Baths and Waterparks
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Thermal Baths
If you have ever wondered what is the most attractive characteristic of Budapest, your best guess would be its thermal baths. These natural hot springs were the reason the Romans came to and settled down at Aquincum, an ancient city which ruins can be visited today alongside the Aquincum Museum housing many historic artifacts from the city.
Nowadays, many tourists come to the ‘City of Spas’, a title awarded to Budapest in 1934, to visit one of its many thermal baths that had been built throughout the years. It is said that the thermal water rich in various minerals can help with joint illnesses and joint inflammations. In case you are interested, here are the most famous and visited thermal baths of Budapest:
Széchenyi Bath
Opened in 1913, it is the largest thermal bath in Europe with 18 separate pools. Apart from swimming and soaking in the water, the bath offers saunas and massage treatments. You can also visit Széchenyi Baths during the night during one of its ‘SPArties’, a series of night events since 2002. It is held almost every weekend for adults only.
Address: Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146
Rudas Bath
Built during Ottoman rule, Rudas bath has preserved many defining elements of Turkish baths, such as its dome and octagonal pool. The bath has 7 pool, including steam baths, swimming pools and vapor baths with saunas. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can also enjoy a night bath there.
Address: Budapest, Döbrentei tér 9, 1013
Lukács Bath
The territory of Lukács bath has been used as a thermal bath ever since the 12th century by the Knights Hospitaller. In the 1880s, the first spa hotel was finished and named after Saint Luke. Later on, it was expanded with a health clinic and a water-drinking hall. Today, it has 5 pools, saunas, underwater jet and medical massages and mud treatment. Lukács Baths also offers night bathing; however, it is only available during Szent Lukács Night. For possible dates, visit their website.
Address: Budapest, Frankel Leó út 25-29, 1023
Gellért Bath
Built between 1912 and 1918, Gellért Baths is part of the Hotel Gellért in Buda. Consisting of 13 pools, it is the second largest thermal bath in Budapest. The bath also has massage rooms, private bathing and steam chambers.
Address: Budapest, Kelenhegyi út 4, 1118
Király Bath
Király Baths was opened in 1565. It is not as grand as the previously mentioned thermal baths, however, it can provide the same experience as the others. The bath has 4 pools, steam baths, saunas and massages.
Address: Budapest, Fő u. 84, 1027
Outdoors pools and waterparks
If simply soaking in hot water is not your idea of fun, the city is full of various outdoor pools and waterparks to choose from.
Palatinus Strand Bath
Palatinus, located on Margaret Island, was the first ever bath in Budapest where quests were allowed to bathe outdoors. Today it has several pools ranging from swimming pools to thermal pools and children’s pools, water slides and a playground for kids.
Address: Budapest, Soó Rezső stny. 1, 1003
Római Beach
Római Beach is an open-air bath in Budapest. Its spring water was used first by the Romans for bathing and drinking. Nowadays, it is a popular sport for locals and tourists, as Római Beach provides a variety of swimming, children and leisure pools, saunas and a slide-park.
Address: Budapest, Rozgonyi Piroska u. 2, 1031
Dagály Bath
Reopened in 2018, Dagály bath provides guests with 10 pools to all ages including swimming and thermal pools for adults and adventure, children and wave pools for kids.
Address: Budapest 1135, Népfürdő u. 36, 1138
Aquaworld
Aquaworld Water Park is one of the biggest indoor water themeparks in Europe with 19 pools, offering a large variety of fun activities to all ages, ranging from saunas and thermal baths to giant water slides and surf pools.
Address: Budapest, Íves út 16, 1044
