2008-10-07

Cathedral swimming in Budapest’s Gellert

Gellert Baths, Budapest

With some Budapest hotels offering free nights over this winter, it might be a good time to pop by and then you can follow up my tip: a swim in the Gellert Baths and Spa.

You might be starting to think I’m obsessed with Hungarian baths after I raved about the Heviz Thermal Baths but it’s really not usually my thing - that’s why I’m so eager to get others to try these ones too.

The Gellert Baths in Budapest are famous and the hotel they’re part of is usually too pricey for my standards, but the good news is you don’t have to stay there to get in for a dip. There are actually 13 different pools in the whole complex but by far the best is the central indoor pool. It’s surrounded by Roman columns and has an incredible ceiling and I had to agree with my guidebook when it described it as being like “swimming in a cathedral”.

The entrance price you pay depends on how many hours you stay - there is also an outdoor wave pool and various thermal baths (some of which are segregated into male and female baths so pay attention!). Full price for entrance is about €13 and if you stay less than three hours you’ll get a partial refund when you leave.