Szechenyi Baths

Tonje and I had been planning all week to go to the spa on when we were in Budapest. The spas in there are world famous. These spas are thermal pools and baths for medicinal purposes. There are a few spas in the city but we went to the biggest and oldest one, Szechenyi Bath.

So Saturday morning we made reservations for 30 minute massages and pool access, all 4 of us. I could already tell that this was going to be an adventure. Tonje and I left the boys and went to the spa early because we had to get suits. We had an option to rent suits, but, ew, no. The bathing suits cost just as much as our tickets and we had to buy towels and flip flops. Also, the suits were absolutely hideous and too small for both of us. I was already uncomfortable but these suits just increased that. I had the first appointment so I set off to find the massage room. I walked around, showed my ticket to every attendant I could find, went through ev

ery single pool room like a lost tourist. Finally, with some help, I figured it out. I walked into the massage room expecting something…completely different. The room was huge with about 20 cubicles for privacy. I handed my ticket to a very large man who I assumed was just the attendant and he led me to my cubicle. And then signaled that he was my masseuse. Greg very accurately described him as the Hungarian Fat Bastard from the Austin Powers movies. Huge and hairy, but very professional. The massage is basic; legs, back and arms. At first I was extremely uncomfortable and debated leaving but then I said to myself that this is Hungarian Spa and thousands of people do this every year. It’s an experience that I might not have ever again. And let me tell you, it was amazing. This masseuse found knots in my back that I never knew were there.

After my massage I waited for everyone in a heated pool. When they were done (Greg had the same masseuse that I did, I don’t think he enjoyed that), we hopped around to the different pools, saunas and steam rooms. For a day at the spa, it was exhausting.

Tonje and I in the outdoor bath.