The neo-baroque thermal baths and the ruin bars in the crumbling courtyards of the Jewish quarter: Budapest offers unique experiences found in no other European capital.
Budapest: thermal baths and ruin bars, the city of contrasts
Budapest is the city of contrasts par excellence: imperial Austro-Hungarian architecture and crumbling districts, thousand-year-old thermal waters and clubs in abandoned courtyards, heavy traditional cuisine and refined nouvelle cuisine.
The Szechenyi Baths: the largest thermal baths in Europe
The Szechenyi Baths (1913), in the heart of Varosliget Park, are the largest thermal baths in Europe: 18 pools with waters between 21 and 40 degrees C fed by natural springs at 74 degrees. The atmosphere is surreal: pensioners play chess in the outdoor pools while tourists relax with a beer.
Book online to avoid waiting at the turnstiles. Ticket: 22-28 euro with a locker.
Szimpla Kert: the original ruin bar
Szimpla Kert (2002, 7th district) is the first and most famous ruin bar in Budapest: a semi-derelict 19th-century building turned into a labyrinth of rooms decorated with salvaged objects, vintage lamps and bizarre art. The Sunday morning market is frequented by locals.
The 7th district (Erzsebetvaros) is full of similar ruin bars: Instant, Fogas Haz, Morrison's 2. Each has its own personality.