1) Wait till the lake in the park Varosliget freezes over and becomes Europe’s largest ice-skating rink. It is located at the edge of the City Park, enclosed between Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle.
2) Hire a car and drive to Eger, for its history and wine making region and Debrecen for it's beautiful buildings and restaurants.
3) Towns around the Balaton, such as Heviz, have natural thermal outdoor baths. Well worth a visit.

Google map: bit.ly/f1kV0K

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Rudas is a 16th-century Turkish bath It's finally turned co-ed on certain days after 500 years of being men only. Mixed days include Sunday. An amazing experience can be had there - go early in the morning before the crowds and chill under the cupola in one of the five hot pools and watch the shafts of light coming through the coloured glass octagons in the ceiling, wrapped in clouds of steam. It's the most relaxing place you'll find in a capital city anywhere in Europe. You might even spot the probable future Hungarian prime minister and his cronies there, if you're unlucky.

Döbrentei tér 9; situated on the Buda side of Elizabeth Bridge. The number 7 bus stops there, and all the taxi drivers and locals know it

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They are the oldest Turkish baths in Budapest and have a real faded beauty. The main thermal pool still has a domed roof with small circles of blue glass in it. I had the most relaxing feeling in my life floating in the pool looking up at it when for 10 minutes I was the only person in there. It feels authentic rather than touristy and you will see plenty of Budapest pensioners using a prescription from their doctor to get in. It's the perfect antidote to a heavy day sightseeing.

84 Fo Utca, Budapest 1027

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A must for any Budapest visitor is a trip to the Gellert baths. Heated by geothermal energy, the baths offer an interactive adventure into the post-imperial era, whilst dressed in nothing more than a loin cloth.

The entry price is the only thing you will find in English, but it's no problem and ends up adding to the fun.

Don't be put off by the 20+ stone masseuses, stay your nerves and be sure to spend an hour there.

Southern Budapest
www.budapesthotels.com/hotels/gellertspa.asp

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The Szechényi fürdő (fürdő translates as “baths”) renovation was completed about a year ago, it is excellent, always gets good reviews and I would always recommend it, especially for families. There are quite a few indoor pools with varying temperatures, plus a couple of steam baths and two large saunas. They have a very nice bucket shower next to the sauna, you pull a chain and cold water is dumped on your head, very refreshing.

Outside are two thermal pools and a swimming pool (swimming cap required). One of the thermal pools is great for kids - there’s a walled off circular section which uses pumps to get a current running. It’s like flowing downstream on a fast river, but you go round in a circle. Kids (and me) love it. Everything is mixed sex, so swimming suits are required.

The Rudás fürdő has been done up recently, it's the old Turkish baths on the Buda side of the Erzsébet híd (Elizabeth Bridge). I haven't been yet, but some people say it's the best in Budapest now.

Gellért is overrated. The swimming pool looks nice from the gallery, but is cold and you have to swim around the pool clockwise, very dull. Thermal pools are segregated, so you can go naked, or borrow a loincloth or wear a swimming suit. Quite nice, but not really suitable for a couple on their own.

Gellert: Kelenhegyi út 4
Szechényi: Állakerti körút 11; nearest metro: M1 Széchenyi fürdő
Rudás: Döbrentei tér 9, Tram 18,19, Bus 7 to Döbrentei tér

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