Spas in Budapest

Thermal baths or spas in Budapest are popular tourist attractions as well as public comforts for the city's
residents.
One of the reasons the Romans first colonized the area immediately to the west of the River Danube and
established their regional capital at Aquincum (now part of buda, in northern Budapest) is so that they could
utilize and enjoy the thermal springs. There are still ruins visible today of the enormous baths that were built
during that period. The new baths that were constructed during the Turkish period (15411686) served both
bathing and medicinal purposes, and some of these are still in use to this day. Budapest gained its reputation as
a city of spas in the 1920s, following the first realization of the economic potential of the thermal waters in
drawing in visitors. Indeed, in 1934 Budapest was officially ranked as a "City of Spas". Construction of the Kirly
Baths started in 1565, and most of the present-day building dates from the Turkish period, including most
notably the fine cupola-topped pool.
The Rudas Baths are centrally placed in the narrow strip of land between Gellrt Hill and the River Danube
and also an outstanding example of architecture dating from the Turkish period. The central feature is an
octagonal pool over which light shines from a 10 m diameter cupola, supported by eight pillars.
The Gellrt Baths and Hotel were built in 1918, although there had once been Turkish baths on the site, and in
the Middle Ages a hospital. In 1927 the Baths were extended to include the wave pool, and the effervescent bath
was added in 1934. The well-preserved Art Nouveau interior includes colourful mosaics, marble columns,
stained glass windows and statues.
The Lukcs Baths are also in Buda and are also Turkish in origin, although they were only revived at the end of
the 19th century. This was also when the spa and treatment centre were founded. There is still something of an
atmosphere of fin-de-sicle about the place, and all around the inner courtyard there are marble tablets recalling
the thanks of patrons who were cured there. Since the 1950s it has been regarded as a centre for intellectuals
and artists.
The Szchenyi Baths are one of the largest bathing complexes in all Europe, and the only old medicinal baths
to be found in the Pest side of the city. The indoor medicinal baths date from 1913 and the outdoor pools from
1927. There is an atmosphere of grandeur about the whole place with the bright, largest pools resembling
aspects associated with Roman baths, the smaller bath tubs reminding one of the bathing culture of the Greeks,
and the saunas and diving pools borrowed from traditions emanating in northern Europe. The three outdoor
pools (one of which is a fun pool) are open all year, including winter. Indoors there are over ten separate pools,
and a whole host of medical treatments is also available.
Thermal
bath in
Budapest
Spa
name
Number
of pools
Open
hours
Availability Transportation Facilities
Treatments
and
Indications
Components of
the thermal
water include
Szchenyi
Baths
18
06:00
22:00
mixed bathing
Metro 1
Szchenyi Frd!
Swimming pool,
adventure pool,
sauna, steam bath,
massage treatments
sulphate,
calcium,
magnesium,
bicarbonate and
a significant
amount of
fluoride acid
and metaboric
acid. Medical
indications are
on degenerative
joint illnesses,
chronic and
sub-acute joint
inflammations,
as well as
orthopaedic and
traumatological
post-treatments.
Massage
treatments:
Refreshing
Massage,
Luxury Manager
Massage,
Deluxe
Massage,
Harmony
Massage
Rudas
Baths
7
Swimming
pool: Mon-
Wed:
06:00
18:00 Thu-
Sun:
06:00
20:00 Fri,
Sat: 22:00
04:00
Vapor-
bath every
day: 06:00
20:00
Friday,
Saturday:
22:00
04:00
For women:
Tuesday For
men: Monday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday, Group
use:
Sunday,Saturday
Bus no. 7 Rudas
frd!
The bath has six
therapy pools and
one swimming pool
where the
temperature is in
between 16-42C.
The components of
slightly radioactive
thermal water
[1]
includes sulphate,
calcium,
magnesium,
bicarbonate and a
significant amount
of fluoride ion.
Medical
indications of
the water are
degenerative
joint illnesses,
chronic and
sub-acute joint
inflammations,
vertebral disk
problems,
neuralgia and
lack of calcium
in the bone
system.
Lukcs has four
thermal baths,
ranging in
temperatures from
the 26 C (79 F)
cooling bath to the
40 C (104 F) hot
bath.
The hot spring
water is rich in
calcium
hyrodgencarbonate,
Calcium
hydrogensulfite,
and magnesium
hydrogencarbonate
and magnesium
The therapeutic
spring water of
the Lukcs
Baths is possibly
the best known
of all the
Budapest spas.
The spring
water is
recommended
for the
treatment of
gastrointestinal
ailments, such
as
hyperacidicity,
gallbladder
Lukcs
Baths
5
06:00
20:00
mixed bathing
Tram 4-6 Margit
hd budai hdf!
hydrogensulphate;
chloride; and also
contain sodium and
a substantial
content of fluoride
ions. Facilities also
include three
outdoor swimming
pools[3]: Men's
pool (368 sq. m, 22
C (72 F))
Women's pool (310
sq. m, 26 C (79
F)) Fancy pool
(220 sq. m, 32 to 33
C (90 to 91 F) A
steam room, as well
as warm and hot
saunas are also
available to guests.
problems. The
water of the
Lukcs Bath is
also indicated in
the treatment of
nephritis and
kidney stones. It
is also helpful in
treating
degenerative
joint illnesses,
chronic and
sub-acute joint
inflammations,
vertebral disk
problems,
neuralgia and
lack of calcium
in the bone
system.
Gellrt
Baths
13
06:00 -
20:00
Mon - Sat:
thermal bath
separate for men
and women,
mixed swimming
pool Sunday:
mixed thermal
bath and
swimming pool
Bus no. 7 Szt.
Gellrt tr
The complex also
includes saunas and
plunge pools
(segregated by
gender), an open-
air swimming pool
which can create
artificial waves
every 30 minutes
and an effervescent
swimming pool. A
Finnish sauna with
cold pool and
children's pool is
also enclosed within
the complex.
Masseuse services
are available.
The Gellrt
Baths complex
includes
thermal baths,
which are small
pools containing
water from
Gellrt hill's
mineral hot
springs. The
water contains
calcium,
magnesium,
hydrocarbonate,
alkalis, chloride,
sulfate and
fluoride.
Medical
indications of
the water
includes
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.
The Kirly Bath
includes a thermal
Medical
indications of
the water are
Kirly
Baths
4
09:00 -
21:00
mixed bathing
Metro 2
Batthyny tr
pool, massage
treatments, sauna
and steam room, a
Finnish sauna for
two people with a
cold pool, a store
selling medical aids
and a snack bar for
guests.
degenerative
joint illnesses,
chronic and
sub-acute joint
inflammations,
vertebral disk
problems,
neuralgia and
lack of calcium
in the bone
system.
Gallery
References
How Stuff Works: Balneotherapy
Sources
Budapest Gygyfrd!i
Kirly Gygyfrd!
Spas Budapest
Budapest Tourism Office
Public transport in Budapest