This is one experience you should never skip if you’re in Budapest: the thermal baths. Because of its many amazing thermal baths, Budapest is commonly referred to as the “City of Spas.” We will cover the various thermal baths found in Budapest and help you decide which is right for you.

Budapest’s Thermal Baths

Visitors to Budapest can find many thermal baths where they can spend a relaxing hour in the warm mineral waters. Some of the most well-known thermal baths in the city are:

Szechenyi Baths

Szechenyi Thermal Bath is one of the biggest and most recognizable thermal baths in the city. Following a Neo-baroque design, it consists of 18 pools at various temperatures and provides guests with saunas, steam rooms and various massages. Szechenyi Thermal Bath is famous for letting you use the baths outdoors, even in the winter months.

During the cold months, swimming in one of the outdoor pools and in the thermal relaxation pool or whirlpool, is especially rewarding. The bath complex at Szechenyi includes aqua fitness and different wellness treatments for people eager to try more. Being inside City Park, It’s easy to visit after checking out Heroes’ Square and Vajdahunyad Castle nearby.

Gellert Thermal Bath

Another choice for many visitors is Gellert Thermal Bath which lays in the beautiful Gellert Hotel. With its impressive Art Nouveau buildings and 13 indoor thermal pools, it is a top place to see. Apart from regular baths, the facility includes aroma cabins and mud cabins, as well as treatment with underwater grips.

Colorful mosaic tiles and big stained-glass windows give your spa visit an exclusive touch. The indoor wave pool is perfect for having fun during summer breaks. If you have any joint or muscle issues, you can use therapeutic treatments and medicinal water therapies.

Rudas Swimming Pool

Rudas Thermal Bath which shows traces of Ottoman period designs, is special and historical among Budapest’s thermal baths. You have access to thermal pools, mineral-rich steam rooms and a rooftop bath providing outstanding sights of the city. There is a special day for women and a special day for men at Rudas, plus a mixed day each weekend.

The Turkish occupation in the 16th century saw Rudas be built and it still has its first octagonal pool and stone columns. The wellness room’s current facilities and the rooftop pool facing the Danube River and Elisabeth Bridge give you the best of both worlds. On some evenings, bathing in the dark can be organised, so it’s a lovely and soothing experience for all.

Kiraly Bathing Complex

The Kiraly Thermal Bath is one of the country’s oldest baths, having been built in the 16th century. The medieval Turkish style found in its buildings helps charm the city. The bath invites you to a calmer and more private atmosphere since only a number of guests may enter at a time. At the Kiraly Thermal Bath, guests are able to calm down in the pools and saunas.

Kiraly, even though less popular than Szechenyi or Gellert, is valued by locals for its real, traditional feel. The preservation of its Turkish bath dome has given everyone the chance to enjoy a historical experience. It is just the place to find peace in a simple environment.

There Are Also Many Other Important Thermal Baths

As well as the large baths mentioned, Budapest has more than a dozen public thermal baths.

• Lukács Thermal Bath is a favorite with people from the area because of its wellness programs and treatment water. Lukács is less visited by tourists, cheaper and is especially used for therapy.
• The Palatinus Bath is a favorite in summer due to its mix of thermal pools, slides and a wave pool on Margaret Island.
• Dagály Thermal Bath: After recent renovation, visitors can use both indoors and outdoors pools. At Dagály, patients can now receive therapeutic services more suited to modern needs.

In total, Budapest is home to more than fifteen thermal baths, many of which are accessible all year and fed by more than one hundred natural thermal springs up below the city. Because of its geothermal wealth, Iceland is the only one where the capital city can offer a huge network of natural spas.

How Do I Pick the Suitable Spot for Heat Treatment?

With all the different thermal baths, picking the one you want can be daunting. It’s good to keep these factors in mind:

Location

Remember to check how close the thermal bath is to whichever hotel you’re going to stay at or the places you intend to visit. Some bathrooms are more easily accessible than others which cuts down on your need to travel.

For example, City Park is where you’ll find Szechenyi close to many popular tourist spots. Gellert and Rudas are within easy reach of the city and the Danube which makes them perfect places for a quick visit. The Kiraly apartment is in a peaceful spot away from the noise, great for those needing to relax.

The aspects of Architecture and Design

Budapest’s thermal baths all have a unique style, some Neo-baroque and others Art Nouveau. If there’s a certain architectural style you like, choose your bathtub to match it.

If you like architecture, visiting these two spas will make you appreciate their size and Ottoman style. Lukács has a less personal architectural style, yet it is important historically because of its ties to political and scholarly groups from the twentieth century.

Support, facilities and services

Note the range of things you can try and enjoy at every thermal bath. Also, some spas may let you use sauna, steam rooms, have a massage or join wellness programs.

If you need medical attention, Lukács and Gellert are equipped to give professional, covered therapies that some European health insurances cover. The finest and most luxurious spa services can be found at Szechenyi and Gellert. You’ll find lovely views and cutting edge wellness areas at Rudas.

Atmosphere

How the atmosphere of a thermal bath is set can greatly change how you feel. Ask yourself if you would want somewhere that is lively or someplace more peaceful.

Szechenyi and Palatinus are great for meeting people and getting photos. Go to Kiraly or Rudas when it’s not as crowded for peaceful relaxation. Families could spend their time at Palatinus, but Lukács is quieter and may draw in solo guests.

Conclusion

Visitors in search of relaxation and revitalization will find a truly special experience because of the city’s many thermal spas. If you visit Szechenyi for grandness, Gellert for elegance, Rudas for its history or Kiraly for its medieval feel, you’ll feel great at all the thermal baths in Budapest. Fancy a warm beverage? Take into account what you like before deciding for a positive and unique experience!