Health and happiness at Heviz in Hungary
Written by Amanda Kendle
The Heviz Thermal Baths are the kind of magical place that force me into pretty, alliterative headlines like this one, but I promise there’s good reason for it.
I wasn’t expecting to really get into the thermal bath culture that’s so prominent through central and eastern Europe but by starting out visiting Hungary’s Heviz baths, I fell in love. Heviz is on the north-west corner of Lake Balaton near the town of Keszthely, and it’s a large thermally-heated lake with a temperature that never falls below 26 degrees C, and is usually around 33 degrees in summer.
The well-regarded medical bonus of the Heviz baths, and a major drawcard for a lot of spa lovers, is that the mud on the bottom of the lake is mildly radioactive. While that sounds a slightly scary thing to me, apparently it’s a good thing and has helped make Heviz one of the most popular spa resorts in Hungary.
The nice thing about Heviz is you don’t have to be booked into the spa resort to try it out. I just pulled into the car park and bought a day pass (or you can also pay for just half a day) and there are cabins to get changed into your swimming gear inside the lake complex. There are gorgeous water lilies growing on the edges of the lake and the buildings of the complex fit in perfectly – I spent hours swimming and floating around in the water.
So my big tip is, even if you’re not really sure you’re cut out for the spa culture, try Heviz. If that doesn’t change your mind, nothing will.
what an interesting place. radioactive mud? now i’ve heard of everything. great blogsite.
Brian, I assume (mildly) radioactive mud has therapeutic benefits? Happy to hear that you enjoy reading the blog.
Amnada, I must say that I’m also not into spa culture but Heviz does sound almost heavenly
Karen, yes, you really should check it out – you don’t have to be all into spa stuff to enjoy that one.
Brian, I don’t know why, but I just know everybody raves about the radioactive mud. I certainly felt refreshed after my day there but it could have just been the water …
yes it must be spectacular. i am just a little concerned with its radioactivity. you know how when you get an xray at the hospital, and you have to wear lead-based garments to protect you against radioactive effects? the thought of cell mutations and genetic aberrations concern me, but then, i am sure people from Heviz would worry first and check its non-therapeutic effects before opening it to public, if its really radioactive.
it looks heavenly too.
[...] might be starting to think I’m obsessed with Hungarian baths after I raved about the Heviz Thermal Baths but it’s really not usually my thing – that’s why I’m so eager to get others to [...]
I have actually seen these baths when I was in Hungary the summer after completing my sophomore year at college. It’s one thing to know that they are naturally heated, but to experience it is a different thing altogether. I went into the pools myself and it was so hot that I had to get out of it within 15 minutes. I remember how soothing it was while I was in there. I also like that they have a host of spa services. I remember when it was a “brand new” service when they introduced hot stone massages. It’s the “in” thing now, but back nearly 20 years ago, for some reason it was “new.” As far as your tips, I am in agreement. May I add that when I went, I made sure to lock up all of my things ahead of time in the safety deposit box. You can’t trust the lockers they have there: Even if they’re all locked up, there are always people looming around looking for that inept tourist to make a small mistake like not closing up their locker right away.
I have been in Heviz. This thermal bath good for rheumatics. I stayed in an apertment near of the bath.