Forget T in the Park, my Europe travel tip for where the real action is happening is the Sziget Festival, now one of Europe’s largest music festivals. Sziget means island in Hungarian, and the reason the festival is called this is because it’s held on the ‘Old Buda Island’ in the Danube River in Hungary’s capital city, Budapest.

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The festival is in August, perfect timing to enjoy the early autumn weather in Hungary. (When I was there, it was sunny and roasting – your mileage may vary.)   The event has spiralled out of control from its humble beginnings; some of the more unique aspects you can look out for during the festival:

• the “chill out” tent, complete with oversized pillows
• swimmers in the Danube; those folk aren’t out for a swim – they’re trying to score a free entry :)
• the “party train” that you can book that has its own DJ to take you to Budapest

The Music

So you’re probably wondering what kind of music is featured here?  Well – it’s kind of an eclectic mix – perhaps I should just say eclectic then, but that often comes with the connotation of bad, which isn’t what I mean.  You’ll find the genres range from technopop to hardcore metal with a sprinkling of hip hop, electronica, and classic rock mixed in.  Some of the more well known names that recently headlined or will be in this year’s show include Lily Allen, Faithless, Gorillaz, the Ting Tings, Fatboy Slim, Armin van Buuren, Paul Oakenfold, The Offspring, and the Prodigy.  (I told you – eclectic.)

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If you Go

If you go to this Budapest music festival, be sure to give yourself time to see some of Budapest’s other lovely sights and attractions, such as the Szechenyi Baths, the Fisherman’s Bastion,  or the Gellert Baths.

For more information about this year’s festival, visit the official website: http://www.szigetfestival.com

Photos by fawi, opethpainter

When visiting Budapest, there are a number of things to see – the Buda castle, the Chain Bridge, a stroll down Andrássy Avenue, Heroes Square, and many others. However, one of the best experiences in Budapest is a day at a thermal bath – Szechenyi.

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Szechenyi Bath

Located in City Park, Szechenyi Bath is a beautiful structure with various pools, thermal baths, massages, showers, and fitness centre for those who need a bit of pampering and relaxation.  Szechenyi Bath opened in 1881 as temporary and became a permanent bath in 1913.  Various contruction projects have improved the bath over the years as both locals and tourists have enjoyed a dip in these waters.

The bath offers something for all ages as it includes three swimming pools with water at 26 degrees, 32 – 34 degrees, and 38 degrees C.   The swimming pools offer a chance to relax and enjoy the thermal springs from nearby St Stephan’s well.  For a fun swim in the pools, enjoy the massage streams as participants walk around in a circle.

For a quiet, more relaxed experience, enjoy one of 12 thermal baths with both warm and cool waters. Eight of the baths offer water 28 – 38 degrees C in which groups of men and women sit, relax, or swim.  Enjoy each of the many pools as you can easily go from one to another as your body enjoys the change in temperatures.  These baths, located indoors, offer a chance to relax away from the crowds in the swimming pools.

If you are looking for a bit more exercise, the Szechenyi bath also offers a gym, fitness room, and physio-therapy department in which people can participate in gymnastics, underwater gymnastics, saunas, massages and more.  Getting some exercise in these hot, healing waters or enjoying a bit of pampering is a perfect way to relax.

Want to taste the healing waters? The water in the bath is considered healthy and is said to help with ulcers, calcium deficiency, inflammation of the pelvis and kidney and more.  The water contains fluoride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, sulphate, and other minerals to help aid the body.  If you are curious as to what it tastes like, have a drink.

A Hungarian bath was quite an experience for me.  Not only was this a unique experience, it was must-see Budapest attraction in a beautiful part of this European city. Our other Europe travel tips for Budapest include Amanda’s visit to the Gellert Baths and Spa and Andy’s Danube riverside foray.

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Entrance to the Szechenyi Bath

What are your favourite things to do in Budapest?

Hungary’s capital city, Budapest, is a charming and bustling European capital full of baths, shopping, and sightseeing.  My favourite stop of all, though, was wandering alongside the waters of the Danube river, which separates the city into its two halves:  Buda and Pest.  You can go during the daytime or at night, but you’ll not find a city with more romantic views anywhere in Europe.  Here are some of the sights you can expect to see:

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The Chain Bridge is obviously the highlight of any stop, this is the crown jewel of Budapest architecture and a stunning sight indeed.  Floodlit at night with Buda castle in the backdrop, this bridge is just beautiful.  This was the first bridge built across the river and officially opened in 1849.

The Parliament Building isThe large Neolithic building you see on the water’s edge is the Hungarian Parliament, a stunning structure by both day and night.  It is the largest building in Hungary and the second largest parliament in Europe (only Romania’s is larger).  It is possible to tour the building, however I suggest you use a tour provider as its difficult to make the arrangements directly (you can’t just show up!).  It is also worth mentioning that Parliament can cancel tours at their discretion and have been known to do so.

Margaret Island is the place to go if you are blessed with even halfway decent weather in Budapest.  Floating on its back and relaxing in the waters between Buda and Pest, this is the green lung of Budapest.  With several walking trails, bike paths, and the necessary fountains, this is a place to find a comfortable lawn and relax.  Vendors sell ice cream and cokes to the families and couples who find this place so charming. 

What’s your favourite part of the Danube in Budapest?

Photo Credit SF Brit 

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Gellert Baths, Budapest

With some Budapest hotels offering free nights over this winter, it might be a good time to pop by and then you can follow up my tip: a swim in the Gellert Baths and Spa.

You 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 try these ones too.

The Gellert Baths in Budapest are famous and the hotel they’re part of is usually too pricey for my standards, but the good news is you don’t have to stay there to get in for a dip. There are actually 13 different pools in the whole complex but by far the best is the central indoor pool. It’s surrounded by Roman columns and has an incredible ceiling and I had to agree with my guidebook when it described it as being like “swimming in a cathedral”.

The entrance price you pay depends on how many hours you stay – there is also an outdoor wave pool and various thermal baths (some of which are segregated into male and female baths so pay attention!). Full price for entrance is about €13 and if you stay less than three hours you’ll get a partial refund when you leave.