Hungary Thermal Resorts
Hungary, which ranks among the top five countries in the world for the number of thermal springs, is deservedly called the empire of baths, leading in balneological treatment. The thermal springs of Hungary, about 60,000 of which are found throughout the country, have led to the construction of numerous health resorts and baths.
Today, there are over 1,000 mineralized healing springs in the country with temperatures above 30°C for wellness purposes. Spa enthusiasts are offered a wide range of balneological resorts with extensive opportunities for treatment and meaningful leisure.
Heviz
The small Hungarian resort of Heviz became known in the 17th century thanks to the largest thermal lake in the world, which has unique healing properties. The lake, covering 4.7 hectares, is fed by two springs located in a cave under the reservoir with temperatures of +42°C and +38°C, and one mineral spring with water at +17°C.
When mixed, the water temperature at the outlet becomes +30°C – 32°C in summer, and in winter it stays within 24°C – 26°C. As the air temperature above the lake decreases, steam clouds rise from the lake, which has a funnel shape. Every 28 hours, the water in the lake is renewed. The lake water is rich in sulfur, carbon dioxide, and radon.
The bottom of the lake is covered with a meter-thick layer of mud containing calcium and magnesium, a low concentration of antibiotics, and hormones – estrogens. The combination of balneotherapy, baths with underwater stretching, hydro massages, and mud applications gives excellent results in the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, gynecological and dermatological inflammatory processes, nervous system diseases, and hormonal disorders.
Tourists not undergoing treatment at the clinic are allowed to swim in the lake for no more than 1.5 hours, and those suffering from rheumatism – only 30 minutes due to the heavy load on the heart.
Patients with low stomach acidity are advised to drink Heviz’s mineral thermal water, which is available at a drinking fountain near the State Clinic. Treatment of digestive organs with several mineral drinking waters is also successfully conducted at the Europa Fit 4* superior hotel.
Szechenyi Bath
The luxurious thermal complexes of the “Pearl of the Danube” – Budapest, are fed by the St. Stephen’s spring, where the water in the pools stays around 78°C. The oldest Budapest bathhouse, Szechenyi, built in the Neo-Baroque style at the beginning of the 19th century, is widely known.
For two centuries, the bathhouse expanded and improved, becoming the holder of the Hungarian Grand Prix and the largest bathing complex in Europe. It includes 15 indoor pools, 3 outdoor pools, 10 saunas, and steam rooms.
The water in the baths comes from the depths of the earth at a depth of 1,246 meters. The list of therapeutic services, healing both body and soul, includes not only bathing but also massages – aromatic massage with three types of aromas, thermal massage relieving muscle tension and joint pain.
The healing drinking water of Szechenyi is beneficial for people with metabolic disorders, reduces high stomach acidity, and positively affects bone strengthening. During water procedures, it helps with chronic joint diseases and ailing spine, neuralgia, and calcium deficiency in bones, and aids recovery after injuries.
Szechenyi effectively uses balneotherapy: bathing in mineralized pools, sessions in carbonic and salt baths. Hydrotherapy methods include weight baths, underwater and beam massage sessions, and underwater gymnastics.
Gellert Bath
The Gellert Baths, built in the style of grand Roman baths, are recognized as the most beautiful thermal complex in the Hungarian capital. This indoor architectural ensemble, shining with a myriad of glass colors, creates enchanting lighting in 13 luxurious pools adorned with columns.
The Gellert Baths feature an outdoor pool, a sitting and children’s pool, wave pool sessions, and a pearl bath. The baths are filled with waters from the depths of Gellert Hill, heated from +38°C to +43°C. The spring has a vast array of microelements, enabling the treatment of people with spine diseases and relieving joint pain.
The therapeutic effect of the term is observed in the treatment of neuralgia, vascular and lung diseases, asthma, and anxiety syndrome. The effectiveness of treatment in the bath is enhanced by the comprehensive use of various balneo and physiotherapy methods.
Traditional water procedures are complemented by hydrotherapy, sauna and steam sessions, mud applications, and various types of massages. The roof of the hydrotherapy center is equipped with terraces for nude sunbathing. In summer, on Fridays and Saturdays, the outdoor pools are open until midnight.
Bukfurdo
Bukfurdo is a resort in the western region of the country, distinguished by the highest concentration of calcium and magnesium in the bicarbonate healing water that surfaces heated from +55°C to +65°C.
