Budapest Insider

The City Park and the Széchenyi Bath

Are you visiting Budapest anytime soon? Or you just like reading about this beautiful city? As a local girl and a tour guide to be, I'm sharing with you some interesting stories and useful information on my favorite Budapest sights. FINA World Championship is around the corner, one of its locations will be the City Park. Let's start with this area and its hidden beauties.

The City Park

It's one of the largest parks in Europe that was open to the public for relaxation purposes. Walking in this huge park, I can hardly believe that it used to be a swamp before.

In the Middle Ages this site was called Oxmeadow, because cattle of oxen grazed on the field. Due to the natural fauna, it was also a perfect hunting place. Finally the area was drained and got transformed into an English style park only in the 18th century. In the 19th century that park has provided shelter for the inhabitants during the great floods. The face of the park was shaped mainly by the Millennium Exhibition in 1896, which took place here, leaving many attractions behind. Like the Vajdahunyad Castle, the other attraction I'm introducing you in the next chapter. Today locals love this place, there many playgrounds, restaurants and cafes here. It will be an important location for the FINA World Championship.

FINA preparation works in the City Park

While walking in the Zoo area, you will find a very interesting little bridge, it's a historical bridge, because the Millennium Underground (M1) used to get on the surface right here, that was the original route, however it got changed during the past and now the world's first little tram is taking you all the way to the Mexican street, which is it's last stop today. Still it's so interesting to see one piece of history. Did you know that the very first passenger on M1 was the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph?

In the past (source: www,hampage.hu)

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The bridge today

The Széchenyi Bath

Hungary is extremely rich in thermal water, Budapest is "the world's spa capital" , some of the baths had already been operating during the Turkish occupation (16th-17th centuries). There are important thermal sources under the City Park, that made is possible to open one of the largest bath complexes in Europe. The first spa was opened in the 19th century, than it got expanded during the past. The building itself had ups and downs, since it got really neglected during the WVII and the Communist era, fungi was everywhere and statues were broken. Today it belongs to the most elegant baths in Hungary. The entrance hall is richly decorated with Miksa Roth mosaic works and you can see statues and ague motifs as well.

Source: www.szechenyibath.hu

If you are seeking for relaxation, try the Széchenyi Palm House, it's like an oasis with beautiful exotic plants, glass covered roof top, where you can even enjoy sunbathing. The entrance ticket does not include the Palm House entrance, that way this area is more quiet. Summer – party time. Széchenyi Bath can not be an exception either! This place is famous for it's summer night spa parties on Saturdays. You can book your ticket here: http://szechenyispabaths.com/sparties

Source: www.szechenyibath.hu

Hope you found this article useful, enjoy your stay in Budapest! Xoxo