Hajdúszoboszló, located 30 kilometers from Europe’s largest saline rangeland, Hortobágy, and 22 kilometers from Debrecen, is Hungary’s third most popular holiday resort. This municipality of the Great Hungarian Plain, famous for its 73-degree hot thermal water rich in iodine, bromine and sodium chloride, is only outdone by Budapest and Hévíz.
Its medicinal waters were found in 1925, during local exploratory drilling made in search of oil and gas. In a short time it became apparent that the waters brought relief to all manners of rheumatic diseases. For this reason, in the last 95 years, it was here – particularly in the town’s Bánomkert district – that Europe’s largest spa complex was constructed, becoming quite popular not only with Hungarians but also with foreign visitors.
Thanks to the world-famous thermal water and the multiple decades of medical experience, you can be sure that your sore limbs will be as pampered as possible during your visit to this rural holiday resort. By now, the thermal bath, open all year round, added to its 3 thermal water pools 4 resort pools, and there are also more than 40 types of treatments available for you to try during your stay: there are, for example, subaqualis tractio, underwater jet massage and also cryosauna treatments in the course of which the body is exposed, for a period of 1-3 minutes, to temperatures as low as minus 120 and minus 170 Celsius.
In addition to the thermal spa, there are many other complexes to spend your time in: 20 years ago, it was here that Hungary’s first Aquapark was established; right next to it you will find the Aqua-Palace, a complex with a surface area of 15,000 square meters. The exclusive resort pools of Aqua-Palace will transport you to a variety of worlds: there are, for example, tropical, ice cave and Roman style pools, a pool with a cinema, Páva thermal bath, and a Ganges spa. Children will not be left without entertainment either: baby and family pools await them with charming animal figurines and slides. Fans of saunas can relax in the Aqua-Palace’s sauna complex: in addition to the Finnish and infrared saunas, the steam cabin, the plunge and Kneipp pools, they will also be greeted by a wide selection of massages. Those more athletically inclined can relieve stress by surfing but squash and fitness services are also available. If you visit during the summer season, be sure to book a sunbed at the 30-hectare large landscaped beach of the complex. With a selection of 13 pools, you are certain to find a favorite! An acclaimed section of the spa is the Mediterranean seashore, the largest artificial pool of Central Europe with a crystal-clear body of water of 6,200 square meters. The sandy shores of the enormous, surging pool even feature a pirate ship and lighthouse! At the sports center on the beach you can even play beach volley ball, beach football, but you can also try, for example, football tennis. If that is still not enough, the local boat pond also offers boat rides.
Big Hole, Twister and Niagara – just some of the slides you can try when visiting the Aquapark. In 2014, the place was expanded with an extreme zone, bringing the total to 15 tracks. In addition to the popular adventure slides, among other things, a free-falling tunnel, water loop, tsunami and space pod await you. All these start out from a 16 meters high tower so excitement is guaranteed even before you get on the slide but the most courageous can even try their hand at rock climbing. The park did not forget about the small children either as they can try miniature slides and, for example, a water castle.
Only a couple of steps from the spa, around Mátyás király promenade, local restaurants offer fine dining and opportunities to try local specialties – such as cauldron goulash or pork stew Hajdúság-style which you can then wash down with excellent Tokaj wine.