It has a multifunctional complex, including medical and children’s centers, the “Sauna World,” and an upscale restaurant. After a thorough medical examination, the doctors of the complex will create an individual treatment program.
This program includes necessary traditional and alternative methods: reflex, Thai, or underwater massages, mud wraps and healing baths, laser and reflex therapies.
Thanks to the high concentration of carbon dioxide, gastrointestinal, heart, vascular, and spine diseases are well treated, and the body receives a powerful boost of vigor.
Sarvar
Sarvar is a balneological resort known for having the best thermal hotel in Hungary, Spirit Hotel Thermal Spa 5*. The presence of two healing hot springs in Sarvar, differing in mineral properties, expands the range of treatable diseases.
Water at a temperature of +83°C comes from a depth of 2,000 meters. It is rich in fluoride, iodide bromine, and contains biologically active substances that, when acting on the skin, help healing microelements penetrate the patient’s organs during bath procedures.
Thus, the water participates in curing sclerosis, rheumatism, and women’s diseases. The water from another source, which is alkaline-bicarbonate in composition and extracted from an underground reservoir at a depth of 1,000 meters, heated to +43°C, relieves muscle tension and treats joint diseases.
Salt-rich water from the source is used to extract the Sarvar crystal for bathing. The Sarvar bathhouse has a salt cave where the microclimate can cure respiratory ailments.
Miskolc-Tapolca
The city of Miskolc-Tapolca is famous for the country’s only therapeutic cave bath, formed by springs beating under the cave vaults. The cave’s atmosphere with an air temperature of +18°C, beneficially affects the lungs and respiratory tract year-round.
The water in the cave bath – a lime-hydrogen-carbon dioxide type containing radon – does not have a high concentration of microelements, so it is recommended for bathing without age restrictions.
The mineral water in the two indoor pools is maintained at 35°C; in the “Roman” and “Star” halls – 32°C, and in the old cave pool – no lower than 29°C-30°C.
The waters of Miskolc-Tapolca show excellent results in treating respiratory, cardiovascular, bone and joint diseases. They also have a wonderful effect on skin condition.
The protection of the bath from the wind by the surrounding beech forest creates a microclimate ideal for wellness rest.
Debrecen
The city of Debrecen, located within the eastern forest-steppe zone, is called the second capital. Being among the top three balneological resorts, it includes the treatment departments of the “Aquaticum” complex and a hotel located in a forest park.
The world-famous covered “Mediterranean” bath with a dome of 66 meters in diameter with “effects” of the new millennium – a tropical garden, slides, cave baths, hydro massage pools, geysers, and waterfalls. A comfortable beach with 6 pools adjoins the bathhouse building.
The features of the local healing water with a temperature of +63°C lie in its alkaline-chloride, bicarbonate, iodine-bromine, sodium-chloride composition. The microelements and acids contained in it allow treating a large bouquet of health problems and appearance.
After a medical examination, an individual treatment program is created, and the course of balneotherapy can be supplemented with electrotherapy, laser and magnetic therapy, mud poultices, and therapeutic massage. On the main square of Diod, a drinking fountain was built at the beginning of the 19th century, where mineral water is still drunk today.
Harkany
A balneological resort located in the southern region of Hungary near Mount Tenukesh. The thermal sulfur waters of Harkany have been known for more than a century, with the first bathhouse opening at the beginning of the 20th century.
The renovated bathhouse in our millennium is fed by mineral water with a temperature of +62°C, coming from the depths of 1,500 meters. The wide range of healing properties is based on the content of sulfides, selenium, fluoride, and zinc. The presence of gases in sulfur water causes healing substances to penetrate the body through skin cells and breathing.
The healing effect is also exerted by the steam containing gas rising above the pools in a layer from 10 to 30 centimeters. The main profiles of the balneo resort are dermatology, gynecology, and rheumatology.
In dermatology, excellent results are observed in treating psoriasis, in gynecology – infertility, and other female ailments. For a treatment course, you can stay in a hotel connected by a passage to the medical center, healing pools, and saunas.
Hajduszoboszlo
Rheumatics from all over Europe strive to get to the thermal baths of the Hajduszoboszlo balneological resort, which has a beneficial climate and an atmosphere saturated with salt vapors mixed with iodine emanating from a large lake.
The city has baths and pools where you can independently relax and get health benefits. Treatment under medical supervision takes place year-round in the largest hydrotherapy center in Hungary.
