Budapest has been called the ‘City of Baths’ since the 1930s, but many of the hot springs have been used by Celts, Romans and even before them, prehistoric men. Hungary and its capital, Budapest, are lands of hot thermal waters with healing qualities.
If it is your first-time visit in Budapest baths, please read the FAQ and do your research to check what fellow country folks say about the thermal baths. You may find misleading information online or in old guide books regarding certain questions, such as nudity, pregnancy treatments etc.
Please read our FAQ, if you visit any thermal baths in Budapest for the first time. It will provide you with good orientation, and lots of useful information.
Can I?
Can I visit a spa with a partner? Visiting a spa with a partner depends on which of the Baths you have chosen. Most baths can be visited with a partner any day of the week (such as Szechenyi Baths, Gellert Spa etc), while Rudas Baths is the only bath in Budapest where men and women must bathe separately on certain days.
Can I buy tickets in advance? Yes, and it is highly suggested to buy your bath entries (Szechenyi Baths, Gellert Spa) to avoid the queues at the cashiers. Online tickets entitle you to Expedited QR Code Entry through a private entrance, you can enjoy the baths for a full day visit, with either a private changing cubicle (cabin) or a locker. Ticket types vary, so take a look at them and check the inclusions to find the best match.
Can children go to the thermal baths? The bath policy regarding children (teens, toddlers, babies) differs, each bath has its own regulation. For example, Gellert allows under 14 children, but not in the thermal pools ad with parental supervision only. Whereas the minimum age to enter Rudas Bath is 14 years old. Szechenyi Bath has its own children policy too (only 2 out of the 18 pools are accessible for children with parents). Teens over 14 are welcome to enjoy all pools, or even get a massage at Gellert, but for a short period (20 min in a stretch). However, kids under 14 are not recommended to use the warm thermal pools of 36 degrees Celsius or more as their cardiovascular system, which is not fully developed yet, is affected by the higher temperatures. Last but not least, babies who have not been potty trained yet (approx. under 3), are not permitted to enter any pools, not even in swim nappies, but can get into the baths usually free of charge.
Unfortunately, most thermal baths are not geared towards children, for the above reasons, with the exception of the following beautiful and fun thermal bath complexes: Palatinus Bath and Lido situated on the city central park on Margaret Island (especially from June to September) or Dagaly Bath and Lido, both of which feature lots of fun elements, like chutes and slides, unlike the classic baths (Szechenyi, Gellert, Rudas, Lukacs).
Can I book massages in advance? Yes, and as massages are subject to availability, booking massage therapies in advance is recommended. You can book your Szechenyi Bath and Gellert Spa massage in advance. Please note that we can only offer massage for bath guests (no drop-ins off the street). If your primary reason to visit the baths is to enjoy a relaxing massage in Budapest, or the massages were sold out at the thermal baths, we suggest one of the Mandala massage services in Budapest for their high quality and great reviews.
Can I rent towels in the Thermal Baths? Kindly note that while towel rental is no longer available with standard bath tickets, in Szechenyi Bath, you can choose to upgrade to the Palm House (Dayspalm) package (which is, essentially, an add on service to a limited number of guests in the exclusive glass domed rooftop relaxation zone offering drinks, hammocks, sofas, plus towel and bath robe rental). Standard bath entries (including fast track tickets with cabin or locker), unfortunately, do not include a towel rental due to the changes in safety regulations as a direct consequence of the Covid pandemic. For the most green and affordable option, we suggest bringing a lightweight microfibre towel with you in a waterproof bag as an easy option to carry around while sightseeing in Budapest city, or, you can choose to purchase a towel on the spot as a keepsake (subject to availability).
If you schedule the bath visit at the end of the day, from 4pm onwards, you can just head back to the accommodation (e.g. by taking the metro right next to Szechenyi Bath, or the tram by Gellert Bath or Rudas Bath without having to carry the wet towel/ bath kit around.
Can I take photos in the spas? Generally speaking, taking pictures is not regulated, there are no photography permission rules, but there are privacy rules and also some guidelines. For instance, the general etiquette is to respect the privacy of others (allowing to take pictures of the building instead), while for general public photos the accepted public photo rules apply. For special media inquiries please send an email request.
