6 of the best · Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is the city of baths, with more than a hundred hot springs beneath its streets. Here are the best places to bathe, from the steaming outdoor pools of Széchenyi to the Ottoman domes of Rudas and Veli Bej.
Our 6 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Budapest.
Budapest’s most famous bath
The great neo-Baroque bath palace of City Park, opened in 1913, with steaming outdoor pools you can use all year round.
Állatkerti körút 9-11Explore View on map
Ottoman dome and rooftop pool
A 16th-century Ottoman bath at the foot of Gellért Hill, with an octagonal pool under a domed roof and a rooftop hot tub over the Danube.
Döbrentei tér 9Explore View on map
A local favourite
A historic bath in Buda loved by locals, with thermal pools, outdoor swimming pools and plaques of thanks from grateful bathers.
Frankel Leó út 25-29Explore View on map
The story of Budapest’s baths, and how to visit.
The back story
Why Budapest is the city of baths: hot springs used since Roman times, Ottoman domes, Art Nouveau palaces and the rituals of bathing today, plus which baths are closed for restoration.
Historic baths with thermal pools, steam rooms and saunas.
A local favourite
A historic bath in Buda loved by locals, with thermal pools, outdoor swimming pools and plaques of thanks from grateful bathers.
Frankel Leó út 25-29Explore View on map
Ottoman dome and rooftop pool
A 16th-century Ottoman bath at the foot of Gellért Hill, with an octagonal pool under a domed roof and a rooftop hot tub over the Danube.
Döbrentei tér 9Explore View on map
Budapest’s most famous bath
The great neo-Baroque bath palace of City Park, opened in 1913, with steaming outdoor pools you can use all year round.
Állatkerti körút 9-11Explore View on map
A hidden Ottoman bath
A beautifully restored 16th-century Ottoman bath in Buda, hidden within a hospital complex and far from the crowds.
Árpád fejedelem útja 7Explore View on map
Summer pools in the open air.
Summer on the island
The big open-air pool complex on Margaret Island, with thermal and swimming pools, a wave pool and slides in summer.
Prices: €€ moderate. Bring a swimsuit, flip-flops and a towel, or rent them on site. The Gellért, Király and Rác baths are closed for restoration.
46 of the best Restaurants
30 of the best Cafés
22 of the best Bars9 of the best Fitness + Pools4 of the best Medical3 of the best Property
39 of the best Hotels37 of the best Sights
16 of the best Parks50 of the best Culture8 of the best Cinema
28 of the best Shopping
15 of the best Nightlife11 of the best Transport & cruises
5 of the best Cars