The Dandár bath building, which does not exactly look like a spa at first, has real miracles inside. The unfairly less known spa is the perfect choice for those who don’t like crowds.
Hungary is often mentioned as the country of baths and not by accident. In many parts of the country, we can find wonderful and beneficial medicinal waters, and in Budapest, we can find especially many medicinal baths.
One of these, perhaps less well-known spas in the capital, is the Dandár Thermal Bath, which has been refurbished in recent years, providing an even more beautiful setting for those who want to relax.
What is the great benefit of the Dandár Bath over other spas?
The Dandár Bath is one of the least known spas in Budapest. Unfortunately, most locals are unfamiliar with it. It is difficult to compete if you have spas like Széchényi Bath and Gellért Bath. And indeed, every tourist who comes to Budapest will visit the aforementioned spas.
Don’t be surprised that in the summertime there are so many people in the Széchényi bath like herring. 80% of the visitors are from abroad, and the prices are also compared to this.
Of course, for many, the crowds and the high ticket prices do not come into play. Mostly, however, locals visit other less frequented, calmer spas. This is also the Dandár Bath. Very large crowds are not expected even on weekends.
History of the Dandár Bath
The purpose of baths wasn’t always to chill and relax, but rather to clean ourselves. The Dandár Bath was created in 1928 when a decision came into effect that folk baths, or purity baths, should be created. The purpose of these was to provide people with an inexpensive bathing opportunity for basic hygiene.
This building was the first to be completed within the framework of the program, and the water was brought to it not from anywhere, but from a well which was supplying the Széchenyi Bath also.The building was renovated in 1978, and the water supply was obtained from the nearby well located in Közraktár Street.
The quality of the water shouldn’t be a cause for complaint since the quality of the water is the same as the Gellért Bath.
The outline of the spa was designed by Ferenc K. Emperor, and the building was handed over in 1930 and underwent a reconstruction in 1936 already.
Surprisingly, during World War II., the building was hardly damaged, so it was put into operation after the end of the war. After the above-mentioned renovation in 1978, it continued to function as a spa.
The next major transformation in the spa’s life took place in 2013-2014. During the first phase of the modernization, the saunas, changing rooms, and showers were renewed and a little later the whole spa was rebuilt.
We need to think of a big transformation like a basement turned into a smaller wellness area. You will find everything you need for complete relaxation: sauna, steam room, plunge pool, and relaxation area.
They also sought to take advantage of spaces that had so far not functioned much in the life of the building. One example is the courtyard, where two thermal pools with adventure elements have been created.
The water of the pools is 36-38 degrees Celsius and their humid air makes the paddling of the outdoors a pleasure even on a really frosty day for the visitors.
The thermal water of the Dandár Bath
Of course, the water itself and its composition are not negligible.
The water in the Dandár Bath is thermal water, containing calcium, magnesium bicarbonate, and chloride sulfate, which also contains sodium and has a significant fluoride ion content too.
And what kind of problems is this best suited to address? Those with musculoskeletal problems are advised to dip in this water, but of course, it is very nice even if we don’t have any such problems.
For example, anyone who has been struggling with arthritis or related degenerative diseases for a long time, possibly with disc herniation or neuralgia, should definitely visit this spa.
Of course, we can’t expect miracles from a single dip, but after a couple of times, the beneficial effects of water can be felt.
Services of the Dandár Bath
It is a good idea to find out the capacities and services of the spas before you go there to make sure you and your family are not disappointed.
There are spas that have a special children’s unit so that while the parents are healing/resting, children can spend their time playfully. However, there are also facilities specifically designed for adults.
If we have clarified our needs – whether we go with a child or not, whether we want to go for wellness or just healing in the water – we choose our destination accordingly.
Not only can we read the services of the Dandár Bath’s website, but also we can even discover the place with the help of a 3D model.
Outdoor and indoor pools
In this bath, some really complex facilities await us. If we have come here specifically because of illness, or just want to relax: in both, we have many options.
Two indoor pools are available: a 38 degrees Celsius pool and a 36 degrees Celsius pool. I admit there is no real spa without an outdoor pool as it offers a completely different experience for us.
Fortunately, the Dandár Thermal Bath also thought about it and created two outdoor thermal pools. These mixed water pools are also 36 and 38 degrees Celsius.
