Best Thermal Baths in Budapest: 8 Baths to Try
Budapest · 8 baths
Which Budapest thermal bath to choose, on one map.
By Amit KerenLooking for the best thermal baths in Budapest? These are 8 baths worth your time, from the famous yellow palace of Széchenyi to quiet Ottoman domes and neighbourhood baths with hardly any tourists.
Two names you will see everywhere are closed. Gellért shut for renovation in October 2025 and plans to reopen in 2028, and Király has been closed since 2020 with no reopening date. Every bath on this map is one you can visit.
Choose Széchenyi for the classic Budapest photo: steaming outdoor pools in front of a yellow palace in City Park. Choose Rudas for history and a view: a 16th-century Ottoman dome below and a rooftop pool over the Danube above.
Lukács and Veli Bej are next to each other on the Buda side, near Margaret Bridge. Lukács is the bath locals use. Veli Bej has a real Ottoman dome and limited admission, so check availability before going.
Dandár, Paskál and Csillaghegyi are for people who want a good soak at a lower price. They are simple, local and much cheaper than Széchenyi.
Palatinus on Margaret Island is the summer choice, with big outdoor pools in a park. Széchenyi, Rudas, Lukács and Dandár admit guests aged 14 and over. Children cannot use medicinal pools without a medical prescription; check each bath's family-pool rules before going.
No. Gellért closed on 1 October 2025 for a major renovation and plans to reopen in 2028. For a similar historic feel, go to Széchenyi, or to Rudas, which is close by on the same side of the river.
Attraction · Thermal bath
The yellow Neo-Baroque palace in City Park, with 18 pools and the steaming outdoor pools from every Budapest postcard. Look for the locals playing chess in the water.
Tip: Go early on a weekday. Guests must be 14 or over.
Attraction · Thermal bath
An octagonal pool under a 16th-century Ottoman dome, plus a rooftop pool looking over the Danube. It's the most atmospheric bath in the city.
Tip: Go up to the rooftop pool at sunset. Check the men-only and women-only times for the Turkish section.
Attraction · Thermal bath
The bath locals actually use, with a quieter, more local atmosphere than Széchenyi. Look for the marble thank-you plaques from past patients on the courtyard walls.
Tip: Pack a swim cap for the swimming pools.
Attraction · Ottoman bath
A 16th-century Ottoman domed hall with five pools. Admission is limited, so check availability before going.
Tip: Tickets are sold on site only, and a ticket covers three hours.
Attraction · Outdoor bath
The big lido on Margaret Island, with a wave pool, slides and thermal pools in a green park. It's the best choice on a hot day with kids.
Tip: It's at its best in summer. In the colder months, only part of it stays open.
Attraction · Thermal bath
A plain neighbourhood bath in Ferencváros, and one of the cheapest in the city. Come for a simple thermal soak with no crowds.
Tip: It's for guests aged 14 and over only.
Attraction · Thermal bath
A neighbourhood bath in Zugló with indoor and outdoor pools, a medicinal section and a children's pool. You will see almost no tourists here.
Tip: A good choice if you want a local experience away from the main tourist crowds.
Attraction · Outdoor bath
One of Buda's oldest lidos, with thermal and swimming pools spread across a wooded hillside. Plan it as a slow day out rather than a quick spa visit.
Tip: It's far from the centre, so give it a full morning or afternoon.
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Recommended activities
1 night
A late-night pool party in the outdoor pools of Széchenyi.
Book45 minutes to 3 hours
A beer bath with unlimited beer, with the option to add Széchenyi tickets.
Book1 day
One package with a spa visit, a tour of the basilica and a Danube cruise.
Book8 hours
A small-group day trip from Budapest to the thermal lake at Hévíz.
BookBefore you go
Questions & answers
Széchenyi is the best choice for a first visit, thanks to its huge outdoor pools. Rudas is best for history and views, Lukács is best for value, and Veli Bej is best if you want it quiet.
No. Gellért closed for renovation in October 2025 and plans to reopen in 2028.
No. Király has been closed since 2020, and no reopening date has been announced.
Go to Széchenyi for big outdoor pools and the famous building. Go to Rudas for the Ottoman dome and the rooftop pool over the Danube.
Dandár is one of the cheapest year-round thermal baths, with prices that vary by ticket and day. Compare its current price with Lukács and Széchenyi before booking.
Veli Bej uses limited admission. Dandár and Paskál also see very few tourists.
spotz.guide is a collection of travel maps and step-by-step routes, made to be opened on your phone and followed on the ground. Every guide is put together and checked by founder and editor Amit Keren.
Spots come from time on the ground and strong recommendations, and each one is checked before it goes on the map.
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