6 of Budapest's Best Thermal Baths for a Memorable Holiday Experience

You know that feeling of pure bliss as you slip into the soothing waters of a warm bath? It’s therapeutic and calming, lifting your mood and imparting a delightful sense of wellness. Now imagine that but in mineral-rich waters sourced from hot springs, surrounded by ornate marble columns and intricate mosaic décor. Oh, and rejuvenating massages, relaxation pools and a host of spa treatments. A glimpse of paradise? Possibly. Welcome to Budapest’s thermal baths.

Mineral baths are a Hungarian institution. The therapeutic properties of their naturally warm waters have been celebrated for centuries, and Budapest, which is fed by over 120 hot springs, is the place to be. It’s home to several baths built in the 16th and 17th centuries during the Ottoman rule, plus neo-Baroque and Art Nouveau spa complexes that are architectural gems in their own right. To help you choose where to go during your stay in Budapest, here’s our guide to the city’s six best thermal baths.

There’s really no other experience that combines relaxation with stunning architecture, city history and local culture like visiting a Budapest thermal bath. Indulging in one may seem decadent, but it’s all part of the balanced Hungarian approach to wellness. These three, perennially popular with locals and visitors alike, are famed for their stunning beauty and wealth of facilities.

The images of Széchenyi’s outdoor pools, steam rising against the opulent neo-Baroque edifice behind, are iconic. Nestled in City Park, this sprawling domed complex looks like a palace, but has been a spa since it was first built in 1913. Choose from indoor thermal pools, outdoor relaxation pools or a 50-metre lap pool for an invigorating workout. A grandmaster in the making? Challenge a worthy opponent to a game of chess in the water.

Several saunas offer a range of temperatures (from a ‘light’ sauna to the eyebrow-raising ‘volcano’), while steam cabins promise to stimulate and revitalise. You can also opt for a massage, harness the healing properties of seawater with a thalassotherapy session or be tempted by a beer bath (which is exactly as it sounds).

Széchenyi Thermal Bath

• Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Budapest
• Open weekdays 7 am to 8 pm, weekends 8 am to 8 pm
• Tickets start at 8,400Ft. Spa treatments are priced additionally. Book Sparty tickets online or purchase them at the door
• Transport: Széchenyi fürdő underground station, Line M

Head west of the Danube to find these baths in an elegant riverfront complex. This Budapest stalwart owes its reputation to its breathtaking Art Nouveau architecture, with sculpted columns topped by an impressive glass roof, and thermal pools decorated with Zsolnay ceramics. This site’s healing tradition traces its roots all the way back to the 10th century, when a hospital was founded to treat plague patients. The current building, opened to great fanfare in 1918, was for a long time one of Europe’s most modern facilities.

Step into the double-storied, glass-roofed arcade housing the swimming pool, and stop to admire the mythical creatures adorning the stone columns before you slip into the temperature-controlled water. In summer, enjoy the large outdoor pool, then escape back into the calm to relax in the saunas, hammams and thermal pools.

Gellért Thermal Bath

• Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118 Budapest
• Open daily 9 am to 7 pm, saunas and steam rooms open 10 am to 6 pm
• Tickets start at 10,500Ft. Spa treatments are priced additionally
• Transport: Szent Gellért tér-Műegyetem underground station, Line M4

Smaller than Széchenyi and cosier than Gellért, this Ottoman-era bath house delivers a more restful but no less impressive experience. At its heart is the 16th-century octagonal pool, in an atmospheric stone-clad space with massive columns capped by a central dome. But the main draw here is undoubtedly its outdoor panorama pool, on a roof terrace with a gorgeous view of the Danube and the city skyline on one side, and the craggy peaks of Gellért Hill on the other. It’s especially spectacular at sunset.

The Turkish baths are single-sex on certain days: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursday mornings and Friday mornings are men only, while Tuesdays are reserved for women. But don’t worry, the spa is open to all every day, so pamper yourself with a wellness treatment – the extensive menu includes classic and water massages, couples’ rituals and pedicures.

Rudas Thermal Bath

• Döbrentei tér 9, 1013 Budapest
• Open daily 6 am to 8 pm, plus Fridays and Saturdays 10 pm to 3 am
• Tickets start at 9,300Ft. Spa treatments are priced additionally
• Transport: Ferenciek tere underground station, Line M3, then a 15-minute walk across Erzsébet Bridge, or trams 56 or 56A from the city centre

Much more than just somewhere to unwind, Budapest’s thermal baths are a place to gather, socialise and enjoy a sense of community. Nowhere is this more evident than in the city’s lesser-known baths, so dive into the heart of a more intimate Budapest with these hidden gems.

We start in a peaceful neighbourhood north of Budapest overlooking the Danube. This historic spa complex, built during the Ottoman occupation, has undergone numerous renovation and reconstruction works over the centuries. Today, it offers visitors five pools of varying temperatures, steam baths, saunas, a jacuzzi and a swimming pool. Don’t forget to try the Kneipp walk, where you stroll in alternately hot and cold water on a bed of pebbles, neatly giving you a foot massage while getting your circulation going.

Irgalmasok Veli Bej Bath

• Árpád fejedelem útja 7, 1023 Budapest
• Open Mondays to Fridays 3 pm to 9 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 6 am to noon and 3 pm to 9 pm
• Tickets start at 4,500Ft. Massages are priced additionally
• Transport: Trams 4 or 6 to Margit híd, budai hídfő stop, or trams 17, 19 or 41 to Komjádi Béla utca stop

Nestled next to Veli Bej is Lukács Baths, another of Budapest’s jewels. As well as serving as a bath house during the Turkish era, the thermal springs were used as an energy source to mill grain and produce gunpowder. Restored as a spa in the late 19th century, it quickly became a favourite destination amongst the European elite, whose marble plaques of gratitude at being cured of their various ailments can still be seen in the courtyard today. Amid the marble columns and ancient frescoes, you’ll find three outdoor pools, four indoor thermal pools, a sauna and a steam room. There’s also a drinking fountain for you to sample the therapeutic waters.

Lukács Baths

• Frankel Leó út 25-29, 1023 Budapest
• Open daily 7 am to 7 pm, drinking fountain on Wednesdays and Fridays 11 am to 6 pm
• Tickets start at 4,800Ft. Spa treatments are priced additionally
• Transport: Trams 17, 19 or 41 to Szent Lukács Gyógyfürdő stop

We head south of the city for our final pick. Compared to Budapest’s other thermal baths, Dandár is smaller and simpler, with no noteworthy architecture or fancy services. But who needs glitz when the place offers tonnes of local character, hushed tranquillity and wonderfully reasonable prices? Drift at leisure between the indoor and outdoor pools, with temperatures ranging between 20 and 38°C, then head to the wellness area to bask in the Finnish sauna and aromatic steam room. If you’re looking to stay in the area, this quirky hotel is just five minutes’ drive away.

Dandár Baths

• Dandár u. 3, 1095 Budapest
• Open daily 9 am to 7 pm, saunas from 10 am to 7 pm
• Tickets start at 2,300Ft. Massages are priced additionally
• Transport: Trams 2, 2B or 23 to Haller utca / Soroksári út stop

To make the most of your thermal spa experience in Budapest, make sure you’ve done your research. Here’s our guide to all the practical info you need.

Most thermal baths are open year-round, as the water is always warm, so you can visit any time. We love the winter months, when the steam rising from the outdoor pools makes everything look magical.

Pack a swimsuit, which you’ll need for the baths, and a swim cap if you’re planning to use the lap pool. You can rent towels, flip flops and robes, or bring your own.

Plan to spend around two hours if you’re not having any spa treatments. Some spas let you stay for as long as you want, but others (like Veli Bej) have a maximum time limit on the entry ticket, so it’s always worth checking.

You’re all set now for your Budapest thermal bath experience. All that’s left is for you to pack your swimsuit and take that plunge!