The Capital with the World’s largest number of Thermal Springs

Budapest first gained the epithet City of Spas in 1934, and with it recognition that there isn’t another capital city anywhere in the world that has more hydrothermal and mineral springs. It is also a unique fact that the 118 natural or specially drilled springs, with a temperature ranging from 21 to 78 °C (70–172 °F), deliver 70 million litres (15.4 million gallons) per day. Walking along the Danube embankment on the Buda side, you come across the famous thermal baths one after the other. They have a wide appeal, suiting those engaged in sports as well as those who would rather sweat it out in the steam room or pass the time of day unwinding in the soothing thermal water. The particular mineral content of the waters here marks them out as being efficacious in the treatment of locomotor, circulatory and gynccological disorders. Close to the baths you can find springs and pump rooms, offering the range of natural mineral waters to drink. The most renowned pump room for taking curative drinks is at the entrance to the Lukács Baths. It was opened in 1937 and is recommended, amongst other things, for those suffering from gastric complaints. The building dates from 1894, and the establishment’s fame spread quickly throughout Europe, becoming one of Hungary’s best known attractions.
In Buda there are also working thermal baths remaining from the Turkish period, for example the Király and the Rác, both built towards the end of the 1500’s. Another, the Rudas, is both the oldest and the most elaborately decorated, and includes a fine octagonal main pool.

Budapest’s Finest Art Nouveau Thermal Spa

The foot of Gellért Hill was the site of a hospital in the Middle Ages; by the Turkish period there was a bathing place there. On one of his travels, the Turkish writer Evlia Cselebi advised that one should stay in the water almost until one’s body turns red and then quickly get out but keep warm. Today’s Gellért Hotel and Baths date from 1918, although the wave pool and whirlpool bath are later additions. This is Budapest’s finest thermal bathing complex, still displaying original art nouveau fittings, colourful mosaics, marble columns and stained glass windows and statues.

The Széchenyi Spa

Széchenyi furdo is one of Europe's greatest spa complexes. A physiotherapeutical department, run as part of an outpatient hospital, in addition to the medicinal water and the lovely surroundings, ensure the healing for visitors.

This spa is not only extraordinary for its medicinal water and the large area it occupies, but is also special for the care manifested in the architecture of its facilities; the sculptures and glass mosaics decorating the spa were made by Hungary's leading artists.

The spacious and sunny pool halls bear a touch of the Roman fondness for spas, and the tub bath reflects the signs of the Greek and Scandinavian bath cultures. These are shown in the saunas, baths and steam rooms available at the different departments. The present building of the spa was completed in 1913. The Szecsenyi swimming pool was built in 1927, and following that it was converted to the winter season, it is open to visitors all year long. Also in 1927, a bath department and a complete physiotherapeutical department were added as part of an outpatient hospital.

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