Turkish Baths in Budapest

Altough 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
Rác 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:

• For women: Mon-Wed-Fri: 7.00-18.00,
  
  
• For men: Tue-Thur-Sat 9.00-20.00

Admission for max. 2-hour long bathing: 1300 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. Than 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 your relax your slakcened 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 recceive 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

Open:

For men Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri: 6.00-20.00, Sat-Sun: 8.00-17.00
For women: Tue: 6.00-20.00, on weekends (see above)

Admissions:

• thermal bath with cabin use: 2200 HUF
  
  
• swimming pool with locker use: 1200 HUF
  
  
• swimming pool with cabin use: 1500 HUF
  
  
• discount admission for children and pensioners (with locker use): 1000 HUF

This fine bath was built around 1550. Sokoli Mustafa Pasha rebuilt it in 1566. Eight columns support the cupola under which lies the octagonal Turkish pool.

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.

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 aromtherapy 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.

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Rác Bath (Rác Fürdő)

Location: Hadnagy utca 8-10, I. district, tram 18, bus 5, 8, 78
Tel: (+36 1) 356 1010
Open: closed due to reconstruction, the bath will reopen in spring 2008
Admission: -

The Turks built its domed pool. The bath was rebuilt and expanded in 1896 by the plans of the renowned architecture Miklós Ybl. The building is under reconstruction now: a new luxury hotel the Baglioni Hotel Budapest & Rácz Thermal Spa (address: Hadnagy utca 8-10, I. district), and an upscale restaurant will be opened in the first quarter of 2009 in a park in Buda nearby Castle District.

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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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