A Guide to Miskolctapolca Cave Baths, Hungary’s Unique Spa in a Cave
The Miskolctapolca Cave Bath, a natural underground thermal spring located in a cave in Hungary’s northeast, is one of Europe’s most unique spa experiences. Our guide covers everything you need to know for your visit!
Soaking one’s bones in a soothing mineral bath is a quintessential rite of passage for most travellers to Hungary’s capital, Budapest.
A visit to the ultra-famous Szechenyi Baths, with its grand yellow bathing house and steaming blue pools of water, almost always makes it onto the itinerary, followed by the accidentally Wes Anderson-esque Gellert Baths, or the lesser-known Rudas if time permits.
It’s true that with 9 baths and 123 thermal springs for travellers to hop between, the so-called City of Baths delivers. But its somewhat outsized bathing fame means many travellers don’t actually realise that there are thousands of baths of varying temperatures and grandeur bubbling away all across the country, relics of a bygone era when active volcanoes bubbled across the landscape.
One of those spas, nestled in the leafy fringes of industrial Miskolc in northern Hungary, can certainly lay claim to being amongst Europe’s most unique: the Miskolctapolca Cave Bath (Miskolctapolca Barlangfürdő).
Miskolctapolca Cave Bath is, as its name suggests, a thermal spring weaving through an ancient natural cave system. The end result is a labyrinth of cave passages and pools, all of varying temperatures and sizes that can be explored from the water - including a famous ‘planet room’ where painted stars on the roof and a deep echo give the dark pool an otherworldly feel.
We visited these baths on our recent visit north to Miskolc and Lillafüred, and for two people who often struggle with slowing down on our travels, the chance to let our worries and aches soak away while still feeling relatively active and adventurous by exploring the caves was a dang great way to spend a morning
If you’re ready to add this unique Hungarian spa experience to your own travel plans, here’s everything you need to know about Miskolctapolca Cave Baths before you go!
OUR GUIDE TO MISKOLCTAPOLCA CAVE BATHS
ABOUT THE MISKOLCTAPOLCA CAVE BATHS
These natural cave springs have been known about since Roman times, although they’ve only been used for bathing from the medieval ages onwards.
It was during the 1700s that the spring’s medicinal virtues were extolled and the cave baths grew in popularity. The first wooden bathing house was built around the cave system, and tourism boomed through the 18th and 19th centuries.
In 1934, the area was officially designated as a resort and underwent a few renovations over the 20th century until the current, modern complex was reopened in the early 2000s, with new changing rooms, whirlpools, hydromassage booths, an onsite cafe, and beauty/massage salon available for use.
There are 6 rooms/baths in total, connected by various tunnels and bridges, and overall the temperature hovers around 30c (although some areas were definitely on the chillier side, especially in early autumn!).
As you weave through the network of pools, you’ll pass under massage jets, through echoing chambers, and in and out of baths of different temperatures. It’s a feast for the senses, and you could easily lose a few hours there just relaxing your cares away.
Thankfully, the majority of the cave baths are inside, a blessing for those planning a visit in the winter months, though there’s a collection of outdoor pools and play areas for kids open seasonally too.
WHERE ARE THE MISKOLCTAPOLCA CAVE BATHS?
The cave baths can be found in leafy Miskolctapolca, one of Miskolc’s outer suburbs.
Known as Tapolca (but not to be confused with the Tapolca in Veszprem County near Balaton!), the area is nestled into the foothills of the Bükk Mountains and lined with villas and holiday homes, giving it a peaceful holiday resort vibe.
The Cave Baths are the main attraction of the town, and most of the tourism and daily life here revolves around them.
HOW TO GET TO MISKOLCTAPOLCA CAVE BATHS FROM MISKOLC
The drive to the baths from the centre of Miskolc is about 15 minutes and is simply a matter of following the signs towards Miskolctapolca. Full driving instructions can be found here.
There’s plenty of parking around the cave baths, although most of it is paid (be sure to bring coins!). If you don’t mind a walk, there is a free parking space about 15-minutes walk from the entrance. See it on the map here.
BY BUS
From Miskolc Centrum, jump aboard the #2 bus which will take you all the way to Miskolctapolca, where the final stop (Miskolctapolca Barlangfürdő) is just 4-minutes’ walk from the entrance to the cave baths.
The journey takes about 20-30 minutes, and it’s best to purchase return tickets when you board the bus in Miskolc.
