Thermal baths in Budapest – guide to the city's beautiful baths

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Swimming in Budapest is an experience in itself. The Hungarian capital is famous for its historic thermal baths, where you can immerse yourself in warm water surrounded by grand architecture. But which bath should you choose? Here we give you tips on some of Budapest's most interesting baths and tell you about our own visit to the famous Gellért Baths.

Thermal baths in Budapest – a long bathing tradition

Budapest is not just a city with a few nice spas. The bathing culture is part of the city's history and identity.

The mineral-rich thermal water comes from hot springs underground and has been used for bathing and treatments for a long time. The Romans already appreciated the hot springs in the area, and during the Ottoman period in the 16th and 17th centuries, several baths were built.

Some of Budapest's baths still bear clear traces of the Ottoman bathing culture, while others are magnificent facilities from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The result is that a bath in Budapest can be as much a cultural and historical experience as a few hours of relaxation.

Széchenyi Baths – Budapest's great classic

The Széchenyi Baths, Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő, is probably the bath that most people recognize from pictures of Budapest. The large facility is located in the city park Városliget, not far from Heroes' Square. The bath opened in 1913 and has both indoor thermal pools and large outdoor pools.

It is not least the outdoor environment that has made Széchenyi so famous. Here you can bathe in warm water surrounded by the grand yellow building, even when the air temperature is significantly lower. And yes, this is where you can encounter the famous chess-playing gentlemen sitting in the pool and pondering their next move.

Széchenyi is big, well-known and popular, which also means you shouldn't expect to have it to yourself.

Rudas – thermal baths with Ottoman history

If you want to get closer to the older history of bathing, Rudas is an exciting alternative. The history of Rudas Baths dates back to the Ottoman era in the 16th century. The historical core is the Turkish bath with an octagonal pool under a dome, where light filters in through small openings.

At the same time, Rudas is not just a historic bath. The facility has been expanded and combines the old bathing environment with more modern parts. A special detail is a rooftop pool with views of the Danube and Budapest.

Please note that Rudas has specific rules and times for different parts of the baths. Therefore, check the current opening hours and arrangements before your visit.

Lukács – historic bath on the Buda side

The Lukács Baths, Szent Lukács Gyógyfürdő, is located on the Buda side and has a long history as a spa and bathing facility. There are also thermal pools and other bathing facilities here, but the environment and feel are different from the monumental Széchenyi.

Lukács may therefore be interesting for those of you who have already experienced one of the most famous baths or simply want to try another historic Budapest bath. After Gellért closed for renovation, both Lukács and Rudas have also received more visitors, so you can't automatically count on total bathhouse peace here either.

Palatinus – swimming on Margaret Island

Palatinus is located in the middle of the green Margaret Island in the Danube and has a different character than the classic historical thermal baths. It has both thermal water and various types of swimming and recreational pools. The facility also has a long history and opened in 1919.

Palatinus is particularly suitable if you want to combine swimming with an excursion to Margaret Island. During the warmer part of the year, the facility takes on even more of the character of an outdoor swimming pool.

Palatinus is also interesting for families because the rules for children are different from, for example, Széchenyi, Rudas and Lukács. However, children under 14 are not allowed to swim in the medical thermal pools unless prescribed by a doctor.

Gellért Baths – closed for renovation

Gellért Baths is one of Budapest's most famous historical baths, located at the foot of Gellért Hill on the Buda side. Opened in 1918, the baths are known for their magnificent architecture with mosaics, columns, glass ceilings and decorative details. It is almost as much a palace as it is a bathhouse.

But right now the doors are closed. Gellért Baths closed on October 1, 2025 for an extensive renovation. According to the current plan, the actual construction work should start at the end of 2026 and the renovated bath will be able to welcome guests again in 2028. Of course, this also means that our own experience below describes Gellért Baths before renovation.

Our visit to the Gellért Baths

We were impressed as soon as we stepped inside the doors. The mosaics, marble, columns and light streaming through the glass ceilings created a fantastic old-fashioned bathhouse atmosphere. It was certainly not like stepping into just any municipal bathhouse.

Then the problems started. How did you actually do it? Where were you supposed to change? How did those little changing cabins work? Where were the showers? How did you get hold of the towel you had rented when you were still standing there with your clothes on?

It took us a while to understand the system. When we visited Gellért, there were small private changing cabins that almost looked like minimal rooms, with space for both clothes and belongings. We shared one of these and eventually managed to get through all the steps and to the bath itself. And then everything became much easier.

Swimming in the Gellért Baths

Once we were able to crawl into the warm water, it was all about enjoying ourselves. There were several pools with different temperatures, from a larger swimming pool to smaller pools with significantly warmer water. There were also steam baths and outdoor pools.

Above all, it was the environment that made the experience special for us. Lying in warm thermal water surrounded by the beautiful architecture was just as wonderful as we had imagined.

Our only mistake was that we hadn't set aside more time. Next time, we thought. Now that next time will have to wait until the renovation is finished.

Good to know before swimming in Budapest

Routines and rules may differ between pools and change over time, so always check the information for the pool you plan to visit.

There are still a few things that are good to know. At the municipal baths in Budapest, bath slippers mandatory, and you should shower before going into the pools. Bathing cap required in swimming pools, but not generally in all thermal pools.

It may also be wise to bring your own towel and other bathing gear you may need. The ability to rent or purchase equipment varies.

The official swimming operator recommends that tickets be purchased online to avoid queues. Payment at the facilities is by bank or debit card.

And above all: take your time. Our experience from Gellért is that the environment itself is a big part of the experience. It's a shame to rush through a historic bathhouse as if you were on your way between two attractions.

Can children bathe in thermal baths in Budapest?

If you are travelling with children, it is important to check which bath you choose. Children under 14 years of age are not allowed to use the bath according to current regulations. Széchenyi, Rudas, Lukács or Dandár.

At other baths operated by the Budapest Municipal Baths Company, children under the age of 14 are not allowed to use medical thermal pools unless prescribed by a doctor. However, there may be other pools and bathing facilities intended for children.

Palatinus and other more family-oriented swimming facilities may therefore be better alternatives than the classic thermal baths if you are traveling with younger children. Always check the current rules before visiting, as both the pool selection and regulations can change.

Thermal baths in other parts of Hungary

Of course, it's not just in Budapest that you can bathe in thermal water. We have visited, among other places Harkány in southern Hungary, a classic spa and bathing resort known for its sulfurous thermal waters.

Harkány is also close to the Villány wine region and the city of Pécs. So you can achieve a pretty pleasant combination of culture, wine, good food and hot baths there. We tried it.

More to see and do in Budapest

A thermal bath is easy to combine with other experiences in Budapest. Here you will find classic sights such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Matthias Church and Fisherman's Bastion, but also restaurants, historic cafes, market halls and ruin bars. Here you will find tips and reports:

• Things to do in Budapest
• Try Hungarian food
• Restaurants in Budapest
• Shopping in Budapest
• Christmas market in Budapest
• Experience the caves of Budapest