Introduction to Spa Breaks in Budapest
 Nowadays,
with the Hungarian National Tourist Office heavily promoting Budapest's spa culture, it's
no surprise that tailor-made breaks have become more popular of late. So much so, that
well-known chain hotels in the city have even changed the names of certain properties to
better highlight their spa credentials.
Of course, as well as fully-fledged spa lodging, Budapest is fortunate
in having some of the world's finest Turkish baths.
As the best in town offer a similar experience to Budapest's dedicated spa hotels - by way
of steam rooms, therapeutic massages and medicinal water properties - we give details of
their locations in relation to popular downtown hotels (meaning that you won't
necessarily have to go to the expense of booking a spa property to gain benefit).
Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal
 As one of the city's most prestigious hotels, the five-star Corinthia
Grand Hotel Royal also features an in-house spa, first opened in 1886, which has been
restored to its original splendour.
Offering the very latest spa facilities and treatments, you'll find
over 1,000m2 of vitality, tranquility and well-being areas including a 15 metre swimming pool,
saunas, steam bath, jacuzzis, fitness room, Niagara bathtubs, tropical rain showers, mud
and seaweed baths, plus a wide-range of therapeutic and massage treatments.
Complemented by products from Algotherm - the renowned French spa
specialists - you'll also find eight massage rooms offering body, face, hand and feet
treatments.
Danubius Health Spa Resort Helia * * * *
The four-star Danubius Health Spa
Resort Helia is a spa, wellness and conference hotel - built in a Scandinavian style -
which was opened in 1990 and partially renovated in 2003. Natural thermal water is pumped to the hotel spa from springs on the
nearby Margaret Island, which is famous in Budapest for its high medicinal properties.
All guest rooms have a bath, individually controlled air-conditioning, colour satellite TV, direct dial
telephone and mini-bar, with a view of the River Danube, Margaret Island, the Buda Hills or Kárpát
Street. In addition, some rooms have their own balconies, while non-smoking floors, connecting rooms and rooms for
disabled travellers are also available.
Well-being and Recreation - at the Spa Resort Helia, guest
treatments are focused on relaxation, re-energising, beauty and prevention, being especially suited
to active people who appreciate their health and are willing to invest in it.
As Danubius Hotels, who own and operate the property, are continually in the process of introducing new relaxation and
wellness treatments, some of the main services you'll currently find available in the spa
are as follows:
Indoor swimming pool (17.5 x 7.8 m, 26-28°C), thermal bath (7.8 x 5.3 m, 32-34°C, 5.3 x 5.3 x 3.1 m, 36-38°C),
whirlpool, solarium;
Danubius Premier - a new brand of fitness facilities: personal fitness training, fitness check-ups,
strength and cardio equipment, biking, running, classes (aerobic, spinning, stretching, step, yoga, Thai-Chi, water
gymnastic);
Massage: Sport, reflex, hydro, Thai, Royal with fragrant oil, relaxing head and neck, anti-cellulite, lymph, dry
brush, special hot towel roll;
Pedicure and foot refreshing treatment, Helia Cosmetics and Hair
Salon, Aphrodite's pack, Cleopatra's bath, relaxing and revitalizing aroma baths.
Dining and Entertainment - with a menu that provides a rich choice of Hungarian and international dishes,
in buffet style or á la carte, the Jupiter Restaurant is at your disposal for breakfast, lunch and dinner time. In
addition, the Spa Resort Helia's coffee shop is open throughout the day and offers Hungarian pastries, salads, snacks and hot meals.
Danubius Hotel Gellért * * * *
Built just after World War I, Hotel
Gellért is situated at the foot of the Petőfi bridge
in Buda. Art nouveau in style and with an extravagant spa/thermal bath complex attached, the hotel
was made famous by restaurateur Károly Gundel in the late twenties, quickly becoming the
place to be seen for rich, well-heeled Hungarians.
Room Types - comprising of 132 double rooms with a bath, 49 single rooms with bath, 40 single rooms with shower and 13 suites, all come equipped with direct dial telephone, mini-bar, colour TV, in-house
movies, CNN News and Sky Channels. Non-smoking rooms are also available on request.
Gellért Baths - for hotel guests, entry to the famous
Gellért Baths is free of charge. Wellness and fitness services include an indoor swimming pool (27 x 10 m), outdoor swimming
pool (38 x 14 m, closed in winter), jacuzzi, wave bath, thermal bath and steam room. In
addition, you'll find a complete physiotherapy department and inhalatorium, while other
facilities include a sun bathing roof terrace for women (with another used jointly by
naturists), solarium, sauna, manicure, pedicure and dentist.
Recreation - many activities are available, including biking, folklore shows, excursions to the Great Hungarian Plain,
visits to theatres, the opera, museums and all major sights in Budapest. In the summer months, evening parties can be organised
by the swimming pool on request.
Dining at the Gellért - the Panorama Restaurant and charming terrace offers
a superb view of
the Danube and Budapest. The menu features specialities of international cuisine as well as masterpieces of Hungarian
cooking, and of course fine wines from outstanding cellars around the country.
The Brasserie Restaurant also represents a good choice for anyone wishing to combine a relaxed
atmosphere with first-class Hungarian and international cuisine. The recently renovated
eatery offers anyone dropping in -
whether alone, with family or company - a broad range of draught, bottled and speciality beers, friendly service and
comfortable surroundings. Moreover, the shaded terrace is an ideal spot in which to talk business or enjoy a light lunch
on a hot summer's day. And to really fire up the summer mood, music and dance shows are arranged every Friday evening.
