Buk Spa

The thermal water at Buk was found in 1957 by a drilling crew looking for oil, and what came up instead was hot mineral water at over fifty degrees, rich in calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate. A spa town grew around it from nothing, and the complex is now among the largest in the country: more than thirty pools of different temperatures spread across indoor and outdoor areas, thermal basins used for rheumatic treatment, an adventure section with slides for families, saunas and a medical centre. Its position twenty kilometres from the Austrian border means a large share of the visitors drive across for the day, and golf courses and hotels have followed. It is a functional destination rather than a scenic one.

What you actually see

• Over thirty pools - thermal, medical and leisure basins across the site.
• Water found while drilling for oil - the 1957 accident that made the town.
• The medical treatment wing - the rheumatic programmes the water is used for.
• Family slide and adventure areas - the leisure half of the complex.

When to go

Year round; thermal bathing is best in autumn and winter. A day. Weekends, Austrian school holidays and Christmas are extremely busy. Book accommodation ahead.

Honest expectations

The town exists only for the spa and has no character beyond it. It is crowded and noisy in the family sections. Prices have risen sharply. There is nothing to do if you do not want to swim.

Nearby

Koszeg is north-west; Sarvar lies south.