budapest: you can use your credit card, your SZÉP card or a beach card that can be charged with money at the cashiers. This new system is not only comfortable and reliable but also safe, as you will not have to worry anymore about your wallet.
If you opt for a beach card, you can track your transactions via a phone application. There is no need to leave it at the cash register upon leaving, as
you can use it for five years from the last purchase on.
At the same time, you can give it back at any beach or spa operated by the Budapest Spas and Hot Springs company, and you will get your money back. For more information, please visit the respective beaches’ websites.
If you still could not decide what kind of spa or bath is entirely for you, then we suggest checking out our handy guide.
All of the beaches mentioned above will organise several cultural, sports and family events throughout the summer on numerous weekends: Palatinus is celebrating its 100th birthday, so on June 15, you can attend concerts, Brazilian dance shows, Capoeira and extreme sports shows too.
featured image: Palatinus bath, Milán Radisics / boredpanda.com
Profits at Budapest’s baths have increased by nearly 20% in the first quarter, which is at a higher rate than the increase in the number of visitors. The increase in revenue is attributed to the growth of additional services and the sale of branded products.
Nearly 1 million guests visited the 11 Budapest baths that were open in the first quarter, a figure which is 67,500 more than the record set last year. This is a 7.4% growth in the number of visitors, while revenue from sales was valued at nearly €12 million between January and March – 18.9% more than for the same period last year, as stated by Szilvia Czinege, the sales and marketing director of Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévízei Zrt. (BGYH).
Based on the statistics reported by turizmus.com, the number of visitors to Budapest’s historic baths grew at a faster rate than the number of visitors to the capital as a whole. One of the major reasons for this is the growing popularity of the baths amongst foreign tourists. Indeed, it is estimated that 60% of visitors from outside of Hungary went to one of Budapest’s baths.
“Hungary’s expanding tourist industry is remarkable,” said Szilvia Czinege.
However, the 20% increase in revenue cannot be attributed only to the growing tourism industry and the rising entry fees. In addition to increasing ticket prices by 5% at the start of the year, Budapest’s baths have started to pay more attention to expanding the additional services they offer to visitors. This may involve providing a wide array of massage services, such as at Gellért Spa.
Spas in the capital are also recognising the benefits of marketing, which has played a significant role in attracting tourists who previously would have not visited the baths. In addition to marketing campaigns to lure in tourists, Budapest’s spas have also begun focusing on selling merchandise and items that enhance the bathing experience. These have all contributed to the record-breaking revenues reported this year.
As the weather warms, more and more baths will open over the course of the year. We might see unprecedented revenues in the second quarter of this year too.
Interested in bathing to meet your medical needs? We have written a guide on what kind of bath you should use to alleviate medical conditions. We also revealed 7 fun facts about Budapest’s baths.
In Hungary we can enjoy the blissful benefits of spas and the drinking cures that come with them. Termalfurdo.hu have compiled the different kinds of medicinal waters we may need depending on the medical conditions we have to attend.
Table and chloride waters
In Hungary, the most distinguishing feature of table salt water is its strong adhesion to the skin, which can be explained by its electric charge. The adhering salt stimulates the immune system for longer. During this period, skin temperature is temporarily increased, which leads to a higher metabolic rate. These kinds of medicinal waters, which are mostly found on the Great Hungarian Plain, have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This has been used to reduce inflammation in gynaecology, urology and dermatology.
Iodine and bromine waters
The biological effects of iodine include reduced inflammation, uric acid and blood sugar levels, increased peripheral blood circulation and stimulate ovarian function. Iodine is absorbed by the respiratory tract during bathing. It reduces the inflammation of the ovary, the female genital organs, the prostate, the urinary tract, and it is especially effective against psoriasis. It can also improve circulatory and musculoskeletal disorders. This kind of water can be found in Hajdúszoboszló, Cserkeszőlő, Debrecenben and Pesterzsébet.