Can I get a refund for the bath entries? Bath tickets are non-refundable. If you buy a full-day ticket to any spa in Budapest, but you only spend a couple of hours there, unfortunately, it does not entitle you to any refund. A full day ticket allows you to stay for any hours during any time of the day, as long as the facilities are open. In some of the baths, there may be special tickets that are limited for a few hours (these ticket types may change over the year). There can be a somewhat reduced ticket price for early morning or late afternoon tickets purchased after 5 pm (available at the cashiers only). Having said that, your vendor may have different buying terms, so do check the T&C before making a bath ticket purchase.
Can I use my hairdryer? There are hairdryers in every spa by the showers (and not in the cabins). Or, should you wish, you can bring your own with you. (Please note that only two-pole European style plug-ins will fit.)
I am pregnant. Can I come and enjoy the hot waters? May I have massages? Unfortunately, most thermal pools contain hot water (between 33 and 40 degrees) which is not recommended for ladies who are expecting a child. As for the massages, we are sorry, but there are no thermal baths in Budapest that offer pregnancy massages. The reason for this is to prevent any potential medical complications that may occur during treatment.
Can I visit the Baths if I do not feel well? Can you provide any health safety tips? There are some certain physical/health conditions when enjoying hot water is not only not recommended, but even contraindicated, such as high temperature (fever), high blood pressure, various skin diseases, etc. To be on the safe side, if you have any health conditions/diseases/skin legions, etc. please consult with your doctor before visiting the thermal baths.
Can I go with skin diseases to the bath? Unfortunately, guests with disabling but non-contagious skin conditions are not permitted to use the communal bath or services. However, they may use the individual bath instead.
Can I buy drinks and foods in the baths or can I bring my own? There are small cafes within the Baths’ buildings with affordable prices but don’t expect a fancy dining experience, the place is a cafeteria (self-served) food and drink bar. If you wish, you can bring your food, but for a hygienic reason, eating is not allowed in the pools or near the pools. For drinks please do not bring any glass drinks as the baths are a splinter-free area where glasses are not welcome.
Can I bring fragile objects to the bath? For your safety we kindly ask you not to bring fragile objects such as glass, ceramics, or porcelain into the pool and swimming areas. These items can easily break and pose a risk of injury to yourself and others. We encourage you to leave these items at home or in your personal locker.
What?
What is the best time to visit the spas in Budapest? I want to avoid the long queues and the crowd. It is understandable that some people want to plan their visit for off-peak hours, or when they are less touristy. We suggest visiting the baths either in the morning at around 10 am, or around noon.
What is the dress code in the thermal baths? Be as comfortable as you can, while covering the essentials with a decent swimwear made of swimwear material (e.g. no standard T-shirts, please). The dress code in Budapest’s thermal baths requires visitors to wear swimwear in public areas, e.g. in the pools, saunas, cafeteria etc. and must wear a decent swimming costume/shorts/swimwear while enjoying the different facilities.
What Shall I Take With Me to the Spa Baths of Budapest? There are essential things and there are recommended things which you should consider taking with you when visiting a spa.
However, while those who are enjoying a spa day will be provided with at least a locker, it is usually best to leave valuable items – such as electronic devices and jewellery – at home.
What is the difference between cabins and lockers? The most important thing is that there are no plain tickets without a locker or a cabin. Your bath entry comes with either a gym style locker or a changing room style cubicle (cabin) of them. Both lockers and cabins are for storing your items, but cabins are smallish cubicles, where you can get changed too and even store a normal suitcase if your schedule requires so (best to avoid this scenario though, if you can).
What are the opening hours during National and other Holidays? The opening hours of the Baths of Budapest are a little bit affected on public holidays in Hungary, all the main thermal baths will be open as on Sundays. Please note that weekend tickets are needed on these days. Christmas opening times can be varied at the different Baths, please check them before your visit. Most baths close early afternoon on Dec 24 and open a bit later on Jan 1.
What is used to keep the pools clean?
The water is not chlorinated in the pools, there is a sophisticated technology of continuous water filtering to keep the water clean without ruining the thermal/mineral components.