SPArty is a company with a vision, a company that aims to transform the traditional bath into a true, hip and happening, party venue, with mesmerizing light effects, cool music, drinks, and pools. For the young and restless, this sounds like the perfect idea of fun, but for the older, not open to new experiences, this may not be the desired cup of tea. Nevertheless, the transformation is startling, surreal, and worthy of a photo essay.
SPArty and the Széchenyi Baths
The Széchenyi Baths (Hungarian: Széchenyi-gyógyfürdő) count among the most spectacular, and famous, Budapest has to offer. They boast no less than 15 indoor baths and 3 grand outdoor pools, and are, beyond any doubt, the most visited by locals and tourists alike. You need to be there, if not for the experience itself, for history and tradition. This true architectural landmark complex was erected in 1913, and it remains, to date, the largest medicinal bath complex in Europe. You can easily imagine that this place is never running out of visitors. It’s not really the “oasis of peace” of the promised exotic havens, but it has its perks. Go for the health benefits of the thermal waters, let yourself pampered by their pro massage therapists, and feel the history of the place. It’s there: you only need to let the worries of the mundane at the entrance, and everything else will come as a well-deserved reward.
With SPArty, the otherwise traditional and traditionalist Széchenyi Baths get a much needed infusion of youth, attracting the next generation of spa goers, with something more up their alley. You may not always associate electro beats with thermal waters, but this is just what SPArty brings to Széchenyi, along with their mesmerizing, cooler-than-cool, psychedelic lights. Széchenyi feels young, powerful, and fun. It’s a leap from tradition, but it is still an immersive experience: tradition and history are still there, for those who have eyes to see them.
You go to a Széchenyi Bath SPArty for the wild experience promised by a great DJ, and to party. Or to put it simply, you go because this is something else, a novel idea that deserves attention. The spa needs to address the inner desires of people from all walks of life, and what can be better for the soul than music and dance? Adding booze in the mix may not be your idea of a rejuvenating experience, but drinking is a personal choice. They serve alcohol-free beverages too, so don’t be nit-picky. Welcome the SPArty for what it is: fun. The rest is up to you.
A Twist on the Traditional Pool Party
This is just what SPArty events are: nothing new under the sun, but a twist on traditional pool parties. And they happen under the starry skies, till early morning, and only on Saturday nights. More would be too much, less… would be a loss. And the window to enjoy the fun seems too short, when you consider that these events only happen from April to November. Make a note: when they are not at the Széchenyi Baths, the events may take place at the Lukács Bath, on the Buda side of the city.