Budapest's thermal baths reopen after longest closure in history

02:16

Two of Budapest's famous thermal bath complexes have reopened four months after the COVID-19 pandemic forced their closure.

For locals, it's a welcome return to normality and a chance to soak, relax and maybe swim a few laps, but mostly find respite from the heat, as temperatures head upwards in the Hungarian capital.

Budapest's collection of thermal bath complexes, including the iconic Rudas baths and Szechenyi Spa Baths, have been closed since March.

Budapest's famous thermal baths have been closed for four months since lockdown measures were introduced in Hungary at the start of the pandemic but have now reopened again./CGTN

It was the only closure since the neo-baroque style Szechenyi Spa Baths opened in 1913, and regulars are delighted that its doors are open again.

"It was 15 March when we came out here last time, that time we didn't expect the break to be so long," regular of more than 20 years, Jozsef Spekal, told CGTN.

"We walked by a couple of times to check whether the spa is open - of course, deep inside we knew that it wasn't possible."

The four-month closure resulted in a loss of more than $9 million for the Szechenyi complex, which also offers medicinal hot springs, saunas and spa and massage treatments.

Budapest's Szechenyi thermal bath was deserted during lockdown - and has resulted in a loss of nine million dollars for the complex, which also offers medicinal hot springs, saunas and spa and massage treatments./AP

"It's a great feeling to be open again. The company has over 1,000 employees - each of us waited this day to come so badly," Szechenyi Spa Baths spokeswoman Szilvia Czinege said.

Szechenyi baths is a bucket list item for tourists to Budapest - there were 1.5 million visitors here last year.

Sixty percent of Budapest's tourists pay a visit to one or more of the bath complexes.

With uncertainty hanging over the return of international visitors, Szenchenyi has transformed its marketing approach to target locals, by offering them a discounted rate.

Many locals were regulars for decades but have been deterred by the onslaught of tourists in recent years.

Now they have a chance to relish the pools as they used to be.

"On a normal summer day this place is crammed, that's not good," Mr Spekal said.

"Financially, of course, it is good for the company but us, regulars, we just don't like it. However, we could bear more people than we have now - but it's nice like this."

The complex is encouraging physical distancing and staff are disinfecting the railings every 30 minutes.