Turkish Baths in Budapest

Relax in one of the Turkish baths in Budapest! Let the hot water and steam drive away your fatigue.

Although only the central, domed bathing halls have survived and preserved the original Turkish structure they add a bit of Oriental atmosphere to the city.

Make sure you read about the Etiquette in Budapest Baths.

Király Bath
Rudas Bath
Rácz Bath

Map of Budapest Turkish Baths

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.

Király Bath (Király Fürdő)

Location: 84., Fő utca in Buda, II. district, tram 4,6, Margaret Bridge Budai bridgehead, walk south on Frankel Leo utca, then on Fő utca, or M2 metro Batthyány tér station
Tel: (+36 1) 202 3688
Open: every day 09.00-21.00 (all days are mixed days)

• Morning ticket with cabin use on weekdays: 1 100 HUF
  
  
• All-day ticket with cabin on (weekdays and weekends): 2 200 HUF
  
  
• Combined ticket (daily ticket +15 minute massage): 4 400 HUF

Arszlan Pasha ordered to build the bath in 1565 after conquering Buda and Sokoli Mustafa pasha finished the building.

The Turks built the Király Bath to ensure bathing within the walls of the castle even during a siege, thus it's far from any hot water spring. The water comes from the neighbourghood of the Lukács Bath.

The Király Bath gained its current form during its reconstruction in 1796 when the classical wings were added. You can see the original Turkish bath under the octagonal roof (visible from outside). The light beams coming through the hexagonal openings create a colourful haze by breaking on the fine water drops.

The changing rooms are on the 2nd floor. Then go down the 1st floor to have a shower. Take your towel with you to cover yourself. The bath is also on the 1st floor, but you'll encounter the dry sauna first.

You'll enter the original Turkish bath through a small entrance. Niches surround the octagonal pool under the vault.

In four niches there are benches where you can relax your slackened body after a hot bath. Thick steam swirls above the pools, you can hardly see anything, so don't plan to read a book or do crosswords.

Immerse in the hot water, close your eyes and listen to the humming around you, people discussing the latest news in town. The steamy water melts the cramps in your muscles and relives your stressed body and mind. After the bath try the steamy sauna (hamam) in one of the side domes.

You can bath for maximum 1 hour on weekdays and for 1,5 hours on weekends. If you stay longer the attendant will ask you to pay for the extra time. If you leave earlier than the allowed time you'll receive a few hundred forints refund.

Water temperature ranges between 26-40 °C in the 4 thermal pools.

Massages and services in the Király Bath:

• underwater massage with water jet,
  
  
• tub-bath,
  
  
• foot massage,
  
  
• dry and steam sauna including Finnish sauna, and
  
  
• buffet

Restaurants near Király Bath

Kacsa Restaurant
Fő utca 75., II.district
Tel: (+36 1) 201 9992

Famous for duck dishes (the name Kacsa means duck).

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Rudas Bath (Rudas Fürdő-the Most Beautiful Turkish Bath in Budapest

Location: Döbrentei tér 9., Buda, Erzsébet Bridge, I. district, tram 18, bus 7, 7a
Tel: (+36 1) 356 1322

Opening hours:

• Steam Bath: every day: 06.00-20.00, night opening hours on Fri-Sat: 22.00-04.00
• Ladies' day: Tuesday
• Gentlemen's days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
• Mixed Days (bathing suit is compulsory): Saturday, Sunday
  

Swimming Pool Opening Hours: Mon-Wed: 6.00-18.00, Thurs: 6.00-20.00, Fri-Sat: 6.00-20.00, 22.00-4.00, Sun: 6.00-20.00

Ticket prices: 10% discount with Budapest card on the morning ticket with cabin use on weekdays.

This still functions as the centre of the Rudas Bath. The light shafts shining through the stained glasses of the cupola openings cause a colourful, vibrant effect inside the pool. The Rudas used to be a men-only bath, tough it has a swimming pool for both men and women.

The pool was built in 1896 and it was Budapest's second indoor swimming pool. In the hall of the bath you can drink medicinal waters supplied by the Hungaria, Attila and Juventus springs. You have to pay some money for it at the cashier. A complete physiotherapy department operates on the second floor of the Rudas Bath complex.

The Rudas has opened its doors to women:

Since 1st June 2006 women can enjoy the Turkish bath without a swimming suit on Tuesdays between 6.00-20.00. Moreover on weekends both men and women can bath in the Rudas in bathing suits. The Rudas is the only original Turkish bath in Europe that provides this service. There are also bathing parties in swimsuits in the weekends.

Water temperature ranges between 16-42 °C

Massages and services in the Rudas Bath :

• 6 thermal bath basins,
  
  
• underwater jet-massage,
  
  
• complex balneotherapy treatment,
  
  
• new service is the aromatherapy massage in the steam unit of the bath,
  
  
• foot care,
  
  
• dry and steam saunas, and
  
  
• buffet.

Note: On days when the Rudas welcomes only men it is a common meeting place for gay people.

TIP: Read more details about the Ottoman Baths and other Spas in Budapest at the official site of baths of Budapest

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Rácz Hotel & Thermal Spa (on the place of the former Rác Bath)

Location: Hadnagy utca 8-10, I. district, tram 18, bus 5, 8, 78
Open: the bath will open in 2010

The Turks built the original bath with its domed pool in the 16th century with pools from the Imperial Habsburg Era. The bath was rebuilt and expanded in 1896 by the plans of the renowned architecture Miklós Ybl.

The historical facilities listed under the UNESCO World Heritage have been restored and blended into a modern luxury Thermal and Day Spa of 8000 sqm including 11 pools, relaxation areas, saunas such as a Finish Sauna, sunbathing terrace, 21 treatment rooms offering the very latest and traditional therapies, cosmetic rooms for special beauty treatments and a hairdressing salon. The Spa also offers a dedicated VIP section.

Most of the 67 rooms offer a wonderful view of the Royal Palace on Castle Hill, the historic spa or the park. The Rácz Hotel & Thermal Spa will have two fine dining places: an Italian restaurant and a Bistro offering both Italian and Hungarian dishes.

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Our Other Articles Related to Baths in Budapest

Budapest Spas - an introduction, including a bit of spa history, bathing etiquette and some useful tips.

Turn-of-20th-century baths in Budapest - the chic Gellért Bath, the large Széchenyi Bath complex and the Lukács Bath.

Budapest Beaches - if you want to enjoy bathing in open-air pools

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