Hungarian Baths for Dummies

I had a friend of mine visiting recently, and we decided to go to one of the baths in Budapest. Being the first time for him to a bath my friend had a lot of questions for me, like: “Do I need to bring a towel?” or “Can I get changed there?”. I then remembered that I had the very same questions for my friends who brought me to a bath for the first time.

So in case you’re visiting Hungary and you’ve never been to one of its bath before, here’s the Hungarian Baths for Dummies guide, a list of answers to most common questions. And if you have any other question feel free to ask leaving a comment below.

Can i get changed there?

Absolutely. All baths offer a changing room where you can put your costume on, leave your personal belongings and then lock. Some baths would have a changing room that you cannot lock, but then offer storage cabinets. Just make sure to fix the key of the room or cabinet in a way that you won’t lose it. The most common option is to tie your key with a knot to your costume.

Do I need to bring my costume?

Of course. But in case you forget it (unlikely I know, but it happened to me once) you can even rent or buy one there.

Do I need to bring a towel?

The choice is all yours. In case you don’t want to carry a towel with you (and a wet towel back) you can rent one there for a little extra.

How about flip-flops/thongs?

You could walk barefoot most of the time, but for hygienic reasons, and because some surfaces are slippery or rough it’s a good idea to bring a pair.

Is it true you are completely naked and there’s a male and female section?

Most baths are like public swimming pools, so you wear your costume and mingle with the crowd. But when there are separate sections it’s clearly indicated (see also how to choose the right bath below)

Do I need to be able to swim?

This was one of the questions that worried me most (as you can guess I can barely stay afloat). The good news is that most thermal tubs are not deep at all. The biggest baths have something a bit deeper, but there are always signs indicating the depth of the water, and people in charge of supervising the bathers.

How long can I stay there?

As long as you want. Some baths offer a refund in case you spend less than two hours there. Most of them have also weekly or monthly pass. For a different experience Rudas Baths at weekends opens from 10pm to 4am.

How do I choose the right bath for me?

You can choose depending on which kind of experience you’re looking for, and in case you go not only for fun but for health reason on the thermal water that is more beneficial for you. For the perfect choice you can consult two Baths Search Engines: at national level the Hungarian National Tourism Office, or for Budapest only SpasBudapest.com. Just enter your parameters (type of swimming pool, water qualities, adventure pool, etc) and get the customized result.

Finally, will I enjoy my experience?

It depends how much you like soaking in water. I thought I wouldn’t like it too much, considering also that I can’t even swim, but I feel in love with the whole bath experience. My friend, a good swimmer that loves water, at the end of the day commented: “I was lucky you brought me here only on the last day of my stay, otherwise I wouldn’t have seen anything at all and spend every single day at the baths”.

Lake Hévíz, a unique natural phenomenon

Do you know what is  the largest thermal lake in Europe? It’s Lake Hévíz, located near the western end of Lake Balaton. Some even say it’s the largest in the world, or at least the largest natural one.

With an area of 47500 square meters, it’s quite surprising that the water of the lake is completely changed within 85 hours by its spring rushing up at a depth of 38 meters. The curative effect of the lake was known since the times of the ancient Romans, although it’s “only” in the last 200 years that there are treatments taking place there.

Lake Hévíz combines naturally carbonated medicinal waters with other kind of waters containing sulphur, calcium, magnesium, hydrogen-carbonate. Some waters even have a slightly radioactive content, while it is said that one of the possible causes of the curative effects of the lake is due to bacteria, which is indeed the dominant life form present here, thanks to the unique temperature (26C to 28C even in winter!) and chemical composition of the waters.  One of the best curative features is the Hévíz mud, which is a pretty unique kind of mud. It contains radium-salts and reduced sulphuric solutions, and it you can find both organic and inorganic substances; a rather unique medicinal combination.

Due to all these qualities in the waters and in the mud it’s no surprise that thriving health tourism industry has grown in the area, with hospitals, hotels and wellness centers. Whether you plan to go for health reasons, or simply to relax and pamper yourself, Lake Hévíz can offer you pure bliss.

Lake Velence, a magic spot for all needs

Want to explore a place where you won’t find hordes of tourists and relax totally immersed in nature?

Located almost half way between Budapest and lake Balaton there is lake Velence, the third biggest natural still water in Hungary.  In summer sunny beaches and pleasantly warm waters (which happen to contain also a large amount of mineral salts) make this spot perfect for sun lovers.

All kind of accommodations are available, from cheap pensions campsites and motels to the luxury of the 183 rooms of the recently opened Velence Resort and Spa, which boasts 11 indoor and outdoor pools – thermal baths, adventure pools, kids’ pool – which adds up to 1,000 m2 total water area, in case the lake is not enough for you!

The mountains surrounding the lake are perfect for a good hike, but if you prefer something less energetic like fishing the good news is that the lake is extremely rich in fish, especially carps. Bird watching is particularly favorable too, with 28 bird species breeding regularly here and plenty more transiting during the autumn and spring migration.

From outdoor activities to luxurious Spas looks like Lake Velence, or Velencei-tó in Hungarian, offers something that is able to please all needs.