Budapest welcomes thermal baths visitors during the winter season, including the Christmas holidays. Major thermal baths stay open on festive days, including December 25th.
Bookings for the festive season (December 18 – January 6) are now open.
Dec 25 in the Thermal Baths of Budapest
Széchenyi Bath: Open from 10 am to 8 pm on December 25.
Rudas Bath: Christmas Eve opening hours have not yet been confirmed.
Lukács Bath: Christmas Eve opening hours have not yet been confirmed.
Király Bath: Remains closed.
Gellért Bath: Remains closed.
Szechenyi Baths, Lukacs Bath and Rudas Bath are generally open from 10 am to 8 pm on Dec 25, Christmas Day. Kindly note that the opening times may vary among thermal baths. We recommend trying various thermal baths even if you are a first time visitor. Each building has their own unique character and you may find that
Budapest’s baths with their pampering thermal waters averaging around 33 degrees Celsius are particularly popular during the Christmas season and New Year holidays. Due to shorter opening hours on certain festive days and increased visitor numbers, queues and waiting times of approximately 30–90 minutes may occur, including outdoors in the winter weather. Thank you for your patience.
Christmas and New Year Opening Hours and Tickets – 2026
For the 2026 Christmas and 2027 New Year holiday season, festive opening hours have been confirmed for some of the most well known and popular thermal baths, such as Szechenyi Baths. Advance ticket sales has also begun since mid-October 2026. Please note that holiday ticket prices may be higher than regular admission rates, and advance booking is recommended where available.
Lukacs Baths & Rudas Baths festive opening hours will be similar – not finalised yet at the time of the last refreshment.
Related Programmes on 25 December in Budapest
Please note that not all Budapest thermal baths are open during the Christmas holidays. Gellert Spa Thermal Bath is closed for renovation until 2028, while Király Bath – a smaller 16th century historical bath – remains closed. Some lesser known thermal baths like Csillaghegyi Bath and Pesterzsébet Bath, may operate with limited opening hours or remain closed on certain festive days. We recommend checking the individual bath schedules for December and January before planning your visit.
Rudas Bath: While Rudas is not coed on weekdays throughout the year, the festive season is fully co-educated in the communal areas (except the changing and hygiene units, which remain male / female only). The thermal department of Rudas Bath is open to all visitors, regardless of gender, on the designated festive days in late Dec / early Jan. Regular night bathing sessions may be affected by the Christmas and New Year holiday schedule.
Dec 25 Events in Budapest at Christmas – Budapest Christmas guide
Budapest Christmas Cruises in December – Budapest River cruise winter boats & dinner cruises
Festivals in Budapest in December – festive Christmas markets and sparkling holiday lights
Budapest Concerts in December – classical music and festive Christmas performances
Christmas and New Year Opening Hours and Tickets – available from mid / late October
The official festive opening hours of Budapest’s thermal baths are generally confirmed and published in October, often around the middle of the month. Although visitors may start planning their Christmas holidays much earlier, the following winter season’s opening hours and ticket availability are usually not confirmed until before 1-2 months before the festive season. Each year we suggest visitors checking back from mid-October for the latest festive schedules and booking information when tickets and spa packages also become available fro pre-booking.
December 25, Christmas Day, is a public holiday in Budapest. Many museums, shops and other attractions remain closed, but visitors can still enjoy selected thermal baths, restaurants, festive activities and Danube river cruises. There are plenty of ways to spend Christmas Day in Budapest, although advance planning is recommended.
For further information about Christmas holiday tickets, availability and on-site admission, please visit: Tickets at Budapest Baths during the Winter Holiday
Last updated: October 19, 2026.
