Best Baths in Budapest, Hungary

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This is a little video about some of the best baths in Budapest. We visited these three after locals recommended them. Which ones are your favorites?

šŸ‘ļøŽ︎ 1 šŸ‘¤ļøŽ︎ u/rhododenron šŸ“…ļøŽ︎ May 22 2018 šŸ—«︎ replies
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Budapest is a city built on a bevy of thermal springs - 123 of them ā€“ and people have been ā€˜taking the watersā€™, as they say, for many, many centuries, at least since the 4th century BC. There are plenty of baths to choose from and each has its own distinct feeling. I visited three of Budapestā€™s top baths to see how each one is unique and, in this video, Iā€™m going to show you and share my experience and tips. I hope this video will make visiting go more smoothly so all you have to do is enjoy. If youā€™re interested in my other videos from Budapest Iā€™ll link them as well. Iā€™m going to start with the Art Nouveau style Gellert Baths which are part of the Gellert Hotel that opened in 1918. Itā€™s on the Buda side of the Danube River and looms large as you walk towards it. Beware that you donā€™t enter through the front hotel entrance, however, but through the side. There are lots of signs there to direct you which means that we werenā€™t the only ones to make this mistake. The actual entrance has an impressive interior with columns, statues, and stained glass. Like all the baths we visited, you get a little bracelet that gets you in and out of the pool areas and lockers. You scan your bracelet to get through the entry turnstile and then walk down a long, tiled hallway that sounds a little bit like being underwater. There are little circular windows along the wall that look a bit like port holes and they look out onto one of the pools so you can see people swimming past. The windows are lit with multi-coloured lights that cycle through a rainbow of colours. The change rooms here feel like organized chaos. As you walk down the long corridors youā€™ll see doors on either side that are private rooms called cabins. You can pay extra for these cabins where you can change and leave your things. Paying less, however, will get you a locker in a common changeroom which is what we did. The lockers arenā€™t that big so donā€™t bring too much stuff if youā€™re planning to use one. There are different pools indoors and outdoors at Gellert. The largest of the outdoor pools was closed when we were there but it is open in better weather. They have a model of it so we could at least see what it looks like. Another outdoor pool was open so we visited there first and this was also the first time I realized I didnā€™t have flip flops and I wished I did. Not only was it was really cold on the ground outside but having flip flops anywhere in the baths is a really good idea. We were there after dark and the exterior of the building was illuminated which was really nice. If you want to actually swim instead of sitting you can do that back inside the swimming pool. Not, however, if you donā€™t have a bathing cap, which we didnā€™t. This pool is surrounded by columns and has those circular windows and lights that you see from the entry hall. When youā€™re finished swimming there are water spouts you can sit under and thereā€™s also a second floor balcony that overlooks this pool. You can spread out there in a lounge chair and thereā€™s also a restaurant to grab a snack or a drink. At Gellert thereā€™s also a large area where you can get massages done, use the sauna or steam room, or dunk in a really cold bath. Youā€™ll notice in some areas ā€“ like going in and out of the sauna or some of the pools ā€“ that there are these little water troughs you have to walk through to rinse your feet. My favourite part of the Gellert Baths was a large room covered in decorative tiles with a pool on either side. Itā€™s really echo-y which is maybe why thereā€™s a sign stipulating silence - but nobody was obeying that rule. Overall, Gellert was a great introduction to Budapest bath culture but it also left us wanting more. Not far from Gellert, on the Buda side of the city as well, are the Rudas Baths. I was really excited to go there because the Turks built a bath there in 1566 which is still in use today. The Rudas Baths are separated into three distinct parts and, unfortunately for us, the old Turkish part was only open to women when we were there. And while this is great because it was actually only open to men for a very long time, Marc and I wanted to enjoy together so we decided to visit the other parts of the bath that were open to both men and women. Before you visit, make sure you look ahead and see when certain areas are restricted so that you donā€™t miss out. You can see on the board in the entryway what is open and how much it costs. We went to the ā€˜Wellnessā€™ baths which are very contemporary feeling. On our way to that area we also passed a large lane pool where swimming lessons were going on. The Wellness baths donā€™t feel private at all because theyā€™re at street level with huge windows where cars and people are passing by. The area is pretty small but includes pools with waters that feel warm, really hot, and cold. Marc braved the super hot water which was too much for me. I sometimes get headaches from really hot water ā€“ does that ever happen to you? Maybe itā€™s just me. It was 42 degrees and a sign suggests not spending more than five minutes in there. Marc wanted some water afterwards and they have these cool water fountains with a ram head design that you can drink from. The baths make you feel really thirsty so Iā€™d actually suggest bringing your own water bottle with you to stay hydrated. One of the larger pools has water fountains that turn on every so often and itā€™s so nice to just sit or stand underneath it and let the force of the water massage your neck and back. Itā€™s the worst, though, when youā€™re so into it and then the water turns off and you have to wait for it to start again. I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed at the Rudas baths because Iā€™d been expecting to see the historic Turkish baths and the wellness area lacked the charm I was really craving. But then we went up to the roof and this made it all worth it. Thereā€™s a large circular pool up there with a stunning front row view of the