Budapest baths and spas are known all over the world, and they are one of the top things to do in Hungary. There are thermal baths all over Hungary, and dozens of thermal baths in Budapest alone. There are many Hungarian spa resorts which have thermal baths on site, so when choosing your accommodations, thermal spas are one aspect to consider. No Budapest vacation would be complete without a relaxing visit to one of them. After a long day of visiting Hungarian attractions, a long soak in one of the historic spas in Budapest is just the thing to completely de-stress you and remind you that you're on vacation.

No matter which you choose to visit, there will plenty of Hungarian history and architecture to take in. Many of the baths are hundreds of years old, as the tradition of thermal baths in Budapest goes back 2,000 years. Excavations of old baths show that the Romans had discovered and made use of Hungary's rich thermal spring natural resources as well. As you relax in the soothing waters you are engaging in the same tradition that people of this city has practiced for hundreds of years.

Among the best known Budapest baths are the Gellért Baths, the Széchenyi Bath, and the Lukács Bath. The historic Gellert Baths were built in 1918, and this upscale location at the base of Gellert Hill is a popular pick for tourists. The Lukács Bath and Széchenyi Baths are two large and popular sites, the latter is one of the largest bath complexes in all of Europe! By staying in one of the Budapest spa hotels, you can strike the perfect balance of historical and cultural sightseeing around the vibrant capital city with plenty of relaxation and downtime in the waters.

Hungary Map

The Király Baths are one of the Budapest Turkish baths. Budapest Turkish baths were built back when the Turks ruled Hungary for a 150-year period in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Király Bath was built by the Turks to ensure that bathing could occur within the castle walls even if the city was under siege. Its water source is not from a spring below it, but rather from the nearby Lukács bath. A soak in the Budapest Turkish baths really remind you of Budapest's long and tumultuous history, filled with wars and conquerors.

Before you go to thermal baths in Budapest, do a little research so that you will be prepared for the customary practices. Know that at Budapest baths there are generally several pools, with different pools for men and women and pools of varying temperature. Also, there are often certain days on which the spa is male-only and others on which it is female only, so be sure to check ahead of time so that you get the right day. Leave plenty of time for your visit, as you will want to relax in the baths for a few hours. After soaking in the baths, you can also often steam in a sauna, or get various types of massages right on site. Sometimes you can enjoy other therapeutic spa services, such as medicinal mud masks, right on site. These extra services only add to the extreme relaxation treatment for your body that the thermal baths provide.