Nestled in City Park and with their own palace, the Szechenyi thermal baths smack of luxury. This, despite the huge numbers of tourists who visit every year. With so much to do in Budapest, talk of “must-sees” is often pointless. Not in the case of Szechenyi. Without a spa visit, you haven’t really experienced the city.

Szechenyi has 21 pools, including whirlpools and waterjets. The sauna and steam cabins are even more limited, at just 10. Massage stations, gymnasiums, and various beauty treatments are also on offer.

The palace, which has its own hidden “labyrinth” of pools, was designed by Gyozo Czigler and is younger than it looks, with the first bricks laid in the 1900s. Although the Szechenyi hot spring was only discovered in 1880, Budapest has had thermal baths for thousands of years, valued for their restorative and health benefits. The Romans were among the first to make use of Budapest’s baths, followed by the Ottomans, with a third peak from the 19th century to today.

The Szechenyi baths are open every day of the year, although you should book your ticket in advance if you can to avoid disappointment at this hugely popular destination. You can also book your massage in advance!