Wellness and medical services at the Dandár Bath
Let’s go back to the indoor pools and the indoor part of the spa, as there are many sights to see. Many Spa services await us, such as the indoor thermal bath or the mini sauna world, but there are also many spa treatments to choose from.
The sauna world includes services such as a variety of saunas and steam rooms and ice slush dispensers. By the way, a sauna is not only a pleasant wellness service but also has a positive effect on our health.
It is really effective if used as a shock therapy: after the hot-air bath, dive into the ice-cold submerged pool for a short while. I know it is a shocking experience at first and many people are afraid of it, but over time you can almost get addicted to that feeling.
During the winter season, because of the more frequent illnesses, sauna is the most useful as it strengthens the immune system. In addition, it detoxifies, relieves stress and rejuvenates the skin, and even has a good effect on our blood circulation.
Among the medical services we can use, for example, a bathtub or underwater jet massage, which can be a very refreshing experience (if you manage to get a seat under the jet of water.)
And the carbonated bath is also a must-see experience. In addition, we can sign up for a medical massage, which is sure to work in the area most in need of treatment. And the carbonated bath is also a must-have experience.
We must pay attention that children under the age of 14 may use the thermal bath only under medical supervision, and under certain conditions.
The Dandár Bath really offers a full service for its visitors. We can try different types of massage for perfect relaxation, such as aroma relax massage, thermal massage, but also refreshing foot and head massage are awaiting us.
In addition, there are services such as foot care, pedicure, and even a drinking fountain, which is especially recommended after sauna.
Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of the thermal spas, including the Dandár Thermal Bath, is the outdoor thermal pools.
It is a particularly interesting experience to swim outdoors despite the cold. However, in the warm 36-38 degrees Celsius water, we don’t even feel the weather outside, even though many people are afraid of it for the first time. In fact, it has a very good effect on our health, and our immune system.
In the event of hot weather, not only can the outdoor pools be used, but also there is a sunbathing area. So, if the weather permits, we can even recharge with a little vitamin D if the water has already drained us out, but we still want to be in the fresh air.
If we want to take with us something not only the experience but also the beneficial effects of the medicinal water, we have the opportunity here too. We have the opportunity to buy different cosmetic products at the Dandár Bath.
We can buy Thermal Shower Gel, which contains medicinal water and herbal extracts to help skin regeneration. It is based on the water of the Gellért Bath in Budapest, which is recommended for all skin types.
The shower gel doesn’t contain any additives, it is made exclusively from natural ingredients, such as purple plant extract. It has a good effect on acne skin and has a beneficial effect on aging skin regeneration.
We can also find massage cream and shampoo too here. They were also made from the medicinal waters of the Gellért and Széchenyi Baths with the addition of many vitamins and herbs. If you are a fan of natural beauty or have sensitive or problematic skin, then these products will surely be the best for your use.
Once we’ve bathed, and the whole family has relaxed but we still have energy, all we have to do is walk to the neighboring Zwack Museum, where plenty of excitement is awaiting us.
Because the spa is located in the city center, we can quickly find more programs and attractions for the day.
This is where my article will help you, I will introduce more than 100 sights in Budapest.
For those who are more inclined to visit a museum, I recommend my comprehensive article, in which I show the best museums in Budapest.
Opening hours
- Monday-Friday: 6AM-9PM
- Saturday-Sunday: 8AM-9PM
(Cash desk close at 8pm.)
The prices of the Dandár Bath in 2022:
| Tickets | Weekdays | Weekends |
| Thermal ticket with locker usage | 2000Ft | 2300Ft |
| Combined ticket (thermal and wellness) | 2800Ft | 2900Ft |
| Cabin | 600Ft | 600Ft |
Address
H-1095 Budapest, Dandár u. 5-7.
Why the Dandár Bath?
All in all, a complex experience may be the best expression for this downtown spa. At first, it might not be a spa-like building but it has real miracles inside.
Beyond the thermal and medicinal pools, also submersible pools await us. And the relaxation experience is completed by the sauna world, where not only the sauna but also the steam cabin are waiting for visitors. Therapeutic massages and other refreshing massages and the pedicure services give everyone a complete experience.
People leave the Dandár Bath well-rested and regenerated at every level.