Need to get to Miskolc? You’ll find all the details in our full guide to Miskolc here.
MISKOLCTAPOLCA BARLANGFÜRDŐ ENTRY FEE
Entry to the Miskolctapolca Cave Baths changes seasonally but is generally somewhere around USD 16 per person for the full day. There are also 4-hour passes available at the weekend.
If you’ve purchased the Miskolc Pass, you‘ll receive one free full-day entry to the baths upon showing it at the entrance. This gives you full access to the whole complex.
BUY | Purchase your Miskolc Pass here
ENTRY IS FOR THE WHOLE DAY
If you visit thermal baths on a regular basis, you might be surprised to learn that access to the Miskolc Cave Baths is given for the full day.
The reason is that the mineral concentration in the water here is fairly low, so you can basically spend the whole day splashing about without any concerns if you’d like.
This is different from other thermal baths, where high concentrations mean you’re generally given a timed entrance ticket and advised to swim for short blocks of time.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING THE MISKOLCTAPOLCA CAVE BATHS
GO EARLY TO AVOID THE CROWDS
Miskolctapolca Cave Baths might not be on the radar of most international tourists to Hungary yet, but that definitely doesn’t mean it’s not extremely popular with local visitors! It’s not uncommon for busloads of people to arrive from Budapest just for an afternoon of relaxing and bathing.
With that in mind, we’d suggest getting there as early as possible. We were there right on opening time and noticed the pools were starting to fill up rapidly as we were leaving a few hours later (and this in midst of a pandemic and limited travel!).
KEEP YOUR ENTRY BRACELET ON AT ALL TIMES
When you pay for your entrance, you’ll be given a grey rubber watch-like bracelet. This is your entry pass and must be worn at all times, even when you’re in the water.
This is your entry pass and must be worn at all times, even when you’re in the water — and trust us, the staff will ask you to go put it back on if you’re not!
THE CHANGING AREAS ARE CO-ED (BUT PRIVATE)
This was something that totally confused us the first time we went to a Hungarian bath (at Lake Heviz in Balaton); the changing rooms are co-ed but have private little changing boxes in which you can get changed.
Be sure to lock the doors to these booths on both sides to avoid ending up in an embarrassing rudie-nudie scenario with a stranger!
KEEP YOUR VALUABLES IN THE CHANGING ROOM LOCKERS
In the communal changing areas, you’ll find a bunch of lockers large enough to store coats, shoes, bags, etc. We recommend keeping everything except your towel and pool shoes locked away safely here as unfortunately, a few locals warned us that petty thieves have been known to operate here.
The lockers were free when we visited.
Tip | Attach your locker key to your rubber entry bracelet to avoid losing it in the pool complex
YOU NEED TO WEAR SHOES AROUND THE POOLS
At most spas and baths around Hungary, you’re expected to bring and wear your own slippers / thongs / flip-flops / whatever your preferred naming choice is around the pool deck and all communal areas.
We actually forgot to bring ours, and from the sideways glances we received from a few employees and fellow spa-goers, we were most definitely committing a big faux-pas!
And to avoid another faux-pas, be sure to shower before you enter the pools! There are showers right near the communal changing area on the way to the main pool, so this is a super easy process.
BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL WITH YOU
Be sure to bring your own towel along with you as they aren’t supplied. You might be able to purchase some from the shop here, but we’re not 100% sure on this, so best to bring your own along with you just in case.
THE BATHS AREN’T OPEN IN JANUARY
The baths close for maintenance every January, and the entire complex closes for the month while this happens - so don’t plan your trip around then!
MISKOLCTAPOLCA TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
WHERE TO STAY IN MISKOLC
We opted to stay in the centre of Miskolc in an Airbnb called the Vintage Apartment in Miskolc.
The apartment overlooks the main pedestrian street of Miskolc, and was comfortable and spacious, with everything we needed for a short stay (including a coffee machine, always a must!). There’s also a car space in the carpark out the back - something greatly appreciated in an area where parking space seemed few and far between.
BOOK | VINTAGE APARTMENT MISKOLC
TRAVEL INSURANCE | STAY SAFE IN HUNGARY
Whatever you do, don’t travel without travel insurance, even if you’re the most experienced traveller.
Whether it be a hiking injury, car accident, theft, or lost baggage, things can go wrong in Hungary, and insurance is your only way of mitigating the issues!
BUY | Click here to get the best travel insurance deals with World Nomads
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