Budapest is an amazing city so full of character and culture. Our bank holiday weekend was the perfect amount of time to explore this somewhat quaint capital city. Check out our 2 day itinerary here!
Now for what you’re really interested in… Budapest is famous for the thermal springs and commonly referred to as the ‘City of Baths’. It is one of the few cities to still have traditional Turkish baths from the 16th and 17th centuries!
Széchenyi Baths: Located within the City Park, it is a massive complex (the largest in Europe!) with 18 pools! It has hot & cold and indoor & outdoor geothermal baths, saunas, massages, beer and wine, and even a tasting area of the natural waters–from over 1000 meters underground! Also, spotted: a quick game of water chess.
Gellért Baths: Built some time between 1912 and 1918, this bath is the most famous Art Nouveau thermal bath in Europe. It contains 10 pools of differing size and temperatures, including an outdoor wave pool. You can also get a red wine treatment–think soaking in red wine and sipping some as well.
Also, I have to tell you…Eastern Europe is cheap. You have to pay an entrance fee into the Baths, a fee for a locker or dressing cabin totaling about 4,800 Hungarian Forint per person or roughly 35ish USD per couple. We added on an hour long couples massage for about $ 60 more.. totaling about $100 at the Bath for a few hours in the variety of pools and an hour long couples massage! And that was for an upscale massage–they offer many types of massages at all different price points. It was such a great deal, we did it again the next day at Gellért Baths!
Have you been to the Baths of Budapest? Which was your favorite?
Xx
No Comments
Gorgeous post, with lovely photos, I have been to Budapest and loved it, visited the baths, but did not take to the waters – next time!
I think a thing worth pointing out for anyone visiting Budapest is that unlike the London and Paris undergrounds where you can merrily hop from line to line using the same ticket, there you must take a new ticket each time you change lines (without coming up for air) We only discovered this on the last day, as it is in VERY small print on the back of the tickets, and no-one told us this when we bought them. I was on my back to get my bag and tae a cab to the airport, when I was nabbed literally inches after passing through the barrier, I showed the guy my wad of unused tickets and offered to give him them all as I had no further use for them, I was not fare dodging and that it was a genuine mistake (also showed him my plane ticket with my plane due to leave in about 4 hours) He showed no mercy and I had to pay what amounted to a £30 on the spot fine – other than him everyone was so friendly………
Oh no!!! I actually had very little experience with the underground system as we only rode once on the way into town from the airport! That is important for visitors to be aware of!
It’s a scam – you have seen the size of the tickets – it is printed in about 12 languages on the back, you would have to be one of the X-Men to be able to read it, and do they do not tell you. We got away with it all week, in ignorance. We didn’t have any money left either, as t was the last day and they all but frog marched me to the nearest cash point. With me making very vocal comments about Stalin no longer being in power…….feel free to quote me in your blog post, to save others from the same fate……really great post – really enjoyed reading it x
Beautiful pictures! I have to say I’m a little jealous – I’m dying to go to Budapest :). Never considered the baths before though. Thanks for the inspiration!
Yes! You definitely should…it’s nice and relaxing after a day of exploring! Some of it reminds me so much of the Biltmore…very unique architecture and style!
Have always wanted to visit Budapest. Baths looks amazing. And I realy like Hungarian food.
Me too Ken! I’m working on a post now of everywhere we ate! It was so delicious! I’m hoping to find some good Hungarian spots in London!