Budapest’s charms are innumerable. The pearl of the Danube offers its visitors some of the most beautiful places on the old continent. However, when we hear the name of Hungary’s capital, the first thing that comes to mind is its thermal baths.

Budapest has been synonymous with thermal baths since Roman times. They were the first to discover the benefits 118 springs of the city.

The history of Budapest with its thermal waters has experienced three great periods throughout its history; the Roman Empire, the Turkish period, with the construction of large spas from the 16th century to the end of the 17th century and at the beginning of the 20th century up to the present day with the refurbishment of many places and the consolidation of Budapest as a tourist city.

The City of Spas, as it has been known since 1934, has many attractions to enchant its visitors. That is why, given the beauty of its spas, we have decided to treat the thermal baths as the true works of art that they are. That’s the idea behind this list of the most beautiful thermal baths in Budapest. Prepare your body, mind and camera.

Most beautiful Thermal Baths in Budapest

Gellért Baths

Kelenhegyi út 4-6

This architectural jewel of Art Nouveau and Modernisme opened its doors in 1918. The building is imposing on the outside, with its huge pools and sculptures. But it has an interior that will delight lovers of art and beauty.

The interior is where this jewel shines the brightest. Its rooms are decorated with mosaics, the columns have modernist decoration and everything around you sends out a message of luxury and glamour without any kind of ostentation.

Its baths and baths are pieces that seem to have been brought back from the past, and transport you to the times of emperors. Everything will leave you open-mouthed, although if we had to highlight something, a difficult task considering the grandeur of this place, it would be the large swimming pool guarded by columns, with terraces over it and a large vault that lets the light fall to create an absolutely idyllic atmosphere.

Széchenyi Baths

Állatkerti krt. 9-11 

If you are looking for grandeur, stop looking, you have just found it.  You have before you the largest thermal complex in Europe, which opened its doors in 1913. Its architectural style is striking, oozing splendour and craftsmanship, neo-baroque.

To be considered the largest in Europe, you can imagine the dimensions it boasts. It houses 21 swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor.

It is touristy, very crowded and not cheap. This thermal bath is considered a piece of art in itself. It is true that it contains rooms with totally incredible decorations and its outdoor pools at sunset are magical, but of course the presence of its building is incomparable.

On a side note, they have parties on many Saturday nights, where music, lights and pools take over the night at the Széchenyi. They are known as the “sparties”.

Rudas

9 Döbrentei tér

The building seems to be perfectly integrated with the rock behind it and the banks of the Danube. This mid-16th century spa welcomes visitors with straight and sober lines, being part of the surrounding nature.

It has Turkish characteristics in its interior, as it could not be otherwise since it was built by the Turkish empire. However, if there are two elements that stand out above the rest, they are, on the one hand, its octagonal swimming pool, on top of which there is a Turkish dome 10 metres in diameter.

On the other hand, the jacuzzi located on its rooftop, which gives us the opportunity to enjoy incredible views of the Pest skyline.  In order to enjoy it to the maximum, besides having a wide daily schedule from 6:00 to 20:00, on Fridays and Saturdays it opens exceptionally from 22:00 to 3:00.

Accommodation in Budapest

In addition to the above information, we recommend that your accommodation in the City of Spas should match your experience in the thermal baths. For this reason we recommend Amberlyn as the perfect place to spend your days in Budapest.