Thermal Baths

Recently refurbished and currently the talk of the city, the Rudas [rude-ash] baths are the perfect cure to the night before. Built by the turks who were temporary residents in the 16th century they have to be one of the few historical sights in the world that won’t leave anyone wondering what they are supposed to get out of the experience. The main bathing hall has 5 baths, the octagonal central one being lit directly by pin holes of coloured light from the dome above…

Budapest is full of sights so if you only have a limited time the best place to start is from as high up as you can. Luckily you can start your sight seeing before you even get off the plane. Some of the airlines, in particular Hungary’s own Malev tend to fly directly over Budapest on their way in to Ferihegy Airport’s Terminal 2….

Recently refurbished they are the biggest baths in Budapest – if you sit on the right hand of the plane coming into Budapest’s Ferihegy airport on a clear day you can easily spot the dumb-bell shaped outline of the outside pools. There is the sports pool in the middle which is the only pool where a swimming hat is mandatory. Then there is the large semi-circular hot pool whose temperature is raised even higher in winter….

After visiting more times than we can remember how many, Budapest has crept into our hearts and to this day, like for so many others, it is a firm favorite. Of course we have had the advantage of knowing and employing Hungarians who have helped immeasurably in getting to grips with a city that has so much to offer and in the following pages I hope we can pass on some of that experience.

It seems that we are not alone in our love of this city: Budapest was recently voted above Prague in a poll of best cities to visit and is according to many currently the top new destination in Europe.

The city was originally three: Divided by the Danube flowing north to south, to the west Buda, to the east Pest with Obuda, meaning old Buda and now district III, sitting to the north-west…

Pest’s Andrassy Útca travels in a straight line from near to the Danube at Deak Ter and runs all the way to Hero’s Square (Hosok Ter) where you’ll find the Museum of Fine Arts, the Palace of Arts, a replica Transylvanian Castle behind and further still the Szechenyi baths. The metro runs all the way along Andrassy but the street is quite walkable with plenty of shops bars and restaurants….