The medical complex structure has 4 subdivisions:
- Healing bath with indoor and outdoor thermal water pools at +32°C, +36°C, and +38°C
- Aqua Palace with 8 thematic pools and slides for adults and children
- Beach area with a 30-hectare bath, wave pool, pearl bath, and swimming pool, operating from May 1 to September 30
- Aquapark with numerous slides
For therapeutic purposes, the subdivisions offer more than 40 types of procedures recommended by individual programs. A wide range of ailments is treated with alkaline water containing iodine, bromine, table salt, and bicarbonates, reaching +75°C.
The baths are filled with water from a depth of 1,090 meters. Scientists have also found the presence of titanium, copper, vanadium, zinc, barium, and other heavy elements in the water, which is why it was named “boiling gold.”
This precious water is a salvation from chronic joint inflammations, spine diseases, female organs, chronic neuralgia, muscle pains, and post-traumatic conditions. Special treatment packages include mud wraps, ultrasound, visits to salt chambers, Thai and therapeutic massages, and other procedures based on medical indications.
Balatonfured
Balatonfured, located near Lake Balaton, is considered the best health resort for treating cardiovascular diseases. The low-mineralized warm water from carbon dioxide sources, containing sulfates, bicarbonates in combination with magnesium and calcium, serves as a healing factor here. This water is equally beneficial for internal use, baths, and various procedures. Comprehensive water treatment shows excellent results in treating internal organ diseases, diabetes, and normalizing metabolism.
However, the main specialization of local sanatoriums is cardiology. Balatonfured is home to the country’s main State Cardiology Center. Several ancient carbon dioxide springs beat from the ground near it. The comprehensive sanatorium-resort treatment programs include progressive methods of treating the cardiovascular system, recovery after acute myocardial infarction and surgeries.
Visegrad
A small picturesque town located in the bend of the Danube River, 45 kilometers from Budapest. The resort thermal complex, based on the mineral healing waters of the Lepence spring, originating at a depth of 1,300 meters, is surrounded by the Pilis Nature Park.
Specializing in treating a wide range of diseases, the thermal center restores patients suffering from rheumatic joint lesions, gout, and osteoporosis. Healthy vacationers strengthen their nerves, immunity, and gain vigor through bathing.
The treatment methods include the excellent effect of mud applications, 4-chamber baths, sessions in the salt room, hydro and aromatherapy, baths with aromatic oils, and various procedures based on hot mineral water.
Zalakaros
Despite its novelty, it has gained popularity among families with children and people of all ages. The resort’s hydrotherapy center is well complemented by an entertainment water complex.
The main treasure of Zalakaros is truly miraculous water from a depth of over 2,000 meters with a temperature up to +96°C, filling the pools of Zalakarosi Fürdő. The high bromine, iodine, and fluoride content has made Zalakaros’ alkaline-chloride water the country’s leader in healing properties.
High bromine concentrations treat nervous, rheumatic, and female diseases. Fluoride presence ensures successful treatment of periodontal disease and inflammation of the gums. People with bone system and joint diseases, gout, and muscle atrophy come to Zalakaros to heal. After 2-3 weeks, many forget their health problems for a long time.
The bath has male, female, and family changing rooms, where, after changing, visitors can go to the beach area, the water park, or the indoor pool. Two pools are open-air: with water at +36°C and +34°C, deepened to 1.1 meters.
It is recommended that independent tourists take therapeutic procedures for no more than half an hour. In the bathing treatment building housed in an indoor structure, treatments are carried out using the latest methods of balneo and hydrotherapy based on medical indications.
Gyula
Gyula is a resort near the Hungarian-Romanian border, spread out on the banks of the Körös River. Gyula’s pools are filled from 7 thermal springs, healing many ailments.
In the Castle Bath, located in the middle of an old park, health is restored using a comfortable beach and thermal healing pools. Bathing fills with energy, improves overall physical condition, allowing one to forget about diseases.
In the Fortress balneological complex, health procedures are taken in the water of 20 pools with “effects,” “children’s paradise,” in wellness center treatment rooms, steam rooms and saunas, and carbonic baths. After the examination, a special set of procedures is developed for each patient with locomotor system ailments, skin problems, and digestive issues.
Best Time to Visit
Thanks to the mild climate, Hungarian resorts are suitable for wellness holidays almost any season. The sun does not leave the sky of Hungary for more than 2,100-2,200 hours a year. Summers are moderately hot, autumns are dry and sunny, winters are mild, and springs are warm and rainy.
