Which Thermal Bath in Budapest Should You Visit? I Tested 6

Choosing which thermal bath in Budapest to visit isn’t as easy as it sounds. The most famous bath isn’t necessarily the best one, especially if you’d rather have a relaxing soak than fight for space in a crowded pool.

I’ve now visited six thermal baths in Budapest, from the iconic Széchenyi Baths to small, local baths where I was one of only a handful of visitors.

After trying them for myself, Rudas Baths is still my overall favorite for its hot thermal pools, historic Turkish bath, and rooftop pool overlooking the Danube.

But if you’re on a budget, I’d pick the much quieter Veli Bej, while Széchenyi is still hard to beat if you’re looking for those Instagrammable photos.

Now, let’s compare all six baths I visited, so you can choose the Budapest thermal bath that’s actually right for you.

1. Rudas Baths: My Favorite

After visiting six thermal baths in Budapest, Rudas Baths is my favorite. It has the best combination of hot thermal pools, historic atmosphere, and something none of the other baths I visited can compete with: soaking in a rooftop hot pool while looking out over Budapest.

The Turkish bath is another reason I loved Rudas. At its center is an octagonal pool beneath a 10-meter-high dome, surrounded by four smaller thermal pools. With the old stone walls, domed ceiling, and steam filling the room, this was one of the best places to simply relax.

Highlights:

• The rooftop pool was one of my favorite experiences at any of the Budapest thermal baths. You can sit in the hot water while looking out over the Danube and the city.
• The Turkish bath area has a central pool surrounded by four smaller pools ranging from 28°C to 42°C, so you can move between different temperatures. Just make sure to check the schedule before you go because this section has men-only, women-only, and mixed bathing times.
• If, like me, you actually like your thermal baths hot, the 42°C pool is a big plus.
• It felt more relaxing and less touristy than Széchenyi, while still giving me that special experience I wanted from visiting a thermal bath in Budapest.

Best for: Hot thermal pools, historic atmosphere, and incredible city views.
Skip if: You’re on a tight budget or can’t visit the Turkish bath during your visit.

2. Széchenyi Baths: Most Iconic (and Crowded)

Széchenyi Thermal Baths is the largest thermal bath in Budapest, with 18 indoor and outdoor pools surrounded by beautiful Neo-Baroque architecture. If you want the iconic Budapest bath experience you’ve seen in photos, this is the one I’d choose.

It’s also the only major thermal bath on the Pest side, located right in City Park.

Highlights:

• The outdoor pools and architecture make Széchenyi one of the best baths for photos. Since so many people take pictures here, I also felt much less awkward getting my camera out than at the smaller local baths.
• With 18 pools, there’s plenty to explore.
• Széchenyi probably had the most sun loungers of the six baths I visited, although finding a free one was another story.

Downsides:

• When I visited it was packed. I couldn’t find a free lounger, and the outdoor thermal pools were overflowing with people.
• I also found the sauna unbelievably hot and uncomfortable, despite normally loving saunas. I don’t know whether something was off during my visit or whether it’s normally that hot, but I didn’t enjoy it.

Best for: First-time visitors, iconic Budapest photos, and a lively atmosphere.
Skip if: You want a quiet, relaxing soak.

🤩 Click here to book your picturesque spa time!

3. Veli Bej Baths: Best Value for a Relaxing Soak

Irgalmasok Veli Bej Bath is one of my favorite thermal baths in Budapest if you care more about actually relaxing in hot water than taking photos. It’s much cheaper than Rudas, and when I visited at around 9 am, there were only about ten other people there.

Finding the bath was actually a little confusing. It’s inside a larger building near Lukács Baths, and I didn’t even see a sign for the bath until I went inside.

Highlights:

• This was one of the quietest baths I visited in Budapest. With so few people around in the morning, it was incredibly relaxing.
• The beautiful domed central pool is surrounded by four smaller pools at different temperatures. The hottest reaches around 38–40°C, which I loved.
• The main pool area reminded me of the Turkish bath at Rudas, just much quieter and more affordable.
• The coolest pool was around 24–26°C during my visit. It was cold enough to cool down without being an unbearably cold plunge, which was perfect for me.

Downside:

• Don’t come here for the sauna. There are steam rooms, a sauna, and infrared cabins, but during my visit one steam room was closed and the other wasn’t very steamy.
• You only get a three-hour ticket, and there aren’t many loungers.
• It’s not open all day, the bath closed between 12 pm and 3 pm.

Best for: Affordable hot thermal pools and a quiet, relaxing bathing experience.
Skip if: You want outdoor pools, an all-day spa experience, or somewhere you’ll feel comfortable taking lots of photos.

4. Lukács Baths: Best for Summer

Lukács Baths offers a quieter, more local experience than Budapest’s famous tourist baths. It has a mix of indoor thermal pools and outdoor swimming pools, and after visiting six baths in Budapest, I think it’s one of the better choices for a summer visit.

It’s located near Margaret Island, so you can easily combine your visit with a walk through the park.

