The City of Healing Waters
Budapest is often dubbed as the city of healing waters because the number of spas and thermal baths the city offers.
The land where the Hungarian capital lies abounds in natural springs and wells that contain several beneficial minerals.
Many of the pools in the thermal baths are filled with this healing hot water known to bring relief to those suffering from arthritis and other health problems.
Budapest’s baths are also architectural gems so even if you’re not a fan of splashing in the water do make time to visit the most famous ones like the Széchenyi and the Gellért.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents – Budapest Baths
The natural spings supply the warm, healing waters for the nearly 50 Budapest spas, baths and public pools.
That’s why the water in them is perfect for therapeutic as well as recreation purposes.
The baths originate from two time periods:
- the Turkish Baths (Rudas, Király and Veli Bej) date back to the 16th century when Hungary was under Ottoman occupation,
- the Gellért, Széchenyi and Lukács Baths were built in the beginning of the 20th century.
No visit to Budapest is complete with a thermal bath experience, so pick one, buy a ticket, and don’t forget to pack your swimsuit, towels and slippers.
Budapest Baths Opening Hours, Tickets
The thermal baths are open throughout the year even in winter, including most public and national holidays (though usually with shorter opening hours and not all services are available on these special days):
- March 15.
- Easter,
- May Day,
- August 20.,
- October 23.,
- November 01.,
- Christmas,
- New Year.
Besides the indoor thermal bath units, most spas have several outdoor pools, at least one filled with thermal water (Gellért: 36 °C, Széchenyi: 38 °C, Rudas Turkish Bath Rooftop Jacuzzi: 36 °C.
Locals, especially, retirees, visit the baths regularly even in winter time playing, chess in the steaming water and sharing the latest gossip.
In summer you can refresh yourself in the cooler pools (22-30 °C), children pools are a bit warmer: 30-32 °C.
Outdoor Baths – From Late Spring to Early Autumn
From May – depending on daily temperatures – a couple of seasonal baths/beaches with open-air pools only join the all-year baths, some with quite long opening hours (till 21.00 – 22.00 on extreme hot days).
- Palatinus on Margaret Island,
- Római Bath Lido
- Paskál,
- Pünkösdfürdő and
- Csillaghegyi Bath)
👉 Skip-The-Line Tickets To 3 Budapest Baths
Gellért Bath Opening Hours, Prices 2024:
The indoor pools of the Gellért are open
- Monday – Sunday: 09.00 – 19.00
- Saunas and steam cabins: every day: 10.00 – 18.00
The open-air pool is seasonal, open from May to October (depending on the weather). In 2024 it opens on May 09.
Outdoor Pools – Opening hours (from May 09):
- Monday – Sunday: 09.00 – 19.00
The cashier closes 1 hour before the bath closes, closing time of pools: 18.40.
Ticket Prices In The Gellért bath
Day ticket with locker:
- Monday- Thursday: 10 500 HUF
- Friday – Sunday: 12 000 HUF
- Holidays: 13 000 HUF
Massage prices:
- Aroma massage or refreshing massage (20 minutes) 10 800 HUF,
- 45 minues: 18 000 HUF
Book a Full-Day Gellért Spa Ticket (No-Queue Entry with E-Ticket)
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Budapest and treat yourself to a full day of relaxation at the Gellért Spa!
The full-day ticket includes access to all of the spa’s thermal pools, saunas, and wellness treatments.
You’ll leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
Széchenyi Bath Opening Hours, Prices in 2024
The Széchenyi is a large complex with 15 indoor pools and 3 open-air pools located in the city’s biggest leisure park, the Városliget/City Park.
The spa is open every day even during holidays like Christmas, New Year and Easter.
- Indoor thermal pools/treatments: Monday – Friday: 07.00 – 20.00 / Saturday-Sunday: 08.00 – 20.00
- Outdoor pools: Monday – Friday: 07.00 – 20.00 / Saturday-Sunday: 08.00 – 20.00
- Saunas & steam cabins: Monday – Sunday: 10.00 – 19.30
- Sauna sessions: Saturday-Sunday: 14:20, 15:10, 16:00, 16:50, 17:40
- Medical Spa: Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 17.00
- Drinking fountain: Momday – Saturday: 09.00 – 17.00
Ticket Prices – Széchenyi Bath
“Good Morning” discount ticket with locker till 09.00 am:
- Monday – Thursday: 8 500 HUF, Friday
- Friday: 9 700
- Sundays and holidays: not available
Day ticket with locker:
- Monday- Thursday: 10 500 HUF
- Friday – Sunday: 12 000 HUF
- Holidays: 13 000 HUF
Book a Szechenyi Spa Full Day with Optional Pálinka Tour (No-Queue Entry with E-Ticket)
Indulge in a full day of relaxation and rejuvenation at the world-renowned Széchenyi Spa with this skip-the-line, fast-entry all-day ticket.
