Washing Away a Year’s Woes on a Water-Infused Getaway: Hungary, My Home Away From Home

Washing Away a Year’s Woes on a Water-Infused Getaway: Hungary, My Home By Diane Dobry Away from Home

There’s no place like home, and for me, there is no place like my Hungarian second home to allow me to gather with friends in relaxing ways. After a year of isolation and a long stretch of not traveling, I would first head straight for the center of Europe to be among those who share my heritage.

Thermal Baths by the Thousands

Hungary has close to 1,300 natural sources of hot thermal waters running beneath the land and 220 thermal locations throughout the country. According to Thermal Hungary, it is the “country of the spa.” In addition to the more famous spas of Budapest, there are many more thermal locations I am longing to try — from thermal lakes to cave baths, resorts, and a new futuristic thermal park.

Tapolca Lake Cave

Not far from the lake at Héviz is the Lake Cave in Tapolca, an underground cave and waterway discovered over 100 years ago. Though it is not a thermal bath, with an underground boat experience, a small, attached museum, and a constant 68˚F air temperature, it is a good reprieve in the heat of summer. Considering boat rowing and navigation, though, it may be a tour best done with a friend.

Debrecen Futuristic Thermal Park

Thermal Lake of Héviz

At the very northwestern tip of Lake Balaton, in the town of Keszthely (about a three-hour drive west of Budapest), is the “biggest biologically active natural medicinal water in the world,” according to TripAdvisor. Here the lake reportedly reaches a temperature of 40˚C (104˚F). I have had my eye on this lily pad dotted lake, where visitors soak languorously in the warm waters floating in big red rubber tubes. Private tours include transportation and hotel stays, initiating with pick-up from Budapest locations.

Plans for a futuristic family water park in Debrecen, Hungary, began pre-COVID, and has now opened. Debrecen is the country’s second largest city, 150 miles east of Budapest. Though the diving pool and 30- and 50-meter swimming pools are not my first choice, the

Take Me to the River Cruise

One of the best tours I ever enjoyed pre-COVID was a Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. Before the lockdown, I was planning another cruise. Now that river cruises are opening up again, adding that to a

Hungarian spa tour would keep the water theme going beyond the borders into other countries. Close to Budapest, a 12-day cruise begins in Prague and ends in Paris. There are stops in Germany, some of which—including Nuremberg, Würzberg and the Moselle wine region—I enjoyed on the Budapest-to-Amsterdam trip. This cruise adds Heidelberg, Mainz, and Bernkastel. It is perfect since I can’t get enough of the beauty of Germany. It stops in Trier, adds Luxembourg and Reims, and we finally disembark in Paris. The food, wine, and history blend is an ideal mix for me.

A shorter, 8-day cruise, keenly focuses on food and wine; covers Avignon with palace tours; the Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards; or a half-day culinary tour featuring snacks, sweets, a cooking class, wine, and coffee, as well as dinner. Tours of lavender gardens and a distillery where lavender oil is extracted along with walking tours, Roman ruins, and Gothic cathedrals are treats between the food, wine, and shopping excursions, At the end, there’s an optional extension for three days in Paris reached by train from Lyon.

Choices, choices. It will be nice to have such choices again.

artificial waterfalls, medicinal waters, and slow-moving winding river feature is my idea of a relaxing combination. A hotel on the property with its own rooftop pools makes it an easy one-stop vacation I could easily enjoy with friends. This video is what sparked my desire to go.

Cave Bath of Miskolc Tapolca

Heading back toward Budapest, only 56 miles northwest of Debrecen, is the spa at Miskolc Tapolca,. Originally enclosed by a wooden building in 1743, the structures have been rebuilt and expanded until about 15 years ago. The idea of soaking in 30˚C (86˚F) waters underground evokes a sense of primitive pleasures of getting close to nature. I might even try out the salt water float spa, a relaxing massage, or the tickling of my toes with a fish pedicure. There are several hotels nearby, including Avalon Resort & Spa, that offer luxury suites, and log houses that could also accommodate my friends and their families.