Thermal baths in Budapest are one of the city’s most alluring draws.
There is no other capital worldwide as abundant in thermal water as Budapest! There are numerous reasons to go to Budapest, and thermals top that list.
The thermal baths of Budapest have a long history. The Romans who resided in the location two thousand years ago knew of the medicinal residential or commercial properties of thermal springs. They used them not only for bathing but likewise for floor heating in buildings. In the late Middle Ages, with the look of the pester, the majority of Europe believed that bathing was unhealthy and rarely cleaned themselves. Can you envision the smells?! No surprise fragrances were created at that time!
About 5 centuries ago the Ottoman Empire inhabited the majority of the Hungarian Kingdom and brought back thermal bath culture in Budapest. Thermal baths in Budapest had a real revival in the twentieth century and nowadays they are more popular than ever!
The Very Best Thermal Baths in Budapest
Updated– July 2, 2025
Quick Picks for the very best Thermal Baths in Budapest
Short on time or simply desire the highlights? Here are our top choices:
Best All-Around Experience: Széchenyi– huge outside swimming pools, sensational structure, traditional Budapest vibes.
Many Lovely Interior: Gellért– Art Nouveau masterpiece with mosaic tiles, indoor beauty, and stained glass.
Most Local & Chill: Lukács– less touristy, more affordable, and packed with history.
Best View + Roof Soak: Rudas– mix of 16th-century Turkish bath and modern-day spa, rooftop jacuzzi with city views.
Best for Summertime + Kids: Palatinus– island location, slides, wave swimming pools, and a more unwinded vibe.
Hungarian doctors still advise thermal water treatments to many of their clients. You can sit and take in the mineral-rich water. Or you can even drink it, depending on your symptoms. Obviously, we do not simply go when we have a health issue, prevention is necessary after all, and a peaceful day in the spa is always a good idea.
No wonder taking pleasure in thermal baths in Budapest is on most visitors’ to-do lists too. Integrate a couple of baths with a stay in among the very best shop hotels in Budapest and you can develop an extraordinary rest and relaxation city break!
With that in mind here are a few of the best thermal baths in Budapest for you to select from during your next go to.
Széchenyi Thermal Baths– The Luxurious
The largest medical bath house in Europe is in the heart of City Park (‘Városliget’ ), and
it is the perfect location to relax after a long walk in the city, or ice skating in winter season on the nearby ice rink. The architecture is rather diverse: outside it appears like a baroque palace, however within many details were developed in Art Nouveau style. Our preferred is the main entryway hall with vibrant, mythology-inspired mosaics and a fountain imagining a centaur. What a beautiful structure!
This is the most popular thermal bath in Budapest not just since of its size however likewise because of the renowned photo on Lonely World’s cover illustrating cute older men playing chess in the water. It is a typical scene which you can see on your own when you go to! The location motivated films also: Madonna shot some scenes here
for her famous musical, Evita. And why is it the more youthful generation’s cherished thermal in Budapest as well? A ‘SPArty’ is arranged on numerous Saturdays, and it is among the most special parties in the world: everything resembles at a club, except that you are in swimwear and in hot water!
The SPArty is a totally distinct and amazing method to get your groove on while cooling in among Budapest’s finest thermal day spas. If you like the idea of boozing in a medspa we absolutely suggest you examine this celebration out!
Go here for more information on among the outright best thermal medical spas in Budapest.
Gellért Thermal Baths– The Art Nouveau
When I meet an architecture-lover my top recommendation is the Gellért Baths. This gorgeous structure was one
of the last Art Nouveau pieces of Budapest– WWI stopped the majority of the fancy building and constructions at that time. The hotel part is a bit dusty, however the baths still show us the luxury of the early 20th century, the blue-green Zsolnay ceramics, the detailed mosaics, and the stained glass windows; every corner has lots of imagination.
There is a little indoor pool (a swim cap is a need to in this one!)with a glass ceiling, lots of thermal swimming pools of various temperature levels, a sauna, steam room, and the outside location is likewise actually pretty with one thermal swimming pool and one wave swimming pool– the latter only works in summer season. Another factor to check out: you can be in the same pool where Ryan Gosling had an image strive GQ! They state the magic water provided him all that attractive charm. Let us know if you think this is true after you visit what is among Budapest’s coolest thermal baths.
Palatinus Thermal Baths– The One On the Island
< img src="https://www.justapack.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Palatinus3-1100x746.jpg" alt="Palatinus Thermal Baths in Budapest"width=" 1100"height="746"/ > The’Pala’, as residents call it, is located in the heart of Margaret Island, the green sanctuary of Budapest. For a long period of time it was only available in summer with al fresco pools, but recently they opened an
indoor area also, and it is still not as crowded as some of the town baths. In summertime besides the thermal pools you can also enjoy a cool wave pool and one with tall slides, so it is more fun with kids than the normal medicinal
baths. We likewise suggest this if you are interested in the architecture of the 1930s with a strong modern influence.
Lukács Thermal Baths– The Residents’ Favorite
The hot spring of the Lukács Thermal Bath has been utilized a minimum of because the 12th century for curing diseases, and
nowadays they recommend its water for instance for post-accident rehab. Although it is likewise a historical bath it is not as luxurious-looking as some of the more famous ones, maybe that is why still more locals come here than tourists. The complex was refurbished wonderfully in the previous few years, and it has a new leisure swimming pool in among the courtyards. It has a really special environment in the evening when the water is lit with colorful lights. We likewise enjoy the outside pool when we feel less lazy.
At the drinking hall you can even taste the water– be gotten ready for a strong mineral taste! The water might not be the greatest thing you ever tasted but it is unquestionably filled with all sorts of vital minerals! Give it a shot.
Rudas Thermal Baths– The Turkish
This is the thermal medical spa to go to if you want to experience the earliest and most recent medspa culture at the same time. Closer to the Elisabeth Bridge you will discover a Turkish bath that is practically five centuries old and has a really mysterious environment. In the middle of the complex you can swim in the century-old indoor pool, and at the other end of the building you can spoil yourself in the contemporary health spa area– that includes a rooftop swimming pool as well as a stunning view over the city and the Danube!
The Turkish section is only coed on the weekend– Tuesday is for the ladies and the other weekdays are for the gents. The weekends are for everyone though, and you can even enjoy the nighttime here on Friday and Saturday– romance is in the air!
Important Tips and Info About Checking Out a Thermal Bath in Budapest
Here are a couple of vital suggestions on thermal bath etiquette and things you need to understand about thermal baths in Budapest.
- The majority of thermal baths are co-ed nowadays, and using a swimwear is mandatory, even in the sauna.
- Generally in the swimming pools you require to use a swim cap also, but not in the thermal swimming pools.
- Bring flip-flops to be safe on the slippery flooring.
- You can lease towels, but it is constantly best to bring your own if you can– we would advise one for the sauna and one to dry yourself in the end.
- Typically, you can pick in between a personal cabin or a locker to leave your things– the cabin being a bit more expensive.
- Needless to say, do not bring any belongings with you.
- You will see a great deal of men using speedos, but do not stress, you can use your usual swim trunks.
- Health is normally excellent in the baths, however you should understand that the thermal pools do not utilize the usual filtering systems due to the fact that it would compromise the medical impacts of the water. That is why it is extremely important to take a shower before going into the swimming pools!
- The pool temperatures range from 16 ° C (60 ° F) to 42 ° C (107 ° F), it is recommended to invest just a short time (5-10 minutes) in the hottest pools and after that change to a cooler one, perhaps even delve into a freezing cold one for a minute to enhance your blood circulation.
- It is not suggested to utilize the thermal swimming pools for individuals with certain conditions (cardiovascular disease, fever, cancer, contagious illness, and so on), for little kids, and for pregnant women. If you are not exactly sure whether the thermal water is good for you please consult your doctor initially.
And there you have it tourists, these were some of the very best thermal baths in Budapest. If you read this before going to one of the above please let us know what you thought about your experience! And if you think we missed something, let us understand in the remarks below.
As constantly, safe and happy travels!
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About the Author Judit is the founder of Budapest 101, a boutique trip company that offers distinct personal tours in the capital and the countryside of Hungary. She’s constantly on the hunt for brand-new cafés and dining establishments, she’s enthusiastic about white wine culture, her preferred architectural design is Hungarian Art Nouveau, and she’s absolutely in love with her city. Her preferred thing when taking a trip? Leave the manual sights behind and find concealed gems and daily life. So here’s her guide to her preferred off the beaten path locations in Budapest that will help you do the exact same!