Health Tourism

Medical Tourism

Wellness & Beauty

Aquaparks & Water Fun

Treatment Packages

Spa Cities in Hungary

Treatment Guides

If you are looking for a rich cultural experience with medical, health or wellness treatments, then Hungary is the place that suits you best. The ancient Romans had a very developed bath culture in Hungary more than 2000 years ago. They highly valued the healing effects of Hungarian thermal waters. In the 16th century, the Turks built beautiful Turkish Baths which are still in use today.

Budapest deserves the nicknames such as “Spa City” or “Spa Capital“(it got this illustrious title in the 1930’s) because the Hungarian capital has the highest number of thermal springs (118) within the city limits in the world. For those who love spa and wellness, it is unique for being the only large city in the world, which abounds in fountains of healing water. In this way Hungary is one of the best and most popular destinations for Spa and Wellness Vacations.

SPA culture of Hungary

The waters that are beneficial for the body come under three categories:

  • the mineral waters from groundwater layers,
  • thermal water at temperature of 30°C and above and
  • medicinal water with scientifically proven medicinal effects. 

You can find in Hungary totally

  • 1 289 springs
  • in 385 cities can be found thermal bath
  • 13 health resort
  • 57 sanatoriums
  • 39 qualified thermal bath
  • 5 medicinal caves
  • 81 mineral water, and 315 thermal water source
  • 4 medicinal mud
  • 1 mofetta

Spa cities/areas in Hungary

  • Budapest
  • Lake Balaton
  • Hévíz, Zalakaros, Sárvár
  • Harkány, Bükfürdő
  • Hajdúszoboszló, Gyula
  • Miskolctapolca, Eger, Mezőkövesd
  • Egerszalók, Aggtelek, Lillafüred
  • Nyíregyháza – Sóstófürdő
  • Szeged

Thermal water or medicinal water can be found in 80% of the country. The country has more thermal-water sites than anywhere in the world because the Earth’s crust is so thin that waters can rise closer to the surface. The heat penetration from the sun is greater, so the mineral-rich, brittle rocks can be absorbed more effectively in the waters.

Today, taking the waters is still second nature to Hungarians and doctors routinely recommend a trip to the spa to their patients. More than 1000 springs provide medicinal and thermal water to natural and medical spas. Lake Hévíz is a real natural phenomenon with its 25 °C yearly average water temperature. This is the largest biollogically active thermal lake in Europe.

What is health tourism?

If you are health conscious and you would like to recover or just maintain your health, Hungary is the perfect place for you.

What makes Hungarian health tourism especially attractive is the outstanding price-value ratio even on an international scale. Hungary offers high-tech therapies for a fraction of western European prices. Therapies are conducted by highly-qualified specialists at private clinics, university clinics and other national institutes. They offer modern medical care under excellent circumstances.

All in all, Hungarian health tourism offers a wide range of services from recreation, wellness and medicinal water based rehabilitation to up-to-date medical and dental care. The comprehensive packages always promise high standards, and to ensure quality entertainment, the services are completed with the services of recreational tourism.

The medical effects of Hungarian thermal waters are unique in the world. Hungary will treat you well!

„ All the intentional mobility related to health, where the main reason for travelling is healing (medical treatment), rehabilitation, health improvement (wellness, recreation, etc.) accompanied with tourism service.”

– Dictionary of Medical Sciences –

The healthcare system in Hungary

Hungary has an all-inclusive health system for every tax payer and financed by health insurance contributions and it is free to all who are insured via the National Health Insurance Fund, shortly via the HIF. Healthcare services shall be used at the healthcare provider having a financing contract with health insurance for the given service.

Contribution to the HIF can be proven by presenting your social security card (‘TB’-card) which is issued by the state. Patients make co-payments on certain services, including pharmaceuticals, dental care and rehabilitation.

Non-Hungarians who are not insured are only entitled to essential health services free of charge, in the case of an emergency or acute condition. This includes basic services, out-patient services and in-patient treatment. Highly recommended to arrange some kind of travel/health insurance before visiting Hungary.

Patients from member states of the European Union are entitled to ambulant treatment in Hungary. Costs are being reimbursed by their health insurance up to the quantity the same treatment would amount to in their home country. First aid and emergency treatment is free for everyone, including tourists.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is accepted in Hungary for emergencies, both at walk-in clinics and at hospitals if they are contracted with the National Health Insurance Fund. Most pharmacies accept the card, although some have been known to refuse it. Highly recommended to arrange some kind of travel/health insurance before visiting Hungary.

Both private system (that works on a treat and then pay basis) and public institutions play an active role in the healthcare system and market. International patients receiving Dental treatments, Cosmetic and Aesthetic treatment, Ophthalmological interventions, Fertility treatments are mainly provided by private clinics but other procedures like Joint Surgery, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmologic operation, Cancer treatment are mainly provided by public health institutions.

The private hospitals and dentist surgeries are equipped with state of the art modern technology and facilities, largely due to the influence of the German clients who have been visiting the country for over fifteen years to take advantage of the very competitive prices for their dental and surgery needs. Hungarian dentists and surgeons’ qualifications are internationally acknowledged.

Doctors standards in Hungary

All doctors have to be registered and receive permission to practice from the government department, the Chamber of Medicine. All clinics and hospitals have to be approved and registered with the government health department and all doctors have to also be registered, declaring their diplomas and qualifications to the same department, before they are allowed to practice at a particular institution.

This also applies if the surgeon works at more than one institution then he/she has to be registered at all places of practice. Surgeons and doctors are known simply as Doctor or Mr and doctors state their speciality. The Professional skills and knowledge of Hungarian physicians are acknowledged worldwide.

Strict regulations govern the oversight of doctors in Hungary, with 50 mandatory hours a year of continuing education for licensed practitioners, higher than many European and American requirements. For example, cosmetic surgeons must complete up to 13 years of study.

Following six years of medical school, future cosmetic surgeons must be trained in a clinical setting for three to five years depending on specialization. Then they can apply for accreditation which requires a further one or two years of study. This ensures a high standard and qualifications of the doctor in their specialty.

Private medical facilities have invested heavily in obtaining the latest technology, instruments and resources to upgrade its treatment capabilities and serve international patients with the highest standards.

Send us your inquiry with your expectaions and we prepare you a personalized offer meeting all of your requirements.