The bathing season starts in early May and lasts until early October. Although it often rains in May, they are usually short-lived. After the rain, the sun appears, inviting you to enjoy bathing in thermal reservoirs and pools.
From the second half of June to the first decade of September, rainfall is very rare, and the average air temperature stays around +22°C. In July and August, hot weather, like in Madrid or Cyprus, can prevail in the Zalakaros or Debrecen areas, but there are also cool days.
People with cardiovascular diseases are not advised to go for treatment in Balaton during the hottest time, opting for the off-season instead. Tourists wishing to combine wellness with interesting leisure activities will find the best time to visit to be May-October.
Which Resort to Choose for a Family Vacation
Hungary is an excellent country for family holidays with children. The more than 3-month long bathing season on the beaches of the healing Lake Balaton and open pools provides vast opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, beach holidays, and meaningful leisure.
In thermal complexes, pools for the whole family and paddling pools with fairy-tale designs are usually arranged next to the treatment area. Children can diversify their beach holidays with summer water parks in Budapest, Debrecen, Hajduszoboszlo, Zalakaros, Sarvar, equipped with slides with “effects” reaching up to 10 meters in height.
Parks with playgrounds can be found at any resort. Be sure to visit the unusual playground on Gellert Hill in Budapest, take a ride on the children’s railway, visit the Wildlife Park, and test your agility in the rope park.
A bright event will be visiting the Sumeg Fortress – the venue for knight tournaments, the cave under the Buda Castle, where a treatment center is located in the rock, and a pleasant trip to the two-hundred-year-old confectionery of Buda.
For history enthusiasts, exploring the ruins of ancient Roman settlements: “Aquincum” in Budapest and “Gorsium Ruins” in Szekesfehervar will be interesting. You can travel through the underground galleries of caves without leaving Budapest.
In the city, there are the Palveldi, Semlohegy, and Molnar-Janosh caves. Museums: “Palace of Wonders” and the railway museum in Budapest, the Pannonian Sea in Miskolc, “Agora” in Debrecen, the marzipan paradise in Eger with sweet sculptures will surely delight children.
Nature lovers can visit Lake Kis-Balaton with large populations of waterfowl and a buffalo reserve near the lake. Watching animals in the Budapest, Debrecen, and Miskolc zoos will also bring great joy to children.
Advantages of Treatment and Rest
Hungary attracts tourists with extensive wellness opportunities at specialized thermal resorts, distinguished by the composition and healing properties of their waters.
Balneological centers at the resorts are usually represented by two types:
- Spa complexes with a large package of therapeutic services, thermal baths, and entertainment
- Sanatorium complexes where treatment is conducted with mineral water and other modern methods
They operate year-round, conducting medical examinations directly on-site with an offer of an individual treatment program. Hotels located near thermal springs ensure a comfortable stay.
Hungary is rich in historical and architectural monuments, medieval castles, and palaces in Baroque and Classicism styles, beautiful parks, and various museums, making treatment wonderfully combined with exciting excursions and cultural programs.
Indications
Most sources are universal in composition, effectively impacting a wide range of diseases. Therefore, indications for treatment can be generalized.
They include:
- Diseases associated with endocrine system disorders and obesity
- Neurological and skin diseases
- Stomach, intestinal, and pancreatic diseases
- Chronic inflammations of internal organs
- Inflammatory processes in joints and bones – arthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteochondrosis, spondylosis, osteoporosis, and gout
- Gynecological inflammations and infertility
- Post-traumatic and post-operative rehabilitation of bone tissues and joints
In addition to universally directed thermal sources, there are also narrowly focused ones, treating specific diseases: cardiovascular system, nervous system disorders, and depression, internal organ diseases.
Prevention and treatment at thermal health resorts can be relatively inexpensive: from 100€ to 200€ per week. The price includes a medical examination, a set of procedures, and tickets for visiting baths. The treatment course can last from 1 to 3 weeks.
Contraindications
Before planning treatment with thermal waters, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. There are contraindications, ignoring which can worsen your health condition. First of all, thermal baths should not be taken by children under 12 years old.
Adults are advised not to visit baths:
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding
- In post-infarction conditions and with heart failure
- With oncological diseases
- With tuberculosis and thyroid diseases
- People with epilepsy
- During infectious and autoimmune diseases
- With chronic hypertension
If none of the listed diseases are present, you will gain vigor, health, many positive emotions, and bright impressions from rest and treatment in thermal waters.
