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Baths
Budapest
is fortunate to have some of the world's finest
Turkish baths. Not only do they boast original
Ottoman architecture (consisting of wonderful
octagonal pools, cupolas and colored glass windows)
but offer a unique - and sometimes hedonistic
- bathing experience. And while some, such as
the Széchenyi Gyógyfürdõ
are more recent, cheap entry prices and expert
masseurs - who happily re-arrange your limbs
and muscles in ways that you thought (up until
now) were impossible - are common to all!
Bathhouses usually have two main pools, along
with smaller ones that contain water of varying
temperatures. Elsewhere you'll also find saunas
and steam rooms, together with a wide-array
of medical treatments. Massages come in two
flavours, namely orvosi (a relaxing medical
massage) and vizí (water), a much more
rigorous - dare we say sadistic - Turkish based
variant! The Gellért, Rudas and Széchenyi
Baths are arguably the best for tourists, while
the Király and Rác enjoy an active
gay scene.
Reviews for other (public) baths will be added
to this page shortly, while hotel spa baths
are listed in our Budapest lodging section.
Gellért Baths
 XI.
Kelenhegyi út 4, Trams 18, 19, 47 to
Gellért tér, Open 6am-7pm daily
Guests of the adjoining Gellért hotel
tend to feel fairly smug about the fact that
the 'in-house' pool is probably the finest Art
Nouveau example anywhere in Europe. Don't worry
if you're staying elsewhere though, a modest
fee will gain you entry - not only to the main
pool with it's impressive marble columns and
spitting lions, but also to the outdoor pools
which are used extensively during the summer.
Leading off from the main pool on either side
are two Turkish style thermal baths, one for
men, the other for women. You'll pay an extra
450 HUF for a therapeutic message, while there's
also a full range of medicinal spa treatments
available.
Király Baths
 II.
Fö utca 84, Metro: M2 Batthyány
tér.
Open: 6am-7pm, men only bathing Tuesday, Thursday
and Saturday.
Undoubtedly one of the city's most historic
Turkish monuments, the Király is second
only to the Rudas baths (below). Owned by the
wealthy König family during the 19th century,
its origins date back as far back as 1570. As
with the Rudas, the octagonal main pool is surrounded
by a number of smaller pools, steam rooms and
saunas. Enjoys a largely gay clientele.
Rudas Baths
 I.
Döbrentei tér 9, Tram 18,19, Bus
7 to Döbrentei tér, Open 6am-6pm
weekdays, 6am-12pm Sat-Sun.
Just to the north along Szent Gellért
rakpart is another historic spa - the Rudas
gyórgyfürdõ (Rudas Baths).
Arguably the finest of Budapest's Turkish baths,
the site was re-constructed by the Pasha of
Buda in the 16th century. The building, which
boasts a main octagonal pool, has five other
smaller pools, three saunas and two steam rooms.
What's more, the baths feel particularly atmospheric
when sunlight, filtering through the windows
of the domed roof, hits the rising steam of
the main pool.
Széchenyi Baths
 XIV.
Állakerti körút 11, Metro:
M1 Széchenyi fürdõ,
Open 6am-10pm daily.
Set amidst the tranquil surroundings of the
Városliget (City Park), the Széchenyi
Baths is a grand old building to which Budapest
families flock during the summer. The unisex
outdoor pool has a extremely convivial atmosphere
- old timers play chess on floating boards while
everyone else just lazes around. The Széchenyi's
Turkish baths are housed away from the main
pool, while outside there's a statue of Zsigmond
Vilmos who discovered the thermal springs here.
Palatinus
Swimming Pool
 XIII,
- Margitsziget. (Bus Number 26) Open Monday
to Saturday 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Summer season only.
The
most popular location in high summer for a day's
lazing in the sun. Set in the lovely park of
the Margaret Island. Very crowded in July and
August. Seven pools, wave pool, games area.
Gay cruising area is on the spot, on the roof
where is only for nude men area.
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