Soak Away the Stress in a Budapest Turkish Bath
Relax in Art Nouveau Surroundings at Hungary's Stylish Gellert Baths
Nov 25, 2008
There can be few more fitting ways to celebrate visiting perhaps Eastern Europe’s most decadent capital than a relaxing soak in the lavish Art Nouveau surroundings of its most famous Turkish baths.
The waters are drawn from hot mineral springs beneath the picturesque Gellert Hill nearby, with concentrations of calcium and magnesium highly regarded as having healing properties for the joints.
But even those more concerned with lazing an afternoon away in strictly regulated 38 degree waters have reason to visit the baths, built between 1912 and 1918.
Art Nouveau
The refreshing main indoor pool is an object in opulence, decorative Art Nouveau columns soaring towards the arched roof above vying for attention with the animal water fountains.
Elsewhere lie two half-moon shaped pools facing each other, with temperatures strictly regulated at 36 and 38 degrees, while for braver souls and Turkish bath aficionados there are nearby saunas and ice cold plunge pools to raise people from their drowsy states; all done in the correct order, naturally.
Whilst the baths can become busy at peak and holiday periods, the relaxing environment and surroundings ensure that any stressful sightseeing daytrip around Budapest soon fades into a distant memory.
Equal to the sense of grandeur felt while swimming around columns and intricate mosaic tiles is a sense of history.
Gellert Baths
A hospital once stood on the present day site during the Middle Ages, whilst baths became a dominant feature of Budapest during the height of the Ottoman Empire. In more recent years, the Gellert Baths’ popularity has seen its expansion to include wave baths, outdoor pools and a specialist children’s pool.
Now, like many of its companion baths in Budapest, Gellert offers a range of treatments for the discerning customer.A carbonic acid tub bath, underwater water-beam massage and mud-packing are some of the more extravagant options on offer, although all come at a price.
Gellert Hill
Basic entry to Gellert for a maximum two hour stay with locker facility is 2,700 Forints (approximately £8.75/$13.50), with a slight discount on offer to those carrying a Budapest Card. However, a slightly more expensive ticket for a stay of longer than two hours can prove better value, once changing rooms have been negotiated and muscles relaxed.
In a photogenic city such as Budapest, with countless unmissable sights within walking distance around Buda and Pest, it is thankful that the Gellert Baths are on hand to welcome the weary traveller open-armed.
The baths can be found by the Danubius Hotel Gellert at the foot of Gellert Hill, close to the west bank of the River Danube. It can be reached using any of trams 18, 19, 47 and 49, or buses 7, 7A and 86. Opening times are 6am-7pm Monday-Friday.
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