Budapest: A city of baths

BudapestA central European metropolis rich in culture, art and history, Budapest has long been considered the Paris of the East. A fitting comparison, as the Hungarian capital is home to 223 museums and galleries, 40 theaters, and a magnificent opera house. Stretching across both banks of the Danube, Budapest is made up of two formerly separate cities: Buda (on the west bank) and Pest (on the east bank). Full of Baroque architecture, Gothic cathedrals, even Ancient Roman ruins, Budapest is a living relic of the greatest empires of history: the Ancient Romans, the Ottomans, the Hapsburgs, and more. All these civilizations left their mark upon the city, resulting in a diverse array of architecture and a unique and beautiful hybrid culture.

BudapestOne of the most most famous elements of this culture preceded even the most ancient of empires: Budapest’s abundant geothermal waters. Home to over 80 hot springs, Budapest has been a center for water recreation since it was settled by the Celtics. In the first century A.D., the Ancient Romans built the area’s first bath houses, and nearly 15 centuries later, the Ottomans built new baths for recreational and medicinal purposes. Today, these Turkish baths have evolved into an expansive network of spas, many resembling water parks, equipped with slides and wave pools. Locals visit weekly, donning their swimsuits and congregating in the pools to relax, socialize and even play chess. Young and old visit the waters for their healing properties, and swear by its rejuvenating effects. Local doctors even prescribe spa treatments with waters of certain temperatures and mineral compositions for various ailments.

Want to bathe in Budapest? Our Central European Cities tour will take you there!

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