Steamy in Széchenyi

BATH BACKGROUND: Budapest acquires more medicinal and thermal spas than any other capital city in the world. These densely scattered gems can be dated all the way back to the first century where the Romans too found a liking in Budapest and their natural thermal baths. The 16th century stood as a time of their revival; the baths then had begun being built for their bathing and medicinal purposes similar to the way they are being used today. Though it wasn’t until around the end of the 19th century that Széchenyi, specifically, became available for the public.

The Széchenyi thermal baths in particular are a recommended go to place by many city guides even though there 15 public thermal baths available throughout the eastern European city. These 15 aren’t the only ones though—the city is home to over 118 of them. These Turkish gems also range in temperatures from 21 to 78 degrees Celsius and are very welcoming to all in even the coldest of months. Since this is the first of Budapest’s spa life that I have experienced, I don’t know how the others compare, but this one is highly recommended by most travel sites and guides—perhaps because it is also the largest public thermal baths in the whole of continental Europe.

At first I find myself confused on how the whole process works. Questions like, where do I change? and where do I leave my things? run through my mind. Most importantly, I want to know how far the walk in 30°F weather is from the changing rooms to the warmth of the thermal waters.

After the English speaking employees of Széchenyi assist me in my panic, I purchase my entry to the baths along with a changing cabin (which is most definitely worth the buy). I split mine with three friends, which is what I recommend doing. I am given a watch-like, key card working contraption. This turned out being a water-proof band that allowed cabin members stress-free access to their personal spaces. It all costs around the equivalent of 10 pounds—a steal in all honesty. This allows entry into the spas as well as entry into a personal cabin.

I stand in my swim suit and summer footwear with my towel wrapped around me and swiftly walk to the nearest opening of a bench where I can quickly abandon my belongings.

My feet hit the cold outdoor tiles right before I dip them into the steaming Hungarian springs and my toes instantly burn from the change of cold to hot. I continue to go in and rest my body in the medicinally-appraised pool of water.

It feels nice, of course. Unfortunately, one of the first things I notice is how many people I am surrounded by—let alone how many tourists I’m surrounded by. What was I to expect on a Saturday?

After a few minutes of allowing my body to relax, I take the time to look at my surroundings. I come to the conclusion that the spas meet my expectations and are exactly the way that Euphoria Magazine describes.

IS THERE FOOD? A BAR? The food, while not exactly appealing or appearing to be appetizing, was apparent. But most importantly, there was a bar in which seemed most intriguing for tourists as well as locals, making it seem as a good cover up for the food. IS IT SOLO TRAVELER WORTHY? Whether you are traveling solo and doing the whole soul-searching-ten-yards deal or with a group of (an ambitious) 20 people, this is definitely something you should experience. If you are feeling young, fun and wild you can also hit the spas during the night time to experience Budapest’s famous nightlife, in the spa, and experience a ‘sparty’.

SERVICES: Having waters filled with calcium, sodium, sulfate, magnesium and other benefiting qualities these waters serve you as soon as your body is plunged into it. There are plenty of massage deals in which one can choose from as well as services like saunas, gym access and other treatments like mud packing. There are also personal trainers available that conduct things like underwater gymnastics.

So, fellow traveler, if you should one day find yourself in Budapest, I would most definitely recommend visiting one of the unique thermal baths the city has to offer. If you can’t venture over to this side of the old city, there are many other spas you can soak your woes away in. Széchenyi spa is more than just a lazy day in steamy waters. Open your eyes around you as you are in this magnificent city in a beautiful historic location all while relaxing; it is definitely hard to pass by.

#travel #leisure #Hungary #Budapest