Baths in Budapest
Turn-of-the-20th-Century

There are 3 baths in Budapest built around the turn of the last century when bathing culture were thriving throughout Europe.

Natural springs abundant in elements beneficial to several health problems provide the water for the baths.

If you have arthritis, rheuma do spare some time to have a dip in one of the following baths in Budapest.

After a tiring walk in the city, massaging your body in the bubble pools will revitalize you.

Make sure you read about the Etiquette in Budapest Baths.

Gellért Thermal Bath
Széchenyi Bath
Lukács Bath

Map for Baths in Budapest

The swimming man icons indicate the location of thermal baths in Budapest. By clicking on the hovering hand you can drag the map. By clicking on the +/- symbols (or by scrolling with your mouse) on the top left corner you can enlarge or reduce the map. Click on the icons to get additional information on the certain attractions.

Gellért Thermal Bath

Location: Kelenhegyi út 4., XI. district, Buda, trams 47, 49, 18
Tel: (+36 1) 466 61 66
Open: Mon-Fri: 6.00-19.00, Sat-Sun: 6.00-17.00
Admission:

You'll get 300 HUF refund if you stay only for max. 2 hours.

Steam bath: all day ticket: 3600 HUF (with cabin only). A 15-min refreshing massage costs cc. 2400 HUF. If you leave within 2 hours you get a 300 HUF refund from the all-day ticket price.

TIP: Buy Your Ticket to the Gellért Spa Online: Gellért Bath: Tickets (includes the use of a cabin): 15 Euro Aroma massage (30 minutes): +16,55 Euro Children tickets: Children under 6 years: Free Children from 6 years to 14 years:  9,65 Eur Buy Ticket to the Gellért Spa in Euro. Buy Ticket to the Gellért Spa in HUF.

The Gellért is the most popular Budapest bath with tourists thus the most pricey as well. The price list in English and German hangs next to the ticket booth.

Budapest card holders get 10% off the entrance fee. You can buy your card online here (either for a 48-hour period, which costs 6300 HUF or for 72 hours which is 7500 HUF).

The grandest of all baths in Budapest nestles at the foot the Gellert Hill. The elegant spa complex was built in Art-Nouveau style in 1918. Thermal springs from inside Gellért Hill feed the pools. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, children's pool, thermal baths, steam bath, saunas, offers various massages and curative services.

If you don't have time to soak in the pools do admire the marveollus interior:

• colourful ceramic tiles,
  
  
• Roman-style columns,
  
  
• stone lion heads, and
  
  
• glass roof.

The outdoor pool was modernized not long ago when a wave machine was built in that swithces on for ten minutes in every hour. The steam baths are separate for men and women. The decks on the roof terrace invite you to lie down and get a nice tan.

Massages and some of the services in the Gellért Bath:

• weight bath
• carbonic-acid tub-bath
• medicinal massage
• underwater jet-massage
• foot massage
• physicotherapy
• mud bath
• dry and steam saunas, Finnis saunas with cold dive-pools
• manicure
• hairdresser's
• cosmetics

Búsuló Juhász
Address: Kelenhegyi út 58., XI. district, on the top of Gellert Hill
Tel: (+36 1) 209 1649

A good place to try traditional Hungarian cooking.
Price guide: soups: 950-1600 HUF, main dishes approx.: 1400-5900 HUF

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Széchenyi Bath best for a family day out

Location: Állatkerti Körút 11., City Park, XIV. district, trolley bus 72
Tel: (+36 1) 363 3210
Open: Mon-Sun: 6.00-19.00
Admission:

300 HUF refund in case you leave within 2 hours

A 15-minute refreshing massage costs 2500 HUF.

Budapest card holders get 10% off the entrance fee.

Buy Your Ticket to the Széchenyi Spa Online Széchenyi Bath: Tickets (includes the use of a cabin): 13,45 Euro Aroma massage (30 minutes): +15 Euro Children tickets: Children under 2 years: Free Children over 2 years: 13,45 Euro Buy Ticket in Euro. Buy Ticket in HUF.

The Széchenyi Bath is the one of the largest spa complexes in Europe. The Neo-Baroque building was established in 1913, it recalls the atmosphere of the Habsburg Monachy. The water supply comes from 1250 m depth.

The bath has a vast outdoor swimming area for both sexes, separate steam baths for men and women. The Széchenyi Bath offers various services and treatments like sludge, or carbonated bathing. 15 different pools and various sport activities awaits you inside. The Széchenyi Bath is perfect for a family afternoon splashing because everybody can find something to do and enjoy here.

Statues of dolphins and water gods surround the three outdoor pools:

I never miss the neck and back massaging showers in the outdoor pool when I came to relax in Széchenyi. The thermal pools operate throughout the year, so you can soak your body in the melting hot water in winter (if you're not afraid of coming out to the chilly air). Still peep in a cold day and you'll see some local bathing fanatics sitting around a floating chess table in the steaming water playing and chatting.

Some of the services in the Széchenyi Bath:

The fee of the above services is included in the bath entrance fee.

TIP: since the Széchenyi Bath lies in the City Park do combine bathing with a visit to the Budapest Zoo, the Amusement Park, or just walking around the lake.

Restaurants near Széchenyi Bath

I always get extremely hungry after splashing about in the water so I nibble a giant pretzel bought from one of the street vendors in City Park. If you want to have more substantial food do reserve a table in advance in one of the following 3 restaurants:

Gundel
Address: Állatkerti körút 2., XIV. district
Tel: +36 1 321 3550

Bagolyvár
Address: Állatkerti körút 3., XIV. district
Tel: + 36 1 468 3110

Robinson's
Address: Állatkerti körút, on a small island on the lake
Tel: +36 1 343 3776

See more eateries on our Hungarian Restaurants in Budapest or Best Restaurants in Budapest pages.

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Lukács Bath

Location: Frankel Leo út 25-27., II. district, Buda, bus 6, 86
Tel: (+36 1) 326 1695
Open: Mon-Sat: 6.00-19.00, Sun: 6.00-17.00
Admission: full day ticket with locker: 2100 HUF, with cabin 2500 HUF, refund for leaving within 2 hours 300 HUF

The Lukács has indoor thermal pools with bubbles and two outdoor swimming pools, sauna and sun terrace. The whirlpool is only for the adventurous types because it knocks you over.

Although the building dates from the 1920ies the baths were very popular in the middle ages when priests provided curative treatments here. It operated under the Turkish rule too, but late 1800s brought the real improvement. A spa hotel was built and a modern hydrotherapy deparment was established.

The drinking hall providing curative water dates from 1937. The sulphurous water is beneficial for digestive disorders (stomach, bile problems). People came to the Lukács Bath to heal from all over the world. Read their praises on the marble tablet in the courtyard. You can get many different treatments today as well.

TIP: not far from the Lukács Bath, on 50. Szépvölgyi út you'll find the best cake shop in Budapest, called Daubner Cukrászda. Mouthwatering cakes, pies, pastries, scones lie neatly on the counters. Their icecream is also worth a visit in summer. Do prepare to queue!

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