A Day at Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest

I love me a good sauna or spa. I’ve survived a Ukrainian banya, got a major scrub down at a Korean jjimjilbang, and relaxed in the warm waters of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest, Hungary.

The baths in Budapest are one of the top reasons foreigners make their way to the city of spas. Locally, aqua therapy is a regular part of medical treatments, often prescribed by doctors. The water in the thermal pools are high in calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate, and are good for joint pain, arthritis, blood circulation and the nervous system.

While in Budapest, I made my way to Széchenyi Thermal Bath, the largest and most popular bath house in the city and the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Opened in 1913, Szechenyi Thermal Baths is named after Istvan Szechenyi, a Hungarian politician, political theorist and writer, considered “the greatest Hungarian.”

Cost

You can use the spas for as little as 2 hours or for the whole day. A daily ticket starts at around $17 USD  and prices can get up to $100 for a full spa package. Check out the detailed pricing list here.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath Facilities

The spa has 3 outdoor pools and 15 indoor pools of varying sizes, temperatures and medicinal benefits.

Széchenyi Thermal Bath Services

Beyond the pools at Széchenyi Thermal Bath, you can get steamy in the saunas and relax under the strong hands of a trained masseuse.

Medical treatments like mud bath, carbon-dioxide bath, underwater curative gymnastics (huh?) or drink therapy (drinking the natural spring waters, mostly used for gall bladder therapy) are offered but require a medical prescription. I'm not sure how to get one of those if you’re just passing through, but worth a shot.

Since all pool facilities are open to both men and women at all times, bathing suits must be worn, and it's a really good idea to bring flip-flops.

Check out Scechenyi Thermal Bath on a Saturday night and dance the night away to EDM music in the thermal pools. More information on the sparties (get it? spa + party = sparty).