For travelers who have a bit of time to check out Hungary, thermal baths, the biggest and most famous in Europe, are the snapshot of society and the people there.

Asian countries like Korea and Japan also share the culture of thermal bathing. While taking a hot spring bath is now more favored by elderly people for special occasions in Asia, there are no age, gender or social barriers at Hungarian baths.

During my weeklong stay in Hungary, I visited two most famous thermal baths in the country: the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest and the Barlangfurdo or “Cave Bath” in Miskolc, a northeastern city.

The Szechenyi complex consisting of 15 bath houses and outdoor pools on a 6,220-square-meter site near the city center is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. 

Its water is known to improve digestive disorders and joint illnesses as it contains sulphate, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate and a significant amount of fluoride acid and metabolic acid.

Built in 1881 and completed in 1913, the neo-Baroque yellow-painted buildings exhibit stunning architecture. More than 5,000 people visit the baths every day, with Asians making up some 20 percent, according to officials.

Depending on the bath types, water temperature varies from 27 to 38 degrees Celsius. For Asian people who enjoy a hot spring at about 40 to 50 degrees Celsius, the temperature could feel lukewarm.

Even though it was a Monday afternoon when I visited Szechenyi, there were a lot of people enjoying hot baths.

Middle-aged people were discussing politics while playing chess, while youngsters were having fun as if they were in a swimming pool. It is also a favorite dating spot for young couples.

The fee for a daily ticket with cabin usage is 4,600 forints, less than $20.

The Cave Bath in Miskolctapolca of Miskolc offers the unique experience of swimming along cave passages. Dim lights within the cave also give a more mysterious ambience.

The karst water cave system is found in only two cities in Europe, with another in Skelene Teplice, Slovakia. It has been known as a favorite bath for Benedictine monks as early as in the 14th century.

Most of the cave passages and stone cliffs were shaped by nature for hundreds of thousands of years, with several expansion works done for modernization.

The water is rich in minerals and the temperature is about 30 to 35 degrees Celsius. There are some wild water sections where visitors can enjoy massages.

The entrance fee starts at 1,950 forints, about $8, for adults.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)