Health, recreation and relaxation have always been major attractions of Hungary’s tourist industry. Budapest is one of the few capital cities with a surfeit of spa waters, and therapeutic soaking has been practiced here since Roman times. Reactivated under the Ottomans, Budapest’s bathing culture was developed in the early 20th century, when ornate bathhouses were built. Promoting the city as a spa destination, establishments such as the Gellért, the Széchenyi and, most recently, the Rudas, have all seen major modern