With over 15 indoor and outdoor thermal baths, saunas, and steam rooms, you’ll enjoy the ultimate in relaxation and wellness.
On Saturdays the Széchenyi hosts the famous Bath Parties (from April to end of September): party time is 22.00 till 03.00 Sunday morning.
👉 See Sparty Tickets to The Széchenyi bath!
🏊♀️ Budapest Baths from the Ottoman Era, and Spas form the First Part of the 20th Century
Perhaps the best-known and most prestigious spa complex in Budapest is located in Buda within the former Gellért Hotel (currently being refurbished).
The bath opened in 1918.
It has 13 pools out of which 8 are thermal pools.
The open-air bath operates between May and September, depending on the weather.
The Széchenyi is one of Europe’s largest spa complexes.
It currently has 15 indoor pools, 3 outdoor pools and 10 saunas and steam chambers.
It is located in Budapest’s popular recreation area, the City Park/Városliget where you can do a few other fun things before or after splashing in the pools of the Széchenyi.
The building of the Lukács bath dates from the 1920s but the baths themselves are much older, originating from the 12th century.
It has a thermal pool, an adventure pool, and two swimming pools.
The Lukács is located in Buda not far from Margaret Bridge (trams 4, 6).
Opening Hours: every day: 06.00 – 22.00, saunas: 9.00 – 21.00, the cashier closes at 20.00.
☪ Turkish Baths in Budapest
The couple of Ottoman-era (16th-17th centuries) spas offer a balanced blend of history, architecture and bathing tradition.
Have a dip in one of them or just admire their great architecture.
Learn about the history of the
- Kiraly Bath (currently closed), the
- Rudas Turkish Bath, the
- Rácz Spa and Hotel, and the
- Veli Bej Thermal Baths.
Rudas Bath Opening Hours:
- Wellness & Sauna (co-ed): 08.00 – 22.00,
- Steam Bath: every day: 06.00 – 20.00:
- Swimming pool (co-ed): every day: 06.00 – 22.00,
- Ladies -only day: Tuesday,
- Men-only day: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri,
- Mixed days: Sat, Sun.
Cashier closes 1 hour before the bath closes.
👉 Find out more about the handful of Turkish Baths in Budapest!
Outdoor Budapest Baths
Beaches, Outdoor Baths Guide to the best outdoor baths and pools where you can refresh yourself on a hot summer day.
The Széchenyi and Gellért have open-air pools but there are other baths that operate during the summer season:
- Palatinus,
- Római,
- Paskál,
- Csillaghegyi, and
- Pünkösdfürdő Baths.
It’s More Than Just Soaking in the Pools…
If you have arthritis and aching joints, it would be a direct sin not to have a dip in Budapest’s medicinal waters.
You’ll feel as if the steamy hot water is melting your tired muscles, driving away fatigue and depression.
If this hot indulgence is not enough, masseurs can take your body in their expert hands. A variety of refreshing massages as well as longer, luxurious massages are offered for a complete revitalization of your body.
Most spas are worth a visit because of their history and architecture, as well. Affordable entrance fees make them even more attractive, though the elegant and touristy Gellért Bath is a bit on the pricey side.
Baths usually have two main pools and several smaller ones in which water temperature varies.
Other amenities besides the steamy hot water, include
- Various types of massages,
- Saunas,
- Mud-packs and
- Other curative treatments.
TIP: Enjoy a fantastic spa party in the Széchenyi Bath in the summer season or in the Lukács from October to December.
History of Budapest Baths & Spa Culture
The city’s baths have a long history. The first settlers in the area, the Celtic tribes had already discovered and used the healing waters. They named the place Ak-ink, meaning abundant water.
The Romans occupied the settlement and called their province Aquincum, referring again to the abundance of water in the area.
They had developed bathing culture at home that they wanted to enjoy in Aquincum as well. They built the first baths here, the excavations in Óbuda discovered 14 of them from this era.
Ottoman Heritage
After the Romans the Hungarians used the baths for centuries.
Spa and bath culture was developed significantly during the Turkish rule in the 16th-17th centuries.