The Gellért Espresso is a real temptation for all who find themselves unable to resist homemade cakes or pastries and freshly
made coffee or tea. Select from the cake specialities or sample the famous Gellért roll! On scorching summer afternoons
the hotel's unique ice-cream sundaes cool, refresh and invigorate.
Finally, The Bar has a wide-range of Hungarian and foreign drinks, spirits, alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, draught
beers and special offers. And, for sports fans, the large-screen TV in the lobby is a great way to watch the summer's sporting events.
Grand Hotel Margitsziget and Health Spa Resport Margitsziget * * * *
The four-star Danubius
Grand Hotel
Margitsziget, built in 1873, reflects the turn-of-century atmosphere of a hundred years
ago. The property, which is set in the calm, picturesque surroundings of Budapest's Margit
Island, is a relatively short walk (and tram ride) from the centre of
the capital.
In fact, aside from the many wellness treatments available, one of
the highlights of staying here is the calm and relaxing feel of the island. Boasting a total length of over 4
kilometres, it features protected botanical parkland with ancient trees, a Japanese Garden,
rose garden, open-air amphitheatre and walking/jogging tracks.
The hotel itself is connected to the neighbouring Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget
- a much later (and arguably less appealing 70s design). However, the heated corridor
between the two enables guests to benefit from the services of BOTH hotels.
More specifically, the natural thermal water used by each property
enters the spa at a temperature of 70şC before being cooled to 34şC, 36şC and 40şC.
During the process it retains its curative properties, being used to alleviate the
symptoms of joint and muscle problems, certain degenerative nerve conditions, some circulation disorders, and many other complaints.
Of course, relaxing in spa waters is also a perfect way to unwind, relax and re-energise
yourself while in Budapest.
As far as wellness and therapeutic treatments go, shared facilities
offer the following services:
Newly designed pool area with both indoor (18 x 9m 27º C) and outdoor pools (11 x 5m 30º C), sun terrace, whirlpool
(8 x 5m 34º C), Jacuzzi, thermal bath (8 x 8m 38º C), medical gymnastics, thermal bath (5 x 4m 33º C), sauna,
steam, aroma cabin, solarium;
Danubius Premier - a new brand of fitness facilities: personal fitness training, fitness check-ups, biking, running, group fitness
exercise classes (aerobic, spinning, stretching, step, yoga, Tai-Chi, Tae-bo, aqua fitness);
Relaxation treatments: refreshing and relaxing massages with aromatic oil, foot massage, Thai massage, traditional dry brush massage,
aromatic baths, reflexology, hydro massage, special hot towel massage, relaxing head and neck massage, Cleopatra bath;
Beauty Salon Anna: Guinot Paris, Maria Galland and QMS products, anti-cellulite massage, lymph drainage, body wrapping,
permanent make up, hair dresser, cosmetic treatments;
Kneipp treatments: Different pourings, washings, packing, wrappings and baths. Some Balneotherapy and Hydrotherapy
treatments are recommended for relaxation purposes under doctor's supervision.
For further information on each property visit Grand
Hotel Margitsziget and Danubius
Health Spa Resort Margitsziget.
Ramada Plaza Budapest * * * * *
Although not as well-known as the two spa hotels on the Margit Island, the Ramada
Plaza Budapest is a neatly appointed 5-star property situated on the Buda riverbank overlooking the
Danube.
Boasting extensive spa
facilities and a wide range of treatments (including balneo, hydrotherapy and
electrotherapy) three inviting swimming and thermal pools, coupled with saunas, steam baths, a whirlpool and solariums
help soothe away the stresses of a busy lifestyle.
You
don't have to use the wellness facilities here, however, to enjoy a fulfilling stay. The
Ramada Plaza's comfortable, relaxing atmosphere
makes it a match for other five star hotels down the river, with the Apicius Restaurant
and Aphrodite Spa Bistro offering Hungarian and International cuisine, while other amenities include the
River Bar, boutique shops, barber and nightclub.
Budapest Hotels located near to Spa Baths
Rudas Baths (Rudas Gyógyfürdő)
- located close to Budapest's Elizabeth Bridge, three and four-star properties such as the
Best Western Hotel Orion and Carlton
Hotel are located on the Buda side of the embankment, within easy walking distance of
the baths. If you plan to stay in Pest, then it's just a 10 minute walk across the bridge
to the Rudas from nearby hotels such as the City
Hotel
Mátyás and Marriott
Millennium Court Apartments.
If you plan to use the Gellért
Baths, but prefer to stay at another hotel in Budapest, then properties such as the Best
Western Hotel Orion and Hotel
Zara are ideal choices (the latter being across the river, but within easy walking
distance).
For the Király Baths (Király
Gyógyfürdő) the nearest hotels are the Novotel
Budapest Danube and Art'otel,
while the Lukács Baths
(Lukács
Gyógyfürdő) is also served by the Novotel,
as well as the luxury five-star Ramada
Plaza Hotel.
For the popular Széchenyi Baths
(Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő és Strandfürdő) - located
in the City Park area of the city - you'll find both the five-star Hotel
Andrassy and Ibis
Budapest Heroes Square within easy travelling distance.
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