Highlights:

• There are three outdoor pools, including two large pools for lane swimming (you need a cap for them), plus a rooftop terrace where you can relax, so it’s perfect for a summer visit.
• The indoor thermal pools are smaller and cozy, with the hottest reaching 42°C, a big plus for me.
• It felt quieter and less touristy than Széchenyi.
• You can even try the thermal water here. It tastes very metallic and weird, but it’s an interesting experience.

Downside: The outdoor relaxation pool was too cold for me to actually relax in, so I much preferred the warmer indoor thermal pools.

Best for: Summer visits, swimming, and a quieter, more local atmosphere.
Skip if: You mainly want hot outdoor soaking pools or impressive architecture.

5. Gellért Baths: Best for Architecture Lovers

Note: Gellért Baths is currently closed for renovations until 2028.

Gellért Baths is easily one of the most beautiful thermal baths I visited. Its Art Nouveau interior is filled with stained-glass windows, colorful tiles, and ornate columns. Honestly, just walking into the entrance hall is an experience in itself.

Highlights:

• The entrance hall and indoor swimming pool were the highlights for me. If you’re choosing a bath based on looks, Gellért would be one of my top picks.
• The main pool is surrounded by columns and has a retractable roof. Super picturesque, but you’ll need a swim cap to use it and the water is rather chilly.
• There’s also a large outdoor pool, although the waves weren’t running during my visit and I found the water too cold for relaxing.

Downside: The pools I found most beautiful were better for swimming than soaking. The warmer thermal pools were quite small, so I wouldn’t choose Gellért if your main priority is sitting in really hot water.

Best for: Beautiful architecture, photos, and swimming in an impressive setting.
Skip if: You mainly want really hot thermal pools.

6. Dandár Baths: The Cheapest Option

Dandár Baths was the cheapest thermal bath I visited, and it also felt much more local than the famous baths. But while it was perfectly fine for a soak, it’s the one bath on this list I probably wouldn’t visit again.

It’s very small, with three indoor pools and two outdoor pools, so don’t expect anything like the huge complexes at Széchenyi or Lukács.

Highlights:

• This was the cheapest of the six thermal baths I visited, so it could be a good option if you’re traveling on a very tight budget.
• There were noticeably more locals here and far fewer tourists.
• The two outdoor pools were my favorite part. They form a circle divided into two sections with different water temperatures, almost like a yin-yang symbol.

Downside:

• Dandár is very basic. The building and pools aren’t particularly pretty, and from the outdoor pool you’re mainly looking up at the surrounding apartment buildings.
• There are very few loungers, and during my September visit most of the outdoor ones were in the shade, so too cold for me to relax on.
• The water was nice, but after visiting Veli Bej for not that much more money, I’d personally spend the extra and go there instead.

Best for: The cheapest possible thermal bath experience and a more local atmosphere.
Skip if: You can afford to spend a little more for a better overall experience.

Tips for Visiting Thermal Baths

• Bring a swimsuit, towel, and flip-flops. Flip-flops are mandatory, and you shouldn’t assume you’ll be able to rent a towel.
• Bring a swim cap if you want to use the lap swimming pools. You don’t need one for the regular thermal pools.
• You’ll usually get a locker with your ticket. At the baths I visited, a wristband was used to access the baths and lock/unlock the lockers.
• Check the opening hours and access rules before visiting. Some baths have unusual schedules. For example, Rudas has different access times for its Turkish bath, while Veli Bej closes for several hours in the middle of the day.
• Don’t expect a resort-style spa day. One thing I noticed across Budapest’s thermal baths is that there often aren’t that many places to lounge around between swims. Széchenyi had the most loungers of the baths I visited, but it also had so many visitors that I still couldn’t find a free one.
• Check current prices before visiting. Prices vary between baths and can also change depending on the day or ticket type.

Prefer to Stay at a Hotel With a Spa?

If a few hours at a thermal bath isn’t enough relaxation for you, you could also stay at a Budapest hotel with its own spa.

One option worth checking out is Queen’s Court Hotel & Residence, which has an indoor pool, sauna, and wellness area right in the hotel. This gives you somewhere to relax whenever you want without having to plan another trip to one of Budapest’s public baths.

I haven’t stayed at Queen’s Court myself, so I can’t personally compare its spa to the thermal baths above. But if having easy access to a pool and sauna is important when choosing where to stay, it could be a good option to consider.

🛏️ Check prices and availability at Queen’s Court Hotel & Residence 🧖‍♀️

Read more about Budapest:

• 20 Absolute Best Things to Do in Budapest Hungary
• 17 Unbelievable Free Things to Do in Budapest
• 17 Truly Unusual Things to Do in Budapest
• 3 Days in Budapest Itinerary: What to See & Do
• I tried the 4 Best Thermal Baths Budapest
• 10 Best Fully Vegan Restaurants in Budapest
• 3 Best Budapest Tours from Vienna
• Is Budapest Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons Why I Love It
• Best Souvenirs from Budapest to Remember Your Trip
• 15 Best Budapest Instagram Spots to Capture Your Trip
• How to Get to Margaret Island Budapest: Easy Ways
• Ultimate Thai Massage Budapest Guide
• New York Café in Budapest: Is It Really Worth It?
• Is Budapest Cheap? Yes, But Not as Much as It Once Was
• Belgrade to Budapest by Bus: The WORST Journey
• Hungary

Pin it for later: