Budapest has been famous for thermal baths since its early days. Hot springs have been enjoyed by the Romans, king Mátjás Corvinus and Ottomans who built the baths in which you can still soak yourself today. In the early 20th Century residents of Budapest became obsessed with baths so many new thermal bath complexes sprang up during that time. Five thermal baths are especially famous in Budapest today: Király Baths, Rudas Baths, Gellért Baths, Lukács Baths and Szécheny Baths. Most interesting thermal baths in Budapest for tourists are Rudas, Gellért and Szécheny baths.
Szécheny Baths
Szécheny baths are probably the most appropriate baths to visit for tourists in Budapest. The huge baths complex consisting of indoor and outdoor pools is located in the City Park near Heroes' Square. It was opened in 1913. The inner courtyard of Szécheny baths is divided into a swimming pool and two thermal pools which are open year-round. Attractive feature of one of the thermal pools is water massage while the other one is famous for chess players soaking themselves in the hot water while playing chess on stone chessboards. There is a number of indoor thermal pools in Szécheny baths too and also a sauna and a steam room.
Szécheny baths are rather touristy and can get crowded, but they are still immensely popular among locals too. Especially during summer they tend to spend at least half a day in the baths, bringing snacks, crosswords and magazines with them to while away the time.
Location: Pest XIV, Állatkerti körút 11. Transport: metro M1 (Szécheny Fürdő). Web: spasbudapest.com
Rudas Baths
Rudas baths are the most famous Ottoman baths in Budapest. Rudas baths are more than 400 years old and have been reserved exclusively for male visitors until 2006. Now they are open for men only on certain days, for women only on other days and there are so called mixed days too when Rudas baths are open for both genders. Bathing suits are of course obligatory during the mixed days while on men only or women only days you can enjoy the pools naked.
The pools at Rudas baths are arranged in a big oval-shaped room with a beautiful dome. Some parts of the dome are made of stain glass letting mysterious light through. Apart from the pools there are saunas with various temperatures in Rudas baths and you can indulge yourself with a massage. Don't get scared by the appearance of muscular masseurs. You might think that they are going to brake every single bone of yours but the gentlemen now very well what they are doing.
Thermal pools and the swimming pool in Rudas baths are not connected, hence when buying a ticket you should decide whether you would like to go swimming or soaking yourself in the thermal pools. Tickets are more expensive than at Szécheny but Rudas baths are well worth a visit for the experience of typical Ottoman baths.
Location: Buda I, Döbrentei tér 9. Transport: tram No. 19, 41 (Döbrentei tér), bus No. 7 (Rudas fürdő). Web: spasbudapest.com
Gellért baths
Gellért baths (attached to the famous hotel Gellért) are considered the fanciest baths in Budapest which is reflected in entrance prices. Gellért baths are large and its buildings are by all means spectacular, however if you don't have a special reason for visiting Gellért baths, we suggest saving some money and going to Szécheny instead. Szécheny has the same array of pools as Gellért, except the summer wave-pool, but the prices at Szécheny are lower.
Location: Buda XI, Kelenhegyi út 4. Transport: tram No. 47, 49 (Szent Gellért tér), bus No. 7 (Szent Gellért tér). Web: spasbudapest.com
Visiting the baths
In Hungary a lot of simple everyday things are more complicated than one would expect but visiting the baths is certainly one of the most puzzling experiences.
At Szécheny baths for example you will see a very long price list hanging next to the ticket counter. You should choose the services you wish to use from the pricelist and try to explain what you have decided on to the cashier. You can e.g. decide to visit the pools only or to get a massage, a mud bath etc. You also need to decide whether you only need a locker (which means that you will have to change in a common room) or you prefer to get a private cabin.
Let's say you decide to visit the pools only and that you are getting a locker. You pay and get a receipt and a card. Keep both of them safely unless you want to get into trouble wit growly staff. Go to the entrance and press the card against the scanner. If you are lucky, the gate will open. Otherwise you will get a stern look from an attendant whose job is to stand at the gate and tell the tourists how stupid they are.
Once you are in, you need to find a dressing room and an empty locker. Put your clothes in the locker and call one of the attendants with the keys. The attendant will give you a metal plate with a number, write that number on the inside of your locker's doors with a piece of chalk and lock the locker. You need to remember the number of the locker (not the number on your metal plate!), otherwise you might need to leave the baths in your swimming trunk. Not very pleasant, especially during winter. Once you managed to go through this procedure, you can start enjoying the pools. If you would like to use a swimming pool, you need a swimming cap. Bring your own or you can buy it in the baths.
Once you are done with soaking, go to the dressing room, find one of the attendants and tell him/her your locker number. Remember, your locker number, not the number on your metal plate. The attendant will unlock the locker and compare the number on your metal plate with the number written at the inside of the locker's doors. Get your stuff (don't forget the card and the receipt you got when buying the ticket) and go to the exit. At the exit drop your card into the machine (hoping that you will do it right else you will be barked at by a surly attendant again) and if you have left within 2 hours, the machine will print out another receipt stating that you can get back some money. Take the receipt and present it together with the first receipt at the counter opposite the counter where you bought the ticket. If you are lucky, the lady will give you back some cash.