Rudas Thermal Bath
Budapest is one of the few cities in the world that have access to hot springs and it is also known as the city of spas since the 30s.
Visitors have the chance to visit a wide variety of hot springs spas, which offer many health treatments and other leisure services.
At the end of the 19th century, a sauna and a therapeutic swimming facility were added. The bath also has an outpatient hospital during the day, which contains a complex physiotherapy section and a drinking hall, where the water of the springs Hungária, Attila and Juventus can be consumed.
Gellert may be the most famous spa in Budapest, but Rudas is the oldest one. The building dates from the 16th century, when the Turks built the spa facilities to make the most of the 80 geothermal springs in the city. The Ottoman influence can still be seen in the octagonal pool, covered by a huge 10-meter diameter dome, eight pillars, six pools and steam baths. Try a massage under water at 3 am (the bathroom is open until 4 on Fridays and Saturdays). Note that the spa is open only for men during the week, except Tuesdays when it´s just for women; the weekend is mixed bathing.
For just 4 € you can access the baths in the morning, from 10 € you can enjoy the baths at night and the cheapest package of massages costs 8 €.
The spa is open from 6 am every day and closes at 6 pm from Monday to Wednesday and at 8 pm from Thursday to Sunday. The hot spring section is open from 6 am to 8 pm every day. The bath section is open from 8 am to 8 pm Monday through Friday only. The night swim schedule is from 10 pm until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Remember that on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, the spa is only open for men and Tuesday is a day only for women. Saturday and Sunday is open to both men and women, during which time the bathing suits are required.
The spa is located below the Gellert hill right next to the Danube, close to Elisabeth Bridge (Erzsébet híd), on the Buda side of the city. To reach the Rudas spa, you can use public transportation. To get there by bus: take lines 5, 7, 8, 86 or 112. It is also easily accessible with the tram: lines 18 and 19. The address is Döbrentei tér 9, H-1013 Budapest, Rudas Gyógyfürdő és Uszoda.
This spa was built in 1550 and then rebuilt in 1566 by Mustafa Pasha Sokoli. Some characteristics of the Turkish period are still being used today: the octagonal pool, the four small pools, each with different water temperature, and the characteristic Turkish dome.
Cornejo
Rent apartments in Budapest city center and go back in time, while enjoying the ancient Turkish Rudas Thermal Baths.
January 8th, 2013 at 8:36 am
Rudas Thermal Baths in Budapest http://t.co/ANfefw6F
January 8th, 2013 at 5:07 pm
Rudas Thermal Baths in Budapest http://t.co/ANfefw6F
January 12th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
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