Budapest Thermals

  We highly recommend Gabor Pál for massages.

The decision to get a massage while at the thermals is fine, but it is sometimes confusing and difficult to communicate with the masseur or masseuse. Also, you are one of the crowd, so it is not as pleasant an experience as one would hope for. We recommend a private and professionally trained massage therapist who we use regularly. You can visit his studio or he will come to wherever you happen to be staying. Gabor speaks Hungarian, English, and French. You can reach him at +36-30-908-8996 or via e-mail at palgabormail@yahoo.com. Treatments are for 30, 60, or 90 minutes and his fees are very reasonable. Click on the picture to visit Gabor's client comments or click here.

Budapest is known for its thermal baths. The city is built on natural springs, which many believe to provide health benefits to the bathers. Many of the thermal bath houses are medical clinics as well. Note that although the Racs may still appear in tour books, it was closed in 2002 for remodeling. The building was sold and it will reopen as a five star resort hotel and thermal. None of its old charm or past history is expected to remain when it reopens.

Király - By far the oldest thermal bath in the city is the Király . The construction of this Bath was begun by Arslan, the Pasha of Buda in 1565 and was completed by his successor, Sokoli Mustafa. The Király Thermal Bath had no direct hot water base, nor has it any today. The Turks built the Bath far from the springs to ensure the opportunity for bathing even in the case of an eventual siege, within the walls of the castle. Its water was supplied at that time, and is being supplied now, from the surroundings of the current Lukács Bath.

There are separate days for men (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) and women