Budapest Spa Hotel and Thermal Baths Introduction
Budapest is fortunate to have some of the world's finest Turkish baths. Not
only do they boast original Ottoman architecture (consisting of wonderful octagonal pools, cupolas
and colored glass windows) but offer a unique - and sometimes hedonistic - bathing experience. And
while some, such as the Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő are more recent, cheap entry
prices and expert masseurs - who happily re-arrange your limbs and muscles in ways that you thought
(up until now) were impossible - are common to all!
Bathhouses usually have two main pools, along with smaller ones that contain
water of varying temperatures. Elsewhere you'll also find saunas and steam rooms, together with a
wide-array of medical treatments. Massages come in two flavours, namely orvosi (a relaxing
medical massage) and vizí (water), a much more rigorous - dare we say sadistic -
Turkish based variant! The Gellért, Rudas and Széchenyi Baths are arguably the best
for tourists, while the Király and Rác enjoy an active gay scene.
Reviews for other (public) baths will be added to this page shortly, while
hotel spa baths are listed in our Budapest hotels section.
Gellért Baths (Gellért Gyógyfürdő)
 XI. Kelenhegyi út 4, Trams 18, 19,
47 to Gellért tér, Open 6am-7pm daily
Guests of the adjoining Gellért hotel tend to feel fairly smug about the fact that the
'in-house' pool is probably the finest Art Nouveau example anywhere in Europe. Don't worry if
you're staying elsewhere though, a modest fee will gain you entry - not only to the main pool with
it's impressive marble columns and spitting lions, but also to the outdoor pools which are used
extensively during the summer. Leading off from the main pool on either side are two Turkish style
thermal baths, one for men, the other for women. You'll pay an extra 450 HUF for a therapeutic
message, while there's also a full range of medicinal spa treatments available.
Király Baths (Király
Gyógyfürdő)
II. Fö utca 84, Metro: M2 Batthyány
tér, Open 6:30am-7pm (Men only Mon, Wed, Fri; Women, Tue, Thu, Sat)
Undoubtedly one of the city's most historic Turkish monuments, the Király is second only to
the Rudas baths (below). Owned by the wealthy König family during the 19th century, its
origins date back as far back as 1570. As with the Rudas, the octagonal main pool is surrounded by
a number of smaller pools, steam rooms and saunas. Enjoys a largely gay clientele.
Lukács Baths (Lukács
Gyógyfürdő)
[Updated review to follow 1st July 2008]
Rudas Baths (Rudas Gyógyfürdő)
I. Döbrentei tér 9, Tram 18,19, Bus 7 to Döbrentei
tér, Open 6am-6pm weekdays, 6am-12pm Sat-Sun
Just to the north along Szent Gellért rakpart is another historic spa - the Rudas
gyórgyfürdő (Rudas Baths). Arguably the finest of Budapest's Turkish baths, the
site was re-constructed by the Pasha of Buda in the 16th century. The building, which boasts a main
octagonal pool, has five other smaller pools, three saunas and two steam rooms. What's more, the
baths feel particularly atmospheric when sunlight, filtering through the windows of the domed roof,
hits the rising steam of the main pool.
Széchenyi Baths (Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő és Strandfürdő)
 XIV. Állakerti körút
11, Metro: M1 Széchenyi fürdő, Open 6am-7pm
daily
Set amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Városliget (City Park), the Széchenyi
Baths is a grand old building to which Budapest families flock during the summer. The unisex
outdoor pool has a extremely convivial atmosphere - old timers play chess on floating boards while
everyone else just lazes around. The Széchenyi's Turkish baths are housed away from the main
pool, while outside there's a statue of Zsigmond Vilmos who discovered the thermal springs
here.
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