Here are some tips to help maximize your experience at the thermal baths in Budapest:

- Certain baths offer discounts during specific hours/days. Look at their website to see if/when they offer discounted tickets to save some money.
- Sometimes, a bath will give you a partial refund if you don’t use the entire time allocated on your ticket purchase. This is not advertised or automatic, so you’ll have to ask the bath employees for this, and it’s not always guaranteed that they’ll say, ‘yes.’
- Bring a bathing suit, flip flops, and towel. A swimming cap is required in all baths if you want to use the swimming pool. Locker/lock will be provided to you there.
- The best time to visit baths are usually on weekdays; admission is usually slightly lower and the baths are far less crowded during this time.
- For more popular baths such as Széchenyi and Gellert, it’s suggested that you arrive as soon as the baths open in the morning to avoid the crowd.
List of the Best Thermal Baths in Budapest, Ranked:
Here’s a list of the best thermal baths in Budapest, ranked. I prefer places that are less touristic and have a local feel, which is what you’ll see represented on this list. The two most popular baths for tourists are Széchenyi and Gellert—they’re both very cool but not at the top of my list because they were super crowded and overridden by tourists when I went, which is not a combination that I enjoy.
Disclaimer: Hours of operation, fees, and safety regulations may vary due to COVID-19. Spas might even be closed due to COVID-19. Contact the spa directly for information.
#1: Rudas Baths

“0M8A4038″ by Brigadier Chastity Crispbread is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
In my opinion, Rudas is the best thermal bath in Budapest. It was built in the middle ages, during Ottoman rule in Budapest, and much of its ancient architecture still remains intact. It’s been renovated since it was first built and now includes some modern enhancements—including a sky terrace that visitors can relax on. The bath offers great views, including a view of the famous Széchenyi Chain Bridge and the surrounding parts of the city.
- 6 therapy pools
- 1 swimming pool
- Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: only open for men.
- Tuesdays: open for women-only.
- Weekends: open for everyone.
1013 Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9.
#2: Lukács Baths

- The crowd is mostly local
- It was rarely overcrowded
- It’s clean (I saw cleaning staff frequent the baths every hour)
- It felt like I was bathing in a medieval castle while I was there because of the architecture
- 4 indoor baths
- 2 outdoor baths
- Lukács Baths are open seven days a week for both males and females.
Budapest, Frankel Leó út 25-29, 1023 Hungary
#3: Király Baths

- 1 large pool
- 3 smaller thermal pools
- 1 small outdoor jacuzzi that’s open during the summer months
- Király Baths are open seven days a week and are co-ed every day.
Location of Király Baths:
Budapest, Fő u. 84, 1027 Hungary
#4: Széchenyi Baths

- 15 indoor pools
- 3 large outdoor pools
#5: Gellert Thermal Bath

- 8 indoor pools
- 2 outdoor pools
#6: Veli Bej Baths (at Hotel Császár Budapest)

- 5 thermal baths
- 1 sauna
- 1 steam room
- 1 therapy pool
#7: Dandár Baths

- 3 indoor pools
- 2 outdoor pools
#8: Palatinus Baths

Budapest, Soó Rezső stny. 1, 1003 Hungary
Enjoy your time at some of the best Thermal Baths in Budapest!
Whether you’ve got a trip to Budapest planned or you’re reading this article in an attempt to quench your wanderlust, I hope you found this guide useful. Going to the thermal baths in Budapest has been one of the best activities that I’ve ever participated in and if you’re going to Budapest then I hope that it will be for you, too!
Drop a comment below to let me know your thoughts.
When I went to Budapest they’d closed the baths due to Covid! I’d love to go back and try them.
That’s too bad, I do believe that they’re all still closed, unfortunately. Hopefully, you get to try them whenever you go back.
Ahh! I miss Budapest. I’m surely going to check out some of the baths you mentioned here, I have only been to the first 2. Thanks for sharing this!
anytime, thanks for the comment and glad it was helpful!
The thermal baths are one thing in Budapest I didn’t have time to do and they look great!
I actually had no idea about this! They look so amazing and this is a really great guide. Saving this one!
Wow! This looks incredible! I honestly can’t decide which is my favorite. Thanks for putting together this great guide 🙂
This is such a cool idea! I love the photos and now I can’t decide which ones I might like best. Just means we’ll have to check out them all! We’ve never been to Hungary but it’s definitely on our bucket list. Great post and thanks for sharing!