Hairgrove's in Hungary: Hajdúszoboszló--Thermal Baths, Beaches, and a Water Park!

When I see a name like Hajdúszoboszló my first thought is how am I going to say this word? Luckily for me, this a popular destination for foreigners and Hungarians alike so getting there is not a problem. Last week me and Ben hopped on a bus that took us to one of the best spa's in the country. The Hajdúszoboszló's Hungarospa Thermal Baths is Europe's largest bath complex. It has dozens of activities and pools to keep you occupied for a day visit or even a weekend. Located about 30 minutes from Debrecen it is a great place to come if you are visiting Debrecen or live in the city like we do. We went on a Monday because the price is cut in half and less crowded than the weekend. The only downside is that the water slides outside were shutdown.

We spent the majority of our time in the Aqua-Palace. Many times we were the only ones floating in our pool--giving us a feeling of almost owning the place. (Ha, ha...I wish!) The complex has many eating options including outdoor dining by the "beach" or an inside cafeteria. We ate inside where we had a traditional Hungarian lunch of beef stew. I was worried the prices would be overblown as they sometimes can be at these sort of all-in-one complexes, but I was pleasantly surprised. A lunch for two people including a dessert was a little less than 2,000 forint (or less than $10 U.S.).

We didn't explore the town of Hajdúszoboszló, but it seemed easy enough to navigate. If you arrive from the bus station like we did the Aqua-Palace is only a five minute walk. This is perfect when you are leaving after a hard day at the Aqua-Palace. After all you don't want to strain yourself too much after a day of relaxation (ha, ha). I would recommend visiting this place if you are in the neighborhood or staying in Hungary for more than a few days. We would surely be spending a lot of time here this summer if we were staying.