Szechenyi Bath of Budapest

Budapest is blessed with a total of 80 geothermal springs and the largest thermal water cave system in the world. Many bathhouses have been built around the thermal springs and was made popular by the Turks since Ottomon occupation in 16th century. For this reason, Budapest is also called the 'City of Spas'.

There are a number of baths in Budapest. For some of the more historic one like Gellert or Kiraly Bath, male and female are not allowed to mix around and there either are separate pools for each gender or the baths are opened for respective gender on alternate days. Traditionally bath facilities were reserved for men only.


We decided to soak ourselves in the thermal water of Szechenyi Bath on the last day of our Easter holiday trip. I must say it was the best arrangement on planet earth. Being tired and exhausted of trudging through the various attractions days earlier, it was just so relaxing and soothing to just rest the body in thermal pools.


Szechenyi Bath was built in the early 1900's and is one of the largest bath complex in Europe. It boasts 3 large thermal pools located at the central part of the complex and also 12 other indoor thermal pools with water temperatures ranging from 28'C to 36'C. Szechenyi is also complimented with several steam baths, saunas, massage services and other therapies including drinking cures.




There is also a daytime hospital which offers thermal spring-related therapeutic treatments. Physicians specialising in traditional and natural medicine use the springs to treat patients suffering from burns, paralysis, strokes, and disorders like arthritis and spinal injuries.


This is one of the larger thermal pool with 32'C water temperature. The weather was sunny and there were many patrons, Hungarians and foreigners alike, thronging the pools to chill out. We were the minority Asian faces joining the fun.






This is probably the hottest pool at the complex at 38'C. It was feeling really great to relax in this pool! ;)




Chess by the poolside, is a signature activity with Szechenyi. The baths including the outdoor pools are opened during winter as well. I've seen some photos and they looked really surreal; imagine that the pool decks are covered with 1 ft thick snows and you're soaking in a 38'C outdoor thermal pool with steams rising around you, and you could still enjoy a chess game!








I only managed to snap some photos around the outdoor area and reckoned it might not be appropriate to bring along my camera to the indoor sections, which in a way feel more private and intimate.

We really had a great time hopping from pool to pool, pool with different temperatures, pool with whirling streams, rectangular and circular, deep and shallow, indoor and outdoor. 2 hours of bathing was definitely insufficient and we should have spent longer hours. :)