Turkish baths in Budapest

Q: During a visit to Budapest I would like to visit one of the famous Turkish baths, but I would not like to end up in one where I was likely to feel uncomfortable. A family-friendly spa with people of all ages would suit me perfectly. - Annie Renton.

A: As long as you don't object to nudity, you should be fine in Budapest spas. There are modern spas in hotels, but you will probably want to visit one of the old, traditional baths. The Kiraly Thermal Baths date from 1565, but were renovated and revamped in 1796. The buildings are considered one of the city's most historic Turkish monuments. The octagonal main pool is surrounded by a number of smaller pools, steam rooms and saunas.Temperatures in the pools ranges from 26-40 degrees. The women-only days are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The other historic spa is the Rudas Medicinal Baths. Its central feature is an octagonal pool over which light is thrown from a 30-foot diameter cupola, supported by eight pillars. There are five other smaller pools (with temperatures from 16 to 42 degrees Celsius), three saunas and two steam rooms. Mainly frequented by men, certain days are allocated for women, so check in advance. One of the most beautiful complexes is the Gellert Baths. Built in 1918 and extended in 1927 to include a wave pool, and an effervescent bath was added in 1934. It has nine medicinal pools and a thermal pool. The immaculate Art Nouveau interior, with colourful mosaics and stained glass windows, give it a magical atmposphere. Finally, if you have any qualms about your comfort zone in the baths, you can try the Széchenyi Baths. Set in the Varosliget park, these baths are housed in a grand old building very popular with families during summer. The outdoor unisex pool has a friendly atmosphere, with old men playing chess and other lazing around. Just a word about the massages on offer: there are two types of massage on offer. Orvosi is a relaxing medical massage, while vizi is a more rigorous (and potentially painful) Turkish-based variant!