city, river, and bridges. The pool has this lovely curved design that almost looks like a crown and looks beautiful with light flickering on it. Once we discovered the rooftop we spent the rest of our time up there. Luckily it wasnā€™t too crowded and we sat for around two hours. The combination of the fresh air, the hot water, and that tranquil view made me sink into this super deep feeling of relaxation and I actually fell asleep floating in the pool. Marc was using the GoPro and thereā€™s this shot I find hilarious where you just see my legs floating there totally motionless as Iā€™m sleeping in the water. Iā€™ll never forget that calm feeling of waking up afloat in a hot pool on a Budapest rooftop. For me, those are the unexpected moments that make travelling so amazing. The third place we went is on the Pest side of the river located in City Park. The Szecheyni Baths were built in 1913 and as you walk through the park it feels more like walking up to a palace than a spa. Columns hug the buildings curves and the golden yellow colour feels regal. There are graceful statues that dot the building and a Hungarian flag waves at you outside the entrance. The palatial feeling continues inside with detailed ceilings and carvings. Szechenyi has 15 thermal baths and 3 swimming pools but thereā€™s also a ā€˜beer spaā€™ where you sit in little pools for two soaking in thermal waters and beer ingredients while also served beer to drink. Szecheyni also has pool parties on Saturday nights so look at the calendar ahead of time if you want to go. The large lap pool takes centre stage in the outdoor area and there are two smaller swimming pools on either end. I just love how this looks from way up in the sky. You can see the scale of it. One of the pools has a large spiral part where water pushes you around in a giant swirl. You can paddle to speed up or just let the water gently carry you around and around. It really does push you. Yeah. Marc and I had a lot of fun being pushed around the spiral. Itā€™s fun. Yeah. It feels sort of like a pepped up lazy river that can make your stomach flip after a while. This pool also has jets that push up from the bottom that are fun to play in. The best is to balance on top of one and let the water massage your feet - very into massages, as you can see. The pool on the opposite side is where people traditionally sit to play chess at the side. Thereā€™s also a big fountain that sprays water from a statue. We had fun playing with the GoPro again underwater, like Marc having a tea party ā€“ did you guys play that as a kid? I definitely did. I personally have to plug my nose when I go underwater. I donā€™t know if Iā€™m the only adult who does that still but it was still really fun. The outdoor baths are charming day or night but it takes on a different feeling after dark when the steam rising off the hot pools is exaggerated and the lights have this hazy halo that brings everything into soft focus. The steam also makes it feel more private because you canā€™t see all the people around you which is nice. Indoors is a maze of connected rooms with pools and they vary in size, depth, and temperature. To get in and out youā€™ll walk through a water trough again. The tiles, colours, and symmetry make it really easy to feel like youā€™ve walked onto the set of a Wes Anderson film and, to be honest, that happens quite frequently in Budapest. Donā€™t commit to a location until you take a look around, though, because you might find a pool you like better. There are also showers that spray hot and cold water as the colours change. Marc was afraid it was going to turn cold, which was a valid fear. All three of the baths we visited in Budapest felt quite different, as you can see, and in my opinion, the outdoor baths at Szecheyni are best, the indoor baths at Gellert are best, and Rudas has the best view of the city. If you only have time for one, though, Iā€™d make it Szechenyi. The prices vary at all the baths depending on where and when you go, how long you stay, and if you want a locker or cabin, for example, but in general you can expect to pay ballpark $26CAD or $20USD. Really important is to bring your own flip flops, towel, bathing suit, and bathing cap to avoid having to buy or rent them. Make sure also to check opening hours ahead and whether certain baths are restricted on certain days or times. As a general rule, Iā€™d say going early or late is a good way to avoid the biggest crowds. Give yourself lots of time to enjoy the different parts of the baths and really relax. Iā€™d say two hours at the very minimum but know that youā€™ll probably want to stay longer once you actually get in there. I also suggest exploring a little when you first arrive just to get an overview so you donā€™t spend all your time in one area and then realize youā€™ve run out of time to experience others. Also check whether one section of the baths closes earlier than another, like the indoor and outdoor areas might open and close at different times. Thermal baths are an essential part of Budapestā€™s past and its present and I highly recommend visiting at least one if youā€™re in the city. I think itā€™s the perfect way to wind down after a day of wandering. I hope you enjoyed this video and find it helpful. Marc and I made a series of videos about our trip to Budapest about all sorts of things so Iā€™ll link those in the description box below and Iā€™m curious which of these three baths looks most enticing to you so leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for watching!
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Channel: Eileen Aldis
Views: 262,199
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Keywords: best baths in budapest, thermal bath, hungary, budapest, budapest hungary, budapest bath, budapest baths, budapest thermal, budapest thermal baths, baths, bathing, thermal baths, travel, budapest spa, gellert baths, szechenyi baths, rudas baths, thermal baths budapest, hungary thermal baths, hungary baths, travel budapest, budapest travel, travel hungary, visit budapest, budapest holiday, best budapest bath, hungarian baths, hungary travel, budapest trip, budapest must do
Id: 3R3UI4HYr5Q
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Length: 11min 15sec (675 seconds)
Published: Tue May 22 2018
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