Medieval ruins and healing hot springs: Visit Budapest's Margaret Island

The hustle and responsibilities of everyday life leave many of us struggling to unplug and recharge, which, in turn, have bolstered the rise of health tourism as more people look to incorporate relaxation with wellbeing during their precious time off.    

A prime spot for relaxing the mind, body and spirit is Budapest’s stunning Margaret Island, an oasis of meticulously kept gardens, medieval ruins and natural hot springs that were unearthed more than 150 years ago deep beneath its north bank.        

These healing thermal waters – particularly effective in treating various chronic medical conditions like locomotor diseases, problems stemming from the body’s muscular and nervous systems, peripheral circulatory disorders and digestive issues – have been ushering in a steady stream of visitors for generations. 

At the center of the island’s illustrious spa culture is the Grand Margaret Island Health Spa Hotel. The stunning neo-renaissance property, part of the upmarket Ensana Hotels portfolio, has attracted its fair share of notable guests over its long history, including a number of Hungarian poets, writers, painters and athletes. 

The adjacent Thermal Margaret Island Health Spa Hotel, also part of the Ensana group and another popular home base for those in need of rest and relaxation, is considered to be one of the best health and wellness hotels in Budapest.

The property – the first spa hotel to be established in a European capital city – boasts indoor and outdoor pools as well as a sauna, steam room, aroma cabin, thermal bath and fitness room, making it an ideal spot for those looking for a unique spa holiday. 

Thermal Margaret Island also has an onsite therapy center with an extensive range of health treatments to help you relax and protect or restore your health.

Ensana offers enhanced health programs targeted specifically to those looking to alleviate persistent aches and pains or in need of a detailed preventative care plan. 

The De-stress program, for example, is designed to assess your current level of stress and how it impacts your overall health. Healthcare professionals will prepare a highly customized treatment plan, focusing on your individual needs, to reduce stress and improve your quality of life. This could include personalized outdoor and physiotherapy activities, fitness, detox and reflexology massages and treatments stemming from natural health resources.

The program will also equip you with simple and effective techniques that you can use to neutralize stress–causing factors, like meditation, breathing exercises, phototherapy, salt cave and oxygen therapy.

If you’re visiting for just a few days, a Personalized Health Retreat will give you the best overall picture of your health. The program is designed for people who want to play an active role in managing their wellbeing.

Following an extensive diagnostic program, you will be given an overview of the general state of your cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and respiratory systems. The program will also give you insight on potential problems affecting your health, like insomnia and food intolerances, and consider potential “inherited” future health threats, based on an analysis of genetic markers. 

In addition to being the leading spa hotels in Budapest, the Grand Margaret Island and the Thermal Margaret Island are also popular for those organizing conferences, incentive trips and wedding ceremonies in the Hungarian capital. 

Beautiful natural surroundings, high-quality technical equipment, flexible and adaptable rooms, qualified staff, delicious and wide-ranging food options, large number of parking spaces and easy accessibility make the hotels ideal venues for events.

The properties have the capacity and infrastructure to host events of up to 250 people. Following the event program, guests can then take a well-deserved rest in the hotels’ relaxing bathing areas or enjoy a fine-dining experience. The Thermal Margaret Island’s Platán Restaurant, for instance, has a colorful and youthful vibe, the kitchen serves a variety of delicious and healthy, low-fat, low-salt buffet-style dishes with no added sugar consistent with a balanced diet. 

Whether you are arriving in Budapest by car or train, getting to Ensana’s Margaret Island hotels is remarkably accessible. There are numerous parking spaces right next to the Grand Margaret Island and the Thermal Margaret Island. Direct train routes between Prague and Budapest run several times a day.   

Connecting both banks of the Hungarian capital, Margaret Island (Margit-sziget in Hungarian), which had once comprised many smaller islets before merging in one, has had a profound impact on the city’s cultural renaissance over the centuries. From a hunting reserve for royalty in the Middle Ages when it was known as “Isle of Rabbits” to a home base of various religious orders, a stroll around Margaret Island’s 238 acres is like stepping back in time.

If you are ready to explore this slice of tranquility for a much needed rest, start with your Ensana Hotels booking.