A Tour of Budapest’s Bath Scene with Model Barbara Palvin

When longtime W girl Barbara Palvin told us she swears by washing her face with cold water and making monthly trips to her facialist, we were impressed. Alas, great skincare is the Hungarian way. Here, the 22-year-old face of the Giorgio Armani’s latest additions to the famed Acqua di Gioia ozonic collection, Sun di Gioia and Air di Gioia, dishes out some pointers on Budapest’s famous bath scene, because, if you’re going to go bathhouse hopping in a place known as the “City of Baths” you should have an insider’s take first.

Tell us about the Budapest bath scene. Why are they such a huge part of the city’s culture? I think it is very cultural, since the Turkish conquest! Budapest naturally has quite a lot of thermal heat, so it’s a great foundation to use it in a bath scene, which is very popular with the tourist and local audiences too.

And you’re from Budapest! Did you grow up going to them? Well, as a child I visited these places through my PE classes at school. Also, it was very common in our family to spend our free time on the weekends together at these spas and swimming pools.

What are the best bathhouses in the city? Szechenyi Bath, Gellert Bath, Rudas Bath, and Heviz Bath (which is outside of Budapest, but very popular).

Do you have any favorite treatments? The hot sauna and the ice-cold plunge pool with a relaxing massage! I’m not against to anything, I’m always open to try new and special treatments

What are your favorite Hungarian skincare brands? I’ve heard about Omorovicza, but I haven’t tried them yet. I hear it’s very good and I’m proud that it’s a Hungarian brand! Also, there are two other brands I would like to recommend to you: The first one is the Helia D, its very popular since the ’80s. They have all kinds of beauty products for every day uses. The second one called, Ilcsi Organic Skin Care. It’s famous of their all-organic, natural products made with herbs.

Where do you venture outside of the city? There are many great Spas outside of Budapest as well: I like to go to Heviz and Miskolctapolca Cave Bath! For health and beauty treatments they [Heviz] use thermal/medicinal mud. It’s around 40-70 Euros.

Are there any other places that we should know about? Take a walk or run in our beautiful Margaret Island in middle of the city!