Calcium, Magnesium and hydrogen-carbonate waters
Mostly commonly known as soil-lime water, these can be mostly enjoyed in Transdanubia and Budapest. The calcium has a localised anti-inflammatory effect, which assists with diuresis and the removal of non-embedded kidney stones. In addition to these, it is also recommended against musculoskeletal issues and osteoporosis. Spas in Budapest that offer this kind of water include Császár, Lukács, Rácz, Rudas and Gellért bath houses.
Sulfide-containing sulfur waters
Sulfur not only enters our bodies by penetrating through the skin, but via breathing as well. It can reach tissues that do not have blood supply such as cartilage. Thanks to the water, the sulfur content of the cartilage increases, thus reducing the risk of degenerating joints. Sulfur into the body dilates the coronary arteries of the heart, which improves the heart’s blood supply. It can also be used to treat skin lesions that occur as a result of neural disease and radiation. As a form of drinking cure, it can harmonise the digestive system and stimulate breathing. Both Harkány and Mezőkövesd have sulfuric waters.
Carbonated waters
The most common effect of carbonic acid is the expansion of superficial blood vessels. This increases blood levels in the muscles and tissue, thus leading to higher supply of oxygen to the lungs. Carbonated baths are mostly recommended for the treatment of heart and vascular diseases, as it improves the blood supply to the heart and the functioning of the organs. During the bathing period, the veins and arteries of the skin expand, reducing heart pressure.
Radon waters
Despite occurring quite rarely, waters containing radon gas have a very beneficial effect on the physiological function of the body. Radon partly enters the skin via respiration, infiltrating into different types of tissue and fluids. As a result our veins widen, our blood pressure falls, and the pain subdues. They are recommended for musculoskeletal diseases, neuritis and caring for any injuries that may have arisen after an accident. These kinds of spas can be found in Eger, Miskolctapolca, Hévíz and the Rudas and Gellért bath houses in Budapest.
Iron waters
In the baths, iron is absorbed through the skin. It is a cure for iron deficiency anaemia and gynaecological problems. It may also be used to gain strength after an operation.
Alkaline waters
They are primarily used for drinking cures. It is also bottled, which is useful to treat respiratory, intestinal and gastric diseases. The most well-known and effective one is the renowned Salvus spa water in Bükkszék.
If you are interested in visiting a Hungarian bath, why not read what other foreigners have said about them.
Budapest is one of a kind in the sense that no other capital city in the world has 123 thermal springs, on which several baths were built – popular among people from abroad too.
Termalfurdo.hu has collected some things that tourists loved about the baths of Budapest from the past and the present.
Compliments from the past
In the 17th century an English medic, Edward Brown, regarded the baths of Buda as the best baths of Europe, commending their beauty, equipment and interior design. Another Englishman from around 1669-1670 commented that “There are many baths, and I have tried them several times. I found the bath of Veli bej the most beautiful one.”
Veli Bej Bath today termalfurdo.hu
In the 19th century someone wrote about the Rácz Baths found in the 1st district in the following way:
“What a cheerful, noisy bath was this in my childhood! And the mists and scents that filled the air there…”
In 1852 Imre Palugyai described the Lukács Baths in this way: “it has few basins, which are used for healing purposes by the land workers coming from the rural area”. Later, when it was the meeting place of artists and intellectuals, Palugyai wrote that “the Lukács Bath fulfils roughly the same purposes as the literature coffee houses or the bars frequented by the intellectuals did some time ago.”
Compliments from the present
Foreign travel websites suggest travellers visit the Budapest baths during the weekdays, because they are cheaper int hat period and because they are absolutely full on Saturdays and Sundays. It is also highlighted that these baths can be accessed and used with wheelchairs too, except for the Király Baths.
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What tourists like most about the Rudas Baths is the way in which the old Turkish culture harmonises with modern architecture. The panorama basin on top of the bath is an all-time favourite.
The iconic Art Nouveau Gellért Bath is the most beloved among the baths of Budapest, and no wonder! The spa is decorated from top to bottom with turquoise Zsolnay tiles, where you feel like you are breathing in history – the interior décor is so enchanting that many people come here to take photos, and even foreign magazines, like Vogue, are absolutely taken with it. On top of all this, the massage services are impeccable.
