One of the very special things about Budapest is the prevalence of thermal springs right in the centre of the city. There are 118 springs and boreholes altogether, supplying the city’s spas and baths with 15.4 million gallons of water daily ranging in temperature from 70 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit (21-78°C).
One of the reasons the Romans first colonized the area immediately to the west of the River Danube and established their regional capital at Aquincum (now part of Óbuda, in northern Budapest) is so that they could utilize and enjoy the thermal springs. There are still ruins visible today of the enormous baths that were built during that period. The new baths that were constructed during the Turkish period (1541-1686) served both bathing and medicinal purposes, and some of these are happily still in use to this day. Budapest really gained its reputation as a city of spas in the 1920’s, following the first realization of the economic potential of the thermal waters in drawing in visitors. Indeed in 1934 Budapest was officially ranked as a “City of Spas." Today, the baths are mostly frequented by the older generation, as, with the exception of the “Magic Bath" water discos, young people tend to prefer the lidos which are open in the summer.
Király Thermal Baths (II. F? u. 84.)
Construction of the Király Baths started in 1565, and most of the present-day building dates from the Turkish period, including most notably the fine cupola-topped pool. In 1796 they were bought, renovated and extended by a family called König. König is the German word meaning “king," and it is the Hungarian word Király with the same meaning that the Baths are known by today. Altogether there are four pools, the medicinal water for which is pumped in from the nearby Lukács Baths.
Water temperatures: 79, 90, 99, 104 °F (26, 32, 36, 40ºC). Water surface area: 86, 108, 732, 42 sq. ft. Water mineral content: thermal water containing nitrates, calcium-magnesium-hydrogen-carbonates and sulphate-chlorides, as well as fluoride ions in significant quantities.
Opening times: Men only: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 9.0 a.m. – 8 p.m. Women only: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 7.0 a.m. – 6 p.m.
