The Best Thermal Baths in Budapest

One of the biggest and most exciting cities in Central Europe, Budapest is renowned as a must see destination. At the heart of the city’s heritage is its legendary mineral-rich waters and steaming thermal baths, which have been enjoyed for over 2,000 years. 

The remains of Thermae Maiores, the public baths used by the Romans, have been excavated and can be visited today. The Ottomans, after invading the city in the 16th century, were particularly fond of Buda’s hot springs and some of the hammams they built are still functional today (Rudas, Király, Veli Bej).

During the bathhouse-building frenzy, which dates back to Budapest’s golden years under the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the early 20th century, newer baths were designed as lavish palaces with the best examples today being the monumental Széchenyi and Gellért.

Having officially carried the title as a Spa City for over 80 years, the city’s network of hot springs that feed into numerous thermal baths are unmatched on a global scale. The baths are replenished with a daily delivery of 70 million litres from 118 hot springs and drilled wells. With the huge variety of baths on offer, there certainly is something for everyone. 

Benefits of visiting a thermal bath

Thermal bathing has long been associated with health and wellbeing. Although the scientific evidence for the benefits of balneotherapy, the treatment of certain conditions using mineral-rich water, is mixed, Budapest’s baths remain popular for relaxation and traditional spa treatments.

Adding a thermal bath to your itinerary is not only a great reason to soak in hot water inside grand old buildings, but also a chance to relax or socialise. If you enjoy a little pampering on holiday, you might also like our blog on the top spa hotels to visit by train.

Social gatherings and information exchange have historically been central to Budapest’s bathhouses. This was especially true during the oppressive years of communism in the 1950s, when the clouds of steam and background noise of running water offered some privacy for conversations.

While the mineral content of the water is similar across many of the baths, each venue is different in terms of its size, architecture, facilities and the type of visitors it attracts. Tourists mainly flock to Széchenyi and Rudas, while Lukács remains popular with locals.

Being prepared:

The essentials for any trip to a spa in Budapest are:

• Swimsuit
• Flip-flops or sandals
• Towel
• Swimming cap if you wish to use the main swimming pools for lane swimming

Useful to know:

• Admission: Ticket prices vary between baths, with different options for lockers, changing cabins and access to particular facilities. Check the official websites for current prices and booking arrangements.
• When to visit: Weekdays are generally quieter than weekends. Arriving earlier in the day can also help you avoid the busiest periods.
• Bathing arrangements: Most baths have mixed bathing facilities, but Rudas retains some single-sex sessions in its historic Turkish bath. Check the arrangements before visiting.
• Throughout the year: Budapest’s thermal baths can be enjoyed in every season, but soaking in steaming-hot water is especially appealing in winter, particularly in the outdoor pools.
• Facilities: Many baths have saunas, steam rooms and additional wellness facilities. Massages and other treatments may be available for an extra charge, although these are best booked in advance.
• Children: Some thermal baths have minimum age restrictions, including Széchenyi and Rudas, which do not admit children under 14.
• Drinking the water: You don’t have to bathe in Budapest’s mineral-rich waters to sample them. Széchenyi, Rudas and Lukács all have drinking fountains where you can try the mineral water, which can have a distinctly sulphurous taste. The water is inexpensive to buy, although the fountains have their own opening hours, so check the bath’s website before visiting.

The Must Visit Spas of Budapest

Széchenyi Baths

The lavish Széchenyi Thermal Baths were built at the beginning of the 20th century. The complex is one of the largest thermal bathing establishments in Europe and remains one of the most popular baths in the capital.

As a first-time visitor to Budapest, Széchenyi should be on your list to try. Entering from Kós Károly Walkway, you can admire the interior mosaics inside the grand Neo-Baroque building.

The complex has an impressive collection of indoor and outdoor pools, filled with mineral-rich thermal water containing calcium, magnesium and hydrogen carbonate. The magnificent yellow buildings surrounding the outdoor pools make this one of Budapest’s most recognisable landmarks.

Soaking in the steaming outdoor pool here during the winter months can be an especially enjoyable experience.

Széchenyi Baths official website

Rudas Baths

Built in the 16th century under Ottoman Pasha Sokollu Mustafa, the Rudas Baths have been in operation since the Turkish conquest of Hungary. These renovated baths retain some of the strongest Turkish influences of any bath in Budapest.

The biggest attraction here is the rooftop thermal pool, which provides a stunning view across the Danube and the capital. Other key features include the octagonal main pool beneath a domed cupola with coloured glass, supported by massive columns.

Rudas retains its traditional single-sex bathing sessions in the Turkish section on certain weekdays, with mixed bathing at other times. Visitors can also enjoy the modern wellness centre, which offers a range of facilities and treatments, as well as the restaurant overlooking the Danube.

Different tickets provide access to different areas, so check which facilities are included before booking.

Rudas Baths official website

Veli Bej Baths

Dating back to the 16th century, Veli Bej is one of Budapest’s oldest Turkish baths. Built during the Ottoman occupation, it has been carefully restored, retaining much of its original character while incorporating modern spa facilities.

The centrepiece is an octagonal thermal pool beneath a traditional Turkish dome, surrounded by four smaller pools of varying temperatures. The stone arches and atmospheric lighting give the baths a very different feel from the grand surroundings of Széchenyi.

Located on the Buda side of the Danube, within the Császár Hotel complex, Veli Bej is smaller and generally quieter than Budapest’s best-known baths. Visitor numbers are limited, making it a good choice for anyone looking for a more peaceful bathing experience.

Lukács Baths

Lukács, a 19th-century complex, is a real medical mecca for keen spa aficionados. As a place that locals frequent, its modest but functional layout makes Lukács feel more like a traditional bath compared to the grand surroundings of Széchenyi.

Renowned for its long history of medicinal bathing, the baths display numerous memorial plaques giving thanks, in various languages, to the institution and medical staff for treatments received, some dating back to 1897.

The complex has indoor thermal pools and outdoor swimming pools, with water at different temperatures. There is also a drinking hall where visitors can sample mineral water from a separate well.

Lukács is open to both men and women and offers a more traditional Budapest bathing experience, away from some of the city’s busiest tourist attractions.

Lukács Baths official website

Gellért Baths

Gellért Baths are currently closed for major renovations, with reopening planned for 2028. Check the official Gellért Baths website for the latest information.

Attached to the grand Hotel Gellért, an Art Nouveau landmark from 1918, these baths are considered a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture, with stained-glass windows and colourful porcelain tiles adorning the walls.

Enjoying a dip in the Gellért Baths has been likened to taking a bath in a cathedral. The magnificent indoor pools are decorated with turquoise ceramics, while natural light streams through the windows above.

Before closing for renovation, the complex offered a range of indoor thermal pools, swimming facilities and outdoor bathing areas, including its famous wave pool, first introduced in 1927.

When the baths reopen, they should once again be one of Budapest’s architectural highlights and a wonderful place to enjoy the city’s bathing traditions.

Visiting Budapest by Train

Budapest is easy to reach by train, with overnight services and the option to break your journey in other European cities along the way.

Our Budapest Without Flying holiday gives you time to enjoy the Hungarian capital, including a visit to one or two of its famous thermal baths. If you’d like to see more of Central Europe, you could combine Budapest with other magnificent capitals on our Budapest, Vienna and Prague rail holiday.

For something more luxurious, our Budapest and the Orient-Express holiday includes a stay in the city followed by a journey aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

These are just some of the possibilities. Browse our rail holidays in Hungary for more inspiration, or speak to one of our Travel Designers about planning a holiday that includes Budapest. We can tailor the route, accommodation and length of your stay to suit you.