The Széchenyi Bath is the one that is frequented by most tourists, and they praise the SPArties (organised almost all weekends) for the
one-of-a-kind experience of relaxing in the soothing thermal water, surrounded by centuries’ old walls, the special visual effects and the tasteful electronic music.
Termálfürdő.hu writes that a travel blog compares the Széchenyi Baths to Times Square, because if you visit New York, that is where you start your sightseeing tour, and the Széchenyi Baths is where most people recommend starting your Budapest tour. Despite the cold, the outdoor pools are amazing, and most people cannot compare this experience to anything else in the world.
Széchenyi Baths Photo: Wikicommon by Marc Ryckaert
Veli Bej Bath is the one that is known by more tourists than Hungarians: it is featured in several travel pamphlets as one of the most beautiful Turkish baths of the city, which is cheap, clean and quiet.
The Király Baths enchant foreigners with its spirituality, old architecture and mystic atmosphere.
Hundreds of articles have been written about the ancient thermal waters of Budapest, many amazing photos were taken at these places, but there is much more to them than their beauty. For instance, the hippos too are splashing in the waters of Széchenyi Bath.
Termálfürdő.hu has collected seven of the most exciting stories about the baths of Budapest that you might not want to miss. Let us dive deep into history.
1 Lukács Bath was built in the 12th century by the Saint John knighthood when they were stationed in Hungary, curing people. During the Ottoman invasion, Mustafa Pasha had the bath expanded in the 16th century, using the water not only for bathing but also for manufacturing gunpowder and for operating a mill.
Lukács Thermal Bath open on every second Friday evening photo: http://en.lukacsfurdo.hu/
2 The waters of the Lukács Bath were used for another purpose too: the water for the authentic Turkish Király Bath is supplied by the Lukács waters, ever since it was built in 1565. Király Bath, located inside the castle walls, was not built near a spring, so the Turks had made a water-conduit connecting Lukács Bath with the castle, despite the energy and money it cost. This endeavour goes to show how much the Turks loved bathing – they were not willing to give up this relaxing activity just because of a siege.
Király Bath Photo: kiralyfurdo.hu
3 If you are looking for a thermal adventure, head to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths, where you can soak yourself in beer. Well, not quite literally, as the thermal water is infused with hop, malt and yeast, the main ingredients that you would need to brew beer. Even though this is a new trend in Hungary, the custom of beer-bathing goes back centuries in other parts of the world.
Photo: Wikicommon by Marc Ryckaert
4 Termálfürdő.hu argues that even though the Római Beach is rarely listed among the historical baths of Budapest, its waters were commonly used already back in the 15th-16th centuries. Moreover, it is not a mere coincidence that it was named after the Romans: in the 2nd century, the Romans had built a bath on the Danube bank, where the Római Beach is located today. The region surrounding the spring was considered a sacred place and even a shrine was built here, archaeologists found the remains of which.
5 Who would have thought that the elegant and refined Gellért Baths, considered to be Europe’s most modern bath in the 19th century, was actually referred to as “Muddy Bath” up until the 18th century? This was so because of the mineral mud that settled at the bottom of the pools. There were instructions on how to take a bath in these waters: you would have to sit in it until your skin turned red, after which you would have to rest on the shore until the redness went away.
Photo: www.gellertfurdo.hu
6 If you go to the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, you will not only have taken a bath with Michael Palin from the Monty Python group, or Madonna but also with the hippos inhabiting the Budapest Zoo in the vicinity. The artesian water has a beneficial effect on these beautiful creatures, as its composition is quite close to that of the Nile’s waters. The zoo management thus decided to fill the hippo basin with thermal water, in which the hippos are literally thriving: most of the hippos in European zoos have Hungarian roots, as the Budapest Zoo hippos are breeding at a record rate.
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7 Last but not least, the Budapest baths are world-famous film stars, but you might already know this. If you know them well enough, you might have spotted the Gellért Bath in I Spy (2002), starring Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy (though the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the Parliament are featured too) and in Evita (1996), starring Madonna, the Rudas Bath in the 2011 TV-series The Borgias, starring Jeremy Irons, when this Budapest bath stands in for a Neapolitan bath.
