The medicinal waters of Hungary are renowned worldwide. The Balaton region is especially abundant in spas where you can immerse yourself in the hot thermal waters and choose from a variety of health services any time of the year.
The water here is widely favoured for its special composition and temperature, and is believed to have many a health benefit. These waters are rich in minerals and trace elements, which are absorbed through the skin and help alleviate various health problems, such as rheumatism, arthritis and skin diseases.
Here are the most popular ones – we trust you will find the best one for you.
The earliest examples of the therapeutic use of water around Lake Balaton can be traced to the carbonated spring in Balatonfüred, where a multi‑storey bathhouse has operated since the 1700s. Although modern cardiology has long surpassed the era of carbonated bath treatments, the sanatorium that once stood over the spring was a renowned medical institution all around the country. This explains why Balatonfüred is still regarded as a haven of cardiac health care. In a colonnaded enclosure on Gyógy Square outside the Szívkórház (Cardiac Hospital) stands the Kossuth Spring offering cool and delightfully fizzy water.
Open throughout the year, Hévíz Lake holds the lesser‑known distinction of the world’s largest thermal lake suitable for bathing. Thanks to its minerality, the water of the lake is not only therapeutic but also particularly refreshing and energising. Although a dip in the lake is primarily recommended for the treatment of various musculoskeletal and rheumatic complaints, its high mineral content can be beneficial for anyone. The unique atmosphere, the gentle thermal water and the hospitality that is a given in this part of the country offer wonderful experiences all year round.
A small town in Zala County, Zalakaros is a hidden but sparkling touristic gem of Hungary. Even though it has a nationwide fan base, it has flown largely under the radar, even though it lies mere 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the south‑western tip of Lake Balaton. A visit to the region should definitely include a detour here, as the Zalakaros facility offers a leisure pool, a water slide park, wellness amenities and a range of medical treatments. The sauna facilities here are well‑known nationwide.
Let us end our little tour with a bit of an odd‑one‑out: the town of Tapolca does not have any medicinal waters. However, it is home to the Kórház‑barlang (Hospital Cave), the only health cave around Lake Balaton, which offers cave therapy sessions. The extensive cave system 15 metres (50 feet) below the municipal hospital was discovered in 1925 almost by accident. The caves were fully explored and turned into a bomb shelter between 1937 and 1938. The therapeutic properties of the cave’s air were discovered during World War II when the doctors observed a significant improvement in the conditions of patients with respiratory ailments sheltered down there. The cave’s temperature remains stable at 12–13 °C (54–55°F) throughout the year – you might want to pack a sweater even if you are visiting this unique health cave in the summer.