It would be a big mistake to come to Budapest without visiting the largest thermal bath in Europe, the Szechenyi Thermal Bath or Szecska, as the locals call it for short. Be sure to include it on your must-visit list. Trust me, you won't regret it!

The Szechenyi Bath is located in the area of the City Park in Pest. The luxurious building, resembling a palace, was built in 1913 by a professor at the Technical University, Gyozo Czigler. After the architect's death, the construction of the bath was continued by his colleagues, Ede Dvorak and Kalman Gerster. The Bath was named in honor of Count Istvan Szechenyi, a famous Hungarian reformer and writer.

The exterior of the building combines two architectural styles: classicism, and neo-Renaissance. Thus, the austere and monumental facade in front of the City Park is a direct reference to ancient architecture, though the main elements of the external decor are designed in neo-Renaissance. In general, the bathhouse has a unified exterior architectural appearance, despite the elements of eclecticism and historicism.

The Szechenyi Bath is often called the "bathing palace" because of its stunning exterior and interior decoration based on water patterns: there are mythical mermaids with terrible marine monsters and common underwater landscapes with their inhabitants. The areas near the pools are adorned with statues and fountains as if from antiquity, which creates a special entourage.

The thermal water comes to the Szechenyi Bath from seven wells equipped within the City Park. The complex itself includes 18 swimming pools: 15 inside and 3 outside. Besides, there are steam rooms, saunas, hammams, wooden plunge tubs, thermal and sauna departments, balneotherapy and wellness centers, a spa, a cafe, and a bar.

The local thermal water is saturated with acids, alkalis, and salts that are beneficial for the body. It contains significant amounts of bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, sodium, and calcium. Regular visits to the bathhouse have a positive effect on the health of people with joint diseases. Locals even come here to undergo orthopedic treatment and post-traumatic rehabilitation.