Warm thermal water, cocktails, parties and amazing light shows – some of the most characteristic features of those baths that are open even during the nights. You can read about these places below.
Rudas Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool
Rudas is unique in Budapest since it is open even during the night on Fridays and on Saturdays. The atmosphere is always friendly, and we can relax in a thermal pool filled with 42 °C water or swim in a 29 °C pool – termalfudro.hu reports.
Rudas – panorama pool, open even on Friday and Saturday nights. Photo: www.facebook.com/BudapestGyogyfurdoi/
Széchenyi Thermal Baths
They organise SPArties each weekend during which guests can enjoy thermal water, special visual effects and nice electronic music. However, these parties are only accessible for adults who can take part in them from 10:30 pm to 3:00 am.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Photo: www.facebook.com/szechenyifurdo
Lukács Thermal Bath and Swimming Pool
The bath is open every second Friday, between 8 pm and 2 am, during which the saunas are also open to the public. The so-called Saint Luke Evenings started last year, and they quickly became popular in the 2nd district of Budapest.
Lukács Thermal Bath open every second Friday evening. Photo: www.facebook.com/pg/Lukács-Gyógyfürdő-és-Uszoda
Aquaworld Resort Budapest
This is one of the biggest indoor water theme parks in Europe, where Splash night pool parties are organised regularly. Though it is far from the city centre, there is a party bus commuting between the Aquaworld and the Western Railway Station. Children under 14 are only allowed to enter the parties with parental supervision. DJs and dancers create the real party atmosphere and, of course, all services are available for the public from jacuzzis to the 11 giant water slides. The bath opens at 9:30 pm, and we have to leave the pools by 2:30 am. The next Splash party will take place on February 15, and the organisers are preparing fire- and LED shows for it. It is strongly advised to buy the tickets in advance because the pool parties are very popular.
Aquaworld Budapest – you can go there by catching the party bus from the Western Railway Station. Photo: www.facebook.com/AquaworldResortBudapest
V-8 Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre (Szentendre)
They organise thematic wellness programs twice a month, between 9 and 12 pm, during which bathers can become familiar with the tastes, pictures, history and past of the actual theme. Since these programs are very popular, it is advised to buy tickets in advance.
V8 Leisure Centre. Photo: www.facebook.com/V8.Szentendre
Aqualand Ráckeve
On Fridays, they organise the famous sauna nights on which guests are allowed to take off their swimwear and replace them with sheets. Furthermore, they offer free mineral water and fresh fruit bowls, active aromatherapy and sea salt, honey and beer-ice ceremonies. The pool is open from 8 pm to 1 am in the summer and, during winter, they offer the same program on Saturday in the indoor pool.
Budapest spas attracted 4.5 million visitors in 2017, an increase of 7.3 percent year on year, the marketing director for spa operator Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévizei (BGYH) said in Tuesday’s issue of business daily Világgazdaság.
Visitor numbers were up in spite of an unseasonably cold and wet June, Szilvia Czinege told the paper.
The Széchenyi baths alone drew 1.7 million visitors, she added.
Turnover at the Palatinus baths was up 31 percent and turnover at the Paskál increased more than 13 percent. Both baths have recently been upgraded. Visitor numbers at the Gellért baths were up 6 percent, coming close to 660,000.
Revenue of BGYH rose by 7.3 percent to 15 billion forints (EUR 46m) last year.
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THE BEST HUNGARIAN BATHS IN 2018
The Bath of the Year has been chosen for the fourth time by the public. The aim of this competition is to promote the excellent Hungarian waters along with the relaxing health benefits of bathing, read more about the best Hungarian baths HERE.
At the prestigious World Spa Awards programme, Aquaworld Resort Budapest Hotel and Spa was awarded ‘Hungary’s Best Resort Spa 2018’, while the spa at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest was awarded the title ‘Hungary’s Best Hotel Spa 2018’.
Turizmus.com argues that the international World Spa Awards is often regarded as the ‘Spa Oscar’, where two Hungarian spas, Aquaworld Resort Budapest Hotel and Spa (CNN’s perfect choice to relax in Budapest) and the spa at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace were highly acclaimed in 2018. It is a great privilege to place among the bests, as almost 650 thousand professionals decide on the winners in each category. Then the jury picks the world’s bests, along with two additional winners in each country.
The World Spa Awards was launched as the twin-programme of World Travel Awards four years ago. The goal is to strengthen trust in and commitment to the world of spa and wellness.
Thomas Bauer, the operational director of VAMED Vitality World, the company that operates Aquaworld, commented on the win by saying that
“this award is the result of the synergy between professional knowledge and over 10 years of international experience.
I am proud of this outstanding success, which is proof of the enthusiasm and innovative thinking of our colleagues.
In another sense, this award is a means of gratitude towards the people working at Aquaworld, who are committed to providing the guests with the best services.”
You can check out the list of the winners by clicking here.
featured image: www.facebook.com/Aquaworld.Resort.Budapest
Gellért Hill, together with the Liberty Statue and the Citadella on top, is a sight not to be missed by tourists visiting Hungary. The Hotel Gellért has an imposing presence at the bottom of the hill, and even though locals might think there is nothing new we can say about that area, let me assure you that this article contains some pretty unique and interesting information, so it is a perfect read for tourists and locals alike.
The history of the area
Today, it is hard to imagine that the hill was once covered by a vineyard. However, the street names and the fact that there is a statue of Saint Vincent, patron of winemakers, behind Gellért Baths, are all proof of this – reports Origo. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why, from the 17th century on, the hill was considered to be the meeting point of witches. There are references to the witches of Gellért Hill in both court cases and poems of the time.
The Citadella has become an important symbol of the Buda Hills. Well, how many of you knew that there used to be an observatory in its place?
It was officially opened in 1815, with the Austrian emperor, the Russian tsar and the Prussian king all present for the ceremony.
Plans of the observatory Photo: wikipedia.org
The building was the scene of important research, but it was significant in determining the correct time, too, as all the clocks of the town, all clock towers and pocket watches, were based on the observatory’s bell. The observatory operated until 1849; however, it was severely damaged during the uprising. A few years later, they built the Citadella in its place.
Hungary is famous for the many hot springs and the thermal water supplies of the country. The area around the present Hotel Gellért has been especially significant throughout history.
There are sources saying the waters were used for healing as early as in the 13th century, and during the Turkish occupation, the water and mud from the springs were used to treat at least eight different kinds of ailments.
The construction of the current building of the Gellért Baths started in 1911 but was finished only in 1918 due to the First World War. So, the building celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.
What is underneath it?
First of all, there is a tunnel running 1000 meters underneath the building. It was established between 1969 and 1978, in the hopes that they could get to the hidden streams of the Danube and thus supply additional water for the baths since they discovered in the ’60s that the original spring probably gets mixed into the river. The tunnel connects Gellért Baths to the Rudas and Rác baths. Over the years, there were attempts to make use of the tunnel.
There were plans to open a tropical plant collection here, with cafés and confectionaries set up by opening up the sides of the tunnel which would thus overlook the Danube.
Or, at one point in time, it was supposed to be an air-raid shelter.
Gellért Baths today, Photo: gellertbath.hu
The original spring supplying the thermal baths until the 20th century can be found about 20 metres below the Buda opening of the Liberty Bridge. It used to be above ground; however, when the bridge was built, the quay needed to be raised, causing the spring to end up underground. Today, the baths are supplied by two other springs whose water does not get mixed with the water of the Danube. The springs are 43-degrees hot and get cooled to 35-40 degrees before being delivered to the baths.
A glorious past
In the 20th century, especially in the ’20s, the Gellért Baths was an important scene of social life. Besides the famous Hungarian actors and writers visiting it, people came from abroad as well. European princes, Indian maharajas and world-renown artists were all guests of the famous bath in Budapest.
Seaplane station Photo: fortepan.hu/
In fact, some guests arrived by plane, as there used to be a seaplane station on the river right outside Gellért Baths. However, it was economically not successful, so it only operated until 1926. Today, only a memorial plaque on the side of the quay reminds us of this spectacular moment in history.
In 1896, for the Millennium, a sort of party district opened on the shore of the late Lake Lágymányosi; the biggest one in Europe, in fact.
It was advertised as Constantinople in Budapest, and it had a real Eastern atmosphere, with all sorts of bazaars, minarets and Turkish cafés built in the area.
Business went very well, until the mosquitos living by the lake chased all the guests away, and, by the end of the summer, the initiative failed, and the lake gradually got filled up.
Until March 3rd, you can visit an exhibition in the Hungarian Museum of Trade and Tourism, focusing on the 100-year-old Hotel Gellért, click here for details.
As winter is approaching, days are getting shorter and we have less and less sunlight to enjoy outside. There is no need to panic, though, life does not stop even if days are cold and dark. Check out our list of baths that are open well into the evening and await visitors with longer opening hours or, occasionally, with all-night programmes, to help survive those winter months.
Virágfürdő (Flower Bath), Kaposvár
Photo: www.facebook.com/viragfurdo/photos/
This bath is the perfect choice if you feel like taking a quick dip after a long day at work – reports travelo.hu. They are open until 8 pm most nights and you can enjoy all the facilities including the spa and the thermal- and sauna sections. You can also go on the slides, enjoy the whirlpool or get a back and waist massage in the bubbling waters.
There is also a spa section outside, where you can sit in the 38-degree jacuzzi and enjoy the stars of the night sky. Occasionally, there are pool party nights organised, when they are open until 1 am and provide music for your entertainment.
Brigetio Thermal Bath Komárom
Photo: facebook.com/gyogyfurdo.komaromi
This thermal bath is open until 8 pm every night, so you can absolutely arrive after sundown and still get ample time to relax or swim a bit. They offer thermal baths inside and outside as well, and there is a training pool where you can swim laps if that is what you need. If you just pay about 500 HUF extra (1.55 EUR), you are free to try the various saunas including a steam sauna, a log sauna and a Finnish blue sauna. You also have the chance to try the ‘Kneipp Cure’ or the infra sauna. This month, on November 24th, you can stay until midnight as a night swimming event will be organised (more here).
Miskolctapolca Cave Bath
The Miskolctapolca cave bath Photo: barlangfurdo.hu
This is one of the most unique spa experiences you can have, and even though they close at 7 pm on most nights, pool parties are frequently organised that last well into the night. In the cave, there are two thermal pools. Besides these, visitors can try the so-called Roman room, Starry room or the Old cave pool. There is also a ‘sauna world’ for the lovers of saunas, with four Finnish saunas, three infra cabins and a steam room.
Zalaegerszeg Thermal Bath
Photo: facebook.com/termalfurdo.zeg
This thermal bath has very appealing opening hours. From Monday through Thursday, visitors can stay until 8 pm. On Fridays, they are open until 9 pm while on Saturdays, pool nights are organised when the bath is open until midnight and guests can enjoy all pools and saunas. An extra speciality of these nights is a sort of light therapy experience, when over ten thousand light bulbs light up the thermal-, spa- and children’s pools, in a variety of colours.
Napfényfürdő Aquapolis, Szeged
Photo: kultography.blog.hu
The Napfényfürdő Aquapolis in Szeged awaits visitors on weekdays until 9 pm and at the weekend until 8 pm. They offer a ‘Quiet Wellness’ section where those interested are offered sauna sessions with a unique atmosphere and some music. They also have pools with an outside partition, so you can marlóvel at the night sky from a thermal bath or a jacuzzi.
Kecskemét Bath
Photo: facebook.com/Kecskemeti.Furdo
They are open every night until 9 pm and organise a night pool party every month – the next one is December 7th, be prepared. Visitors can enjoy thermal pools inside and outside and there are slides, jacuzzis, a 25-metre swimming pool and a panorama pool, too. If you love saunas, you will not be disappointed, either – you can try a Finnish sauna, a steam room as well as an aroma room.
