Budapest’s most popular bathing complex: the Széchenyi Thermal Bath

It is the largest spa complex in Budapest – one of the biggest baths in Europe, in fact.

The spa is located in the heart of City Park and is surrounded by many wonderful sights: you can visit nearby Heroes' Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, the Museum of Fine Arts, or even the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden.

You can choose from 18 medicinal water pools, and can also try the outdoor adventure pool, hot tub, swimming pool or drift pool.

There are both indoor and outdoor pools.

The thermal bath is an excellent destination even in wintertime, so you can enjoy the beneficial hot water even when it’s freezing outside.

You can enjoy numerous wellness and fitness services: saunas, aqua-fitness and steam chambers, and if you’re seeking extra relaxation, the steady-handed masseurs will be happy to treat you.

You can also try extra services such as beer baths, manicures and pedicures or just natural medicine.

Because even the spa building is eye-catching—you will not be disappointed if you enter into the Art Nouveau mosaic hall or the Neo-Baroque interior after passing through the main entrance.

If you’re still not convinced, take a virtual tour of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath and you’ll see that the unique atmosphere of the place is captivating, even online.

The spa heals your body inside and out, as besides plunging into a pool, a drinking therapy is also available.

The water here is recommended for the treatment of degenerative joint and spine diseases, chronic arthritis, orthopaedic and post-traumatic rehabilitation, spinal conditions, neuralgia and calcium deficiency in the bone system. The water in the drinking hall is suitable for treating various internal medicine problems.

No matter how long we make the list of the positive health benefits of the Széchenyi Thermal Bath’s water, the facility is recommended not just to medicinal water lovers, but also for those who adore unforgettable parties after dark. The Széchenyi Thermal Bath awaits partygoers every weekend between February and December, with one of the most visited series of events in the Hungarian capital, SPArty, where they can take part in a really memorable night party topped with spectacular lights and sophisticated electronic music.

We have some seemingly less important, but all the more interesting information that we by no means want to keep to ourselves:

The hippos of the Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden get their bathing water from one of the sources feeding the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, as its composition is similar to that of the Nile.

The spa was once known as the "Artesian Bath”, with the domed building we see today opening in 1913. To supply the bath, however, another well was needed and it is so deep that if we dropped a stone inside, it would fall for 16 seconds.

Not even WWII was able to crush the spa’s popularity: after 1944, Soviet soldiers were assigned a separate section for bathing.

Who was the Széchenyi Thermal Bath named after?

We must, of course, also mention the person who the spa was named after, since the gentleman concerned – referred to as the “greatest Hungarian” – played a key role in Hungary’s development. Count István Széchenyi started efficient development work in the early 19th century: he revitalised the country through the modernisation of industry, agriculture, transport and trade. We owe him the construction of one of Budapest’s main landmarks, the beautiful Chain Bridge, but he also had the Danube, the Tisza River and Lake Balaton regulated. He is also to thank for many Hungarian scientific, artistic and sporting achievements.