A Budapest spa break
Budapest acquired the title of “Spa City” in 1934 due to the large number of thermal and curative waters and springs it has: 118 wells and springs which gush 70 million litres of water per day at temperatures between 21 and 80 ° C. The concentration of minerals and elements of these healing waters is perfect for healing ailments.
Budapest baths date back to Roman times, but it was not until the twentieth century when they became popular for treatment of diseases. During the Turkish period (from 1541 to 1686) there were important spas constructed that continue still today.
But the Budapest spas are not just wellness centres. Some of them organize aquatic night parties called “Cinetrip Parties” or “Magic Baths”, where hundreds of young people dance and listen to the best music inside the swimming pools. This way, the spas are turned into spectacular nightclubs full of lights, screens and gogo dancers.
Aside from these parties, most of the public baths are not mixed. Many of them reserve a few days for men and then a few days for women, although there are also some spas in which both sexes can be mixed.
The most famous Budapest Spa Resorts
Gellért Spa (District 4. Kelenhegyi Street, 4)
Timetable: weekdays: from 6.00 to 19.00, weekends: from 6.00 to 17.00
This is one of the oldest and most beautiful spas of Budapest thanks to its spectacular marble columns, its colourful Zsolnay mosaics, its statues, its beautiful stained glass windows and it modernist furniture although the star of the centre is a 700m square atrium with a beautiful glass roof. The spa (located inside the Gellért hotel) has 9 therapeutic pools, an outdoor wave pool, a thermal water pool, a childrens pool and a covered effervescent pool. It also has a sauna and massage services. The composition of its waters includes calcium, magnesium, sulphates and other minerals. There are some references to the use of medicinal waters of Gellért since medieval times, but it was not until 1918 that this construction was completed.
Széchenyi Spa (District 14. Állatkerti Avenue, 11)
Timetable: weekdays from 6.00 to 22.00
This is one of the largest spas in Europe thanks to its 15 pools, 3 large outdoor pools and 12 small covered pools. It was inaugurated in 1913 and it is of Neogothic style. Besides the pools, this resort has some Turkish baths, saunas, massage service and diving pools. One of the main attractions are the chess matches that are disputed in the warmer outdoor pool (37 ° C), where tourists and locals challenge each other to games and spend a pleasant time.
Budapest has much to offer besides being a spa city; Budapest is the jewel of Hungary. Discover why! Rent Apartments in Budapest and enjoy a great Budapest spa weekend or even a Budapest spa holiday – the choice is yours!
April 6th, 2009 at 10:28 am
[...] budapest spa resorts | Apartments in Hungary [...]