Find out below which one works best for you.
For thousands of years, locals have enjoyed the steaming, mineral-rich thermal water simmering beneath Budapest's surface. The remains of the Roman-era public baths, Thermae Maiores, are still visible, while some of the hammams that Ottoman Turkey built during its occupation of Buda-Pest continue to function as such (Rudas, Veli Bej, Király).
Another wave of bathhouse-building took place during Budapest's golden years under Austria-Hungary in the early 20th century. To take advantage of the city's rich supply of thermal water, spa-tourism became all the rage, with ornate bathing complexes replacing the makeshift spas of the past in order to attract tourists from near and far. Unlike the snug hammams, these are vast, striking baths inside lavish Revival buildings, such as Széchenyi.
Why should I go to a thermal bath?
Ironically, science has yet to verify the healing effects of balneotherapy, the treatment of pain in thermal water; it’s possible that minerally water is a useful supplement to standard treatments, but there's insufficient evidence to prove it. So what’s all the fuss about thermal bathing then? Well, healing isn’t the only reason to soak yourself in hot water inside grand old buildings – bathing is also a great way to relax, reflect, and socialize.
In fact, social gatherings and information exchange have traditionally been central to Budapest bathhouses. This was especially true during the most repressive years of the Communist-era, in the late 1940s and 1950s, when hiding amid clouds of mist and the background noise of running water was a relatively safe refuge for covert political discussions.
Despite popular belief, the majority of Hungarians don’t regularly go to thermal baths (I, for example, go about once a year). At the baths featured below, about 75 percent of guests are tourists on average. Locals who do go to baths consist of diehard regulars and patients looking to treat ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis and muscle pain. As an added incentive, the Hungarian national health insurance plan subsidizes these prescribed visits.
Budapest has a total of nine medicinal baths today (and 123 hot springs). While the water’s mineral content is comparable, each bath is unique in terms of its size, architecture, amenities, and the type of visitors it draws. Most popular and biggest of all is Széchenyi, located inside Budapest's City Park, followed by Rudas. In turn, many locals seek out quieter locations with lower admission fees.
Know before you go
Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to soak yourself inside Gellért Bath's Art Nouveau halls, because Gellért is undergoing a much-needed gut renovation and will remain closed until early 2029.
A swimsuit, a pair of sandals, and a towel are all you need to bring. And a swim cap in case you'd like to use the swimming pools, too. The general admission, which ranges from €15 to €30, includes the price of a small locker (you can also rent a cabin for a surcharge).
On weekends, baths operate at full capacity, meaning that you'll do yourself a favor if you visit on a weekday (admission fees are also slightly lower then).
If you go to Széchenyi, try to get there at opening (Széchenyi usually opens at 7 a.m.) – that's when you'll find the local regulars and the baths won't be so crowded.
Like it or not, nudity is no longer accepted. Except for Rudas, which is partially single-sex in the mornings, all Budapest baths are coed and require a bathing suit. See details below on Rudas.
Bathing is a year-round activity, but soaking in steaming-hot water is especially reviving in the gloomy winter months, particularly in the outdoor pools (except for Veli Bej, all baths have both indoor and outdoor sections).
In most bathhouses, there's a labyrinthine system of lockers and changing rooms with few signs to help you find your way. Instead of losing your patience as you keep getting lost, think of it as part of the experience.
Water temperatures across the pools usually range from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius (86 to 104 Fahrenheit). The general admission also covers the use of cold pools, saunas, and steam rooms.
Some baths offer refunds for shorter stays. Tickets for less than two hours and afternoon-only stays are most common.
Many baths provide additional services such as massages, private baths, and pedicures for an extra charge. Check the baths' websites below for the full list of amenities.
Children under the age of 14 aren't permitted to enter Budapest's thermal baths (those listed below).
Thermal water enthusiasts can buy mineral-rich water to drink. Széchenyi, Rudas, and Lukács each have a thermal water fountain with sulfurous water for consumption (if you bring an empty bottle, you can also take some to go). Prices won’t set you back much: a glass costs about ten euro cents.
Except for Király, which is currently under renovation, all bathhouses are wheelchair accessible.
5 of my favorites
#1 SZÉCHENYI Baths (location; Monday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
What’s unique about it? The Roman and Ottoman-era thermal baths of Budapest were all located on the Buda side of the city and people didn’t think that thermal water could be found in Pest until Vilmos Zsigmondy, a geothermal specialist and mining engineer, proved this wasn’t so. After ten years of drilling, in 1878 a steaming hot, mineral-rich water started to gush out of the earth from a thousand meters below its surface.
Fast forward to 1913, Széchenyi Baths opened in Budapest’s City Park as one of the biggest thermal bathing complexes in Europe. The Széchenyi contained more than a dozen indoor pools at various water temperatures with additional services of mud baths, steam and massage rooms, saunas, and private spas.
With 1.7 million annual visitors and almost 3,000 sqm of water surface, Széchenyi is still considered the mother of all thermal baths. On weekends, the place can feel more like an amusement park than a thermal bath (less so if one goes early in the morning). The steaming outdoor pools are especially enjoyable during the winter months, with the Baroque Revival architecture as backdrop. The main entrance via Kós Károly sétány features a stunning Baroque style dome decorated with scenes about the joy of bathing.
Percent of locals: 15%. Number of pools: 15 indoor, 3 outdoor. Coed? Yes, every day. Admission (adults): HUF14,000 / €35 (includes the outdoor pools).
#2 RUDAS Baths (location; Monday to Sunday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; night bathing on Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.)
What’s unique about it? The dim, octagonal bathing chamber, which was built in the 16th century under the Ottoman pasha, Sokollu Mustafa. Between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., only men are permitted to use this Turkish section on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Tuesday morning is women's day). Many of them saunter from pool to pool under the vaulted arcades, wearing only an apron-like cloth called "kötény." After 11 a.m., the Turkish section becomes co-ed every day of the week.
Rudas has a newer wing which is co-ed every day at all times. It is known for its outdoor hot tub atop the building with sweeping Budapest views. I think it's intentional that the water isn’t a few degrees warmer – people would never leave. Ideally, your ticket should cover both the indoor and the outdoor sections. One could also consider the 40-minute water massage service.
Percent of locals: 25% (on weekdays there are more locals). Number of pools: 11 indoor, 1 outdoor. Coed? Rudas's Turkish section is single-sex on weekday mornings from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are men's days, Tuesday is women's day). After 11 a.m., the Turkish section becomes co-ed. On weekends, the Turkish section is co-ed all day. Details here. The wellness section and the outdoor hot tub are coed every day at all times. Admission (adults): HUF12,800 / €32 (includes the outdoor hot tub).
#3 LUKÁCS Baths (location; Monday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
What’s unique about it? Lukács Baths fall under the radar compared with Széchenyi and Rudas, which are housed in more impressive or older buildings. On the other hand, Lukács is a “locals’ bath,” On the other hand, Lukács is known to be a locals’ bath, frequented by many artists and intellectuals, with a concentration of Jewish people from nearby Újlipótváros. And by senior citizens on Mondays and Thursdays, when local pensioners enjoy discounted access.
The outdoor pools are flanked by tall buildings, lending an intimate atmosphere to the area below. Up top, there is a panoramic sunbathing terrace, which draws lively social exchanges in the summer months. My favorite of all is Lukács’s labyrinthine indoor section. Note the cluster of marble plaques as you enter the premises, commissioned by cured visitors as tokens of gratitude. My favorite, from 1899, begins: “Makacs lumbago évekig kínozott,” translating to “A stubborn lumbago tormented me for years…”
Percent of locals: 50%. Number of pools: 4 indoor, 3 outdoor. Coed? Yes, every day. Admission (adults): HUF7,000 / €18 (includes the outdoor pools).
#4 VELI BEJ Baths (location; Monday and Tuesday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday to Sunday 6 a.m. to noon, and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
What’s unique about it? Similar to Rudas, Veli Bej was built in the 16th century under Sokollu Mustafa pasha. According to a 1673 document, Veli Bej was the biggest and most gorgeous bath in Buda-Pest in the twilight years of the Ottoman-era. In 1806, the bath was gifted to the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, which expanded it with a Neoclassical wing that still stands. In 2000, after Communist-era nationalizations, Veli Bej was handed back to the Roman Catholic order known for its health services (they are also in charge of the hospital surrounding the bath).
After a recent gut renovation, old and new harmoniously blend together: Turkish domes and ogee arches lead the way to modern steam rooms and saunas. Veli Bej's owners don't seem to run the place for profit, making it one of the cheaper and least crowded baths in Budapest.
Percent of locals: 50%. Number of pools: 7 indoor. Coed? Yes, every day. Admission (adults): HUF6,000 / €15.
#5 DANDÁR Baths (location; Monday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
What’s unique about it? Compared with the others on this list, Dandár is a more modest Budapest bath although its 1930s Art Deco building has its own charm. Dandár was originally built as a public bath for the residents of Ferencváros in District 9 who didn't have a bathroom at home; it was converted into a thermal spa in 1978 using geothermal water from a nearby source.
Drawing also working class locals, Dandár comes closest to offering an immersive true-to-Budapest experience. In addition to the indoor pools and saunas, there are two outdoor spas and a sunbathing area. Note that Dandár abuts the production plant and the family museum of Zwack Unicum, the iconic Hungarian herbal liqueur, with a gift shop in its entry hall.
Percent of locals: 90%. Number of pools: 3 indoor, 2 outdoor. Coed? Yes, every day. Admission (adults): HUF3,000 / €8.
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