Their 150-year reign left some beneficial heritage besides the raids and devastation.
Some of these Ottoman baths are still in use today, you can enjoy their great architecture, coloured glass windows and domed pools.
After the Turkish occupation baths became less popular.
The turn of the 19th-20th centuries saw another flourishing in bath culture.
New thermal springs were discovered and the science of the healing waters, balneology, demonstrated the beneficial effects of these waters.
Turn-of-the-20th Century Era
Some wonderful spa centres were built at that time; the best-known and most upscale is the Gellért Bath.
The other two from this era are the Széchenyi Bath and the Lukács Bath.
Everybody, from the aristocrats to shop assistants, were enjoying the baths. They were also places for informal meetings, and chats, just like today.
If you want to hear the freshest gossip in town, mingle with bathing Budapesti people, but I guess you need to pick up some Hungarian.
Etiquette in Baths
Your first visit to a spa might be a bit complicated if you don’t speak any Hungarian at all.
Apart from the Gellért Bath, instructions, price lists in most baths are posted only in Hungarian. We summarize in short what etiquette to follow in the baths.
Make sure your devote at least two hours in the bath to fully exploit the relaxing benefits of the healing water, saunas, steam rooms and massages!
Note that the cashiers close an hour before closing time.
Entry System to The baths
You get a proxy watch (plastic armband) when you buy your ticket.
This will let you through the turnstile at the entrance as well as locks and opens the locker or cabin you choose to use to keep your belongings in it.
Choose which services or treatments you want to try from the list at the entrance, and pay for them at the cashier. You’ll get a separate ticket for each thing.
I usually go for some kind of massage besides bathing. If you prefer to have only a hot bath, ask for a standard ticket (use of sauna is included).
Turkish Baths – Men-Only or Mixed Days?
The Turkish baths were men-only for decades, today they either have separate days for men and women, or mixed days when both men and women can bath (see the opening hours given at each bath).
On single-sex days, the attendant will give you a tiny cloth that you’re supposed to tie around your waist. The cloth for women looks like an apron (kötény in Hungarian) to cover the breasts.
You might feel awkward or embarrassed in it but bear in mind that other bathers wear it too, so you won’t stand out from the crowd. On mixed days you have to wear a bathing suit.
Locker or Cabin?
At the Gellért, Széchenyi and Lukács you can choose between a cabin (kabin) or locker (szekrény) to change. If you prefer privacy choose and pay for a ticket with cabin when you buy your ticket.
Time to have a dip in the pools!
The baths usually have a main pool, surrounded by smaller ones with varying water temperatures from hot to cold.
Taking a shower before going into the bath is compulsory. Afterwards, start with the main pool then one of the hotter ones. If you feel almost cooked take a deep breath and plunge into the cold pool for a few seconds.
Head for the steam rooms (hamam) and/or the saunas that also offer a choice of different temperatures (from hot to very hot).
Finally relax in the warm pool. A thorough massage makes the whole ritual complete.
Afterwards have a nap in the rest room to regain strength to change back into your clothes. You’ll need it believe me!
The hot soaking, the steam and the scorching heat of the sauna will drive away stress, slackens your body and leave you without strength.
Don’t plan any major sightseeing afterwards; have dinner in a good Budapest restaurant, sit in a café or head straight for home to have more sleep.
Additional Resources: The official website of the company managing the baths.
Budapest Baths FAQ
Do Budapest baths provide towels?
Yes, most Budapest baths provide towels for rent or as part of the entry fee. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check with the specific bath you plan to visit, as some may require you to bring your own towel.
Can you go to Budapest baths in winter?
Yes, you can visit Budapest baths in winter. In fact, it can be a wonderful experience to soak in the thermal waters when it’s cold outside. Many of the baths also have indoor pools and saunas, so you can enjoy the facilities even if it’s snowing outside.
Are the baths clean?
Yes, the Budapest baths are generally very clean and well-maintained. They are subject to regular inspections and must meet strict hygiene standards. However, it’s always a good idea to practice good personal hygiene and shower before entering the pools.
What to bring to the baths?
You should bring a swimsuit, a towel, flip flops or sandals, a waterproof bag to hold your belongings, and a change of clothes if you plan to spend time outside of the bath afterwards.
It’s also a good idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. Bring also a swim cap if you plan do some laps in the dedicated swim pool.
Can you drink in the baths?
No, you cannot drink alcohol in most Budapest baths. However, some of the newer and more upscale baths may have designated areas where you can purchase and consume drinks.