http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29144 The Gellert Baths though are revered by many and their grandeur means they are the most iconic in the city. The image that stands out for me though is not the still blue waters flagged by magnificent pillars, but that of the outdoor pool and it's wave machine.
The turbines that drive this gear up every hour and their force is one unrivaled in any "no bombing, no ducking" swimming pool. A classic example of their power was seen in Micheal Palin's New Europe series when he is standing in the shallows of the pool doing a piece to camera and he is literally floored by the wave that comes his way. You barely have enough time to stand up before the next wave comes crashing in. Great fun!
Where the Gellert Baths rule supreme though is in mid-August when thousands of people descend on Budapest to enjoy the Sziget Festival. This isn't a weekend affair, but a week of camping on Sziget Island in the middle of the Danube and enjoying music and entertainment on twenty stages. Festival-goers might be able to get away with not showering for a few days, but when you're camping for a week and the shower queues as they always are at festivals, the Gellert is the best way to spend your day before the bands start.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/29144 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26024 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/26024 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22166 www.budapestinfo.org/herossquare.html). The most attractive building is the Vajdahunyad Castle (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vajdahunyad_Castle), a replica of a gothic castle in Transsylvania. It is really spectacular, especially when the small boating lake beside the castle is filled with water during summer time. In the City Park you can find the Széchenyi Spa, the biggest bath in Budapest. The building is very old and looks terrific from the inside. The Zoo, the Circus and the Budapest luna park are also located here making the park a popular amusement spot.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/22166 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19301 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19301 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9235 But it is fantastic if you are going to the Sziget festival. Super near to the festival island (one stop on the HEV, 20 minutes walking or 5 minutes if you have a cycle or will pay for a taxi to use the nearby vehicles entrance). You can catch the HEV or a bus into town too. Service is very friendly and it is so nice to detox in the spa all day and then to dance all night.

We got a very good price by booking early on www.booking.com. The website does make it look a bit more tranquil than it is tho'. If you have a front facing room then be aware that not only the HEV but also a major road is between you and the river.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/9235