Budapest without famous baths. They will be closed to tourists for several years

The famous Gellert baths in Budapest will be closed at the beginning of October for several years of renovation – Hungarian media said on Sunday. In 2024, the facility was visited by over 420,000 tourists.

Located at the foot of the Gellert Hill, a bathhouse complex built in the Art Nouveau style was created in 1912–1918 as part of the Gellert Hotel – the first luxury hotel in Budapest equipped with the latest facilities from the beginning of the 20th century.

The holiday complex was expanded in 1927 and enlarged by the world's first artificial wave pool, and then in 1934 by a massage bathtub. In the initial years of the existence of Budapest, the baths attracted an elite clientele and were considered one of the most modern and luxurious SPA facilities in Europe. Despite serious damage, World War II survived. Over time, they were restored and renewed, maintaining their historical and architectural splendor – reminded Daily News Hungary.

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Plans of thorough reconstruction of Term were first announced in 2021. Initially, it was assumed that the baths would be closed in 2022, but delays in property changes and planning shifted renovation. The deteriorating condition of the facilities prevented further delaying the renovation. Experts considered the mechanical systems of the baths and the hotel as a serious threat to safety – the Hungarian media explained.

In 2024, over 420,000 visited Gellert's baths in Budapest. tourists, generating over EUR 10.5 million of revenue. Thus, this object became the second most popular thermal bathing in the capital of Hungary after Szécheny's Termia.

The cost of renovating Gellert's baths is expected to be almost EUR 50 million. In addition to repairing construction faults, the investment will include modernization of interior, swimming pools, mechanical systems and wellness zones. Re -opening is not expected before 2028.

From Budapest Jakub Bawołek (PAP)

JBW/ SAN/