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Baths in Budapest

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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.

Which Budapest Bath Did You Enjoy the Most?

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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: with locker 2800 HUF, with cabin 3100 HUF. Steam bath: 3100 HUF (with cabin only). A 15-min refreshing massage costs 2500 HUF. If you leave within 2 hours you get 400 HUF refund.

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.

Important: the Gellért Bath is undergoing a reconstruction in 2007-2008:

1st phase from 8 January 2007:

Renovation of the women’s thermal bath: during the reconstruction women are welcome in the men's bath
Handicap access
Renovation of the openable roofing of the swimming pool
Reconstruction of the roofing of the lobby and the dome hall

2nd phase during the second half of 2007:

Renovation of the men’s thermal bath: during the the works men are welcome in the women's bath
Renovation of the changing rooms of the men’s thermal bath in the basement

Gellért Bath

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

See what others say about the Gellért bath at TripAdvisor.

Gellért Thermal bath

Restaurants near the Gellért Bath

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: with locker: 2400 HUF, with cabin 2800 HUF, 400 refund in case you leave withing 2 hours
Swimming pool ticket for families and groups: 2400 HUF with locker, 2800 HUF with cabin use.

Budapest card holders get 10% off the entrance fee.

Important: the Széchenyi Bath is undergoing a reconstruction, too:

The works will be carried out in 3 phases between the first half of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. The services that were offered in the reconstruction areas are available in the operating parts of the bath during the renovation. Look for updated information at the bath entrance or at the cashier.

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:

the middle one is for swimming
a thermal pool with jet massaging, bubbling and....
a thermal bath for just soaking

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:

fatburning, weight, body-toning gymnastics and aqua aerobic with trained instructors
fitness room

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

infrasauna
dry and steam saunas
Finnish sauna
Thai massage
foot massage
medicinal massage
weight bath
tub-bath traetment

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.

See what other travellers say about the Széchenyi Baths at TripAdvisor..

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: with locker: 1700 HUF, with cabin 1900 HUF, refund for leaving within 2 hours 500 HUF (locker), 400 HUF (cabin)

Important: The Lukács bath is under reconstruction between first half of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. The works include renovation of the mud hall, the weight bath, the steam bath pools, and a new sauna will be built too. The services that were offered in the reconstruction areas are available in the operating parts of the bath during the renovation. Look for updated information at the bath entrance or at the cashier.

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 1920s 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. 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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