No capital city in the world boasts as many thermal spas as Budapest. Whether for therapy or relaxation, you should take the time to explore the the spas in Budapest. A tour of Budapest is not complete without a visit to the spas, where history comes alive.
The baths and thermal springs of the Hungarian capital have been bathing people for over two thousand years. The Romans laid the foundations of a flourishing bathing culture in the area, which was enriched by the Turkish occupation of the 15th and 16th centuries with the addition of new baths and numerous facilities that are still in operation today. The network of underground hot springs made the capital ideal for the development of a spa culture. The waters rise to the surface through more than a hundred artificial wells and, in many cases, in natural form. The thermal waters are pleasantly lukewarm, but the hottest is 77°C. In Budapest, where spa tourism was already booming in the 1800s, design trends such as Art Nouveau created lavish buildings.
Historical spas in Budapest in lavish buildings
There are three listed spas in Budapest: the Lukács, Gellért and Széchenyi spas. These are not closely related to the traditional Turkish baths, but are remarkable both for their architecture and their history.
Széchenyi Spa
Buda had a long tradition of spas since Turkish times, while the Pest side had to do without bathing until 1913. The southeastern wing of the beautiful building, designed by Győző Czigler and overlooking the City Park, is in neoclassical style, but its elements bear the hallmarks of neo-Renaissance. The beach and swimming pool parts of the 1927 extension are Renaissance in style, and although the two-phase baths are architecturally unified, the style is eclectic and historicist. The main motif of the decorative elements is water; stylised water monsters, shells, fish and mermaids are almost everywhere in the baths, which is not only aesthetically unique; Széchenyi is one of the largest bathing complexes in Europe.
The thermal water of the Széchenyi Spa comes to the surface at a temperature of 76 °C from the Szent-István well, the second deepest well in Budapest, at a depth of 1246 metres. It is a calcium-magnesium-hydrogen-carbonate sulphate thermal spring water, which also contains sodium and has a significant fluoride and metaboric acid content. The spa is recommended for articular and spinal diseases of an abrasive nature, chronic arthritis, rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery and accidents, spinal disorders, nerve pains and calcifications of the skeletal system.
The indoor area has 11 thermal pools with steam rooms and showers. There are also 3 swimming pools, an adventure pool and a seating pool in the garden area surrounded by buildings.
Address: 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 9-11.
Hours: Weekdays 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Ticket: purhcase online HERE
You can also combine a full day Széchenyi spa experience with a tasting of our national drink, palinka – book this experience here:
There is also an option to join a late night Spa Party – book this experience here:
Gellért Spa
The Gellért Spa is an outstanding work of Art Nouveau in Hungary. The ten ornamental windows of the main hall were designed by Miksa Róth and depict scenes from János Arany’s epic poem The Death of Buda. The men’s and women’s thermal baths are decorated with Zsolnay ceramics. There are records of “miraculous” springs emerging in the spa area as early as the 15th century. The Turks also liked it because it was larger and hotter than the Buda baths of the time.
The Gellért Spa and Hotel opened in 1918, and was expanded with the addition of the Wave Baths in 1927 and the Jacuzzi in 1934. The water of the spa comes from spring water springs established in the interior of the Gellért Hill. The calcium-magnesium bicarbonate and sulphate-chloride thermal waters, which also contain sodium, have a significant fluoride ion content. It is suitable for the treatment of degenerative diseases of the joints, spinal disorders, chronic and semi-acute arthritis, disc disorders, neuropathies, vascular stenosis and circulatory disorders. And the inhalatorium in Gellért offers relief from asthma and chronic bronchitis.
Gellért Spa has been coeducational every day since 2013. In addition to the five indoor thermal pools, there are two plunge pools for bathers, and a swimming pool for those who like to exercise. Renovation of the spa is ongoing, with periodic changes to the range of services, such as the outdoor wave pool, which will be closed from 22 April 2023, the women’s steam room, which will be closed from 8 to 16 May 2023 for renovation, the outdoor adventure pool, which will be closed from 24 April to 12 May 2023 for maintenance, and the outdoor Finnish sauna and plunge pool, which will be closed from 24 April 2023. Due to technical reasons, the spa bath and the carbonic bath services will be unavailable for an indefinite period of time.Spa treatments are expected to be available until 30 September 2023.
The Hotel Gellért changed ownership on 1 December 2022 and is currently closed for complete renovation.
Address: 1114 Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 2.
Hours: Every day, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ticket: purhcase online HERE
You can also purchase your ticket here:
Lukács Spa
The area around the present-day Lukács Baths was settled in the 12th century by the Knights of St John, who were engaged in the care of the sick, and later by the Knights of Rhodes and Malta, who built a bathhouse next to their monasteries. The baths were also in use during the Turkish period, but the energy of the springs was used for the production of gunpowder and for grinding grain, as they operated a grinding mill, so unfortunately there is no authentic Turkish bath in Lukács. The healing waters can be enjoyed in the domed, three-pool thermal bath with a hot-air and steam chamber, but Lukács also offers a wide range of wellness services to refresh the body and soul.
Address: 1023 Budapest, Frankel Leó út 25-29
Hours: Every day, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ticket: purhcase online HERE
Original Turkish spas in Budapest
Veli Bej Spa
One of the unique features of Budapest’s rich historical heritage is that there are original Turkish baths in several parts of the city. The 16th-century Baths of Veli Bej of the Merciful are back to their former glory after a complete renovation. Be sure to take a few minutes to study the incredibly elaborate mosaic decorations, which are reminiscent of the art of the former Ottoman Empire. The traditional Turkish Baths section consists of 5 pools: the octagonal central pool with a temperature of 36-38 degrees and four additional small pools of different temperatures in four separate bathing cabins around it. Thanks to the fast flow of the medicinal water, the water in the central pool is constantly refreshed without the addition of chemicals. There is also a brand new wellness area with a jacuzzi, two steam rooms, Finnish and infrared saunas, massage showers, ice-making machine, hydroxeur and tangent baths, Kneipp walk, swimming pool and massage.
The spa is recommended for articular and spinal disorders, osteoporosis, nerve pain, injuries and post-operative rehabilitation.
Address: 1023 Budapest, Árpád fejedelem útja 7
Hours: Monday to Friday 3-9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 6-12 a.m. and 3-9 p.m.
Ticket: Please note that tickets can only be purchased at the ticket office. Online ticket purchases or reservations are not possible.
Rudas Spa
The Rudas Baths at the foot of Gellért Hill were built between 1566 and 1572 by the Buda Pasha Sokoli Mustafa, and were so successful that they are still in continuous use today, after 450 years. The core of the building is the octagonal pool and the eight-columned basin roof of the Turkish bath, which is a rare columnar design, with a hemispherical dome supported on columns and pierced with overlights.
In addition to the Turkish baths with five thermal pools, three hot-air chambers, a camomile steam room and a water-soap massage room, surrounded by original walls, there is of course a wellness area with a thermal pool and sauna world. For those whose gender prevents them from visiting the Turkish baths (see below), there is a wellness area. Visitors can also enjoy the panoramic pool on the roof of the building, with a magnificent view of the Danube and its bridges.
The thermal water is calcium-magnesium-hydrogen carbonate and sulphate-chloride thermal water, which also contains sodium and has a high fluoride ion content. It is recommended for the treatment of articular and musculoskeletal disorders.
Address: 1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9.
Hours: every day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The tradition of men’s and women’s days still prevails at Rudas: the Turkish section is open to women on Tuesdays during the week, while the men’s section is open to men on Mondays and Wednesdays whole day. Thursdays and Fridays in the morning men only, afternoons are co-ed. Weekends the spa become co-ed whole day. See exact hours on the “Hours” section.
Ticket: purchase on-line HERE
What about enjoying a 3-course meal on your spa day? You can book this experience here:
Rác Baths (currently closed)
Probably the oldest Turkish bath in Budapest is currently closed to visitors. Located in the Taban in the 1st district of Budapest, its waters, which rise directly below the bath, contain mainly calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, sulphate chloride and are effective in treating arthritic disorders, spinal diseases, disc injuries, nerve damage, circulatory disorders and asthma.
The spa underwent major renovations between 2002 and 2010 and is rumoured to be set to become a luxury 8,000-square-metre spa complex with a listed building once legal hurdles to its opening are finally cleared. The building bears traces of every artistic era, from Gothic to Turkish to modern: the Turkish Dome built in 1572, the Ybl Dome and Shower Hall, the Flora Baths, and several romantic and neo-renaissance parts. The 13 swimming pools, 21 treatment rooms, saunas, VIP section and the hotel complex built on the spa are ready to open.
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