The best-known of Budapest’s many spas, the Gellért Baths are housed in a magnificent Art Nouveau building between Gellért Hill and Liberty Bridge. Designed before World War I, the spa and adjoining hotel of the same name were not unveiled until 1918, anticipating the so-called Silver Age when Budapest was part of the Grand Tour. It was here that the world’s first wave pool was opened, in 1927, still a major feature of the baths today. Surrounding it are elegant grounds and a terrace to relax and sunbathe. Though attached to the Gellért Hotel, the spa operates separately. Both are still a symbol of luxury and comfort, much of their shine restored during a comprehensive renovation in 2008. Within, thermal and swimming pools display the same gorgeous decorative aesthetic as envisaged more than a century ago. The complex also has a sauna and steam room, and offers medical and beauty treatments.
