Budapest Spa City
Budapest is well known for its numerous medicinal baths, which constitute one of its main tourist attractions. Some of the thermal springs were already being used as early as the 2nd century by the Romans.
Most popular baths in Budapest:
Széchenyi Bath
(15 mins walk from Ágnes Apt)
It was as a result of the drillings of geologist Vilmos Zsigmondy, over the period 1868-77, that this medicinal water source, with a temperature of 74˚ C, was brought to the surface.
The medicinal baths section was built at the beginning of the 20th century, in the Neo-Baroque style. The medicinal waters are particularly effective for the treatment of joint and muscle damage, arthritis and neuritis.
During the 1960’s, a physiotherapy section, and a thermal- baths section, were established
The open-air swimming pool, with its sun-bathing terraces and associated four-level building, were completed in 1926.
Gellért Bath
The 13 mineral springs supplying the Gellért Baths with water at a temperature varying between 27°C and 48°C, is particularly effective in treating joint and muscle damage, metabolism related problems and neuritis.
The bath complex was built between 1912 and 1918 in the (Secession) Art Nouveau style. It was damaged during World War II but then rebuilt. References to healing waters in this location are found from as early as the 13th century. A hospital was located on this site during the Middle Ages. During the reign of the Ottoman Empire, baths were also built on this particular site. The “magical healing spring” was used by the Turkish during the 16th and 17th centuries. The bath was called Sárosfürdő (“muddy” bath) because the mineral mud settled at the bottom of pools.
Rudas Bath
Rudas Bath or Rudas fürdő is a thermal bath in Budapest, Hungary which is claimed to have medicinal properties. It was founded in 1571/1572during the time of Ottoman rule.
The bath has six therapy pools and one swimming pool where the temperature is in between 10 and 42 °C (50 and 108 °F). The components of slightly radioactive thermal water includes sulfate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of fluoride ion.
Source: Bath description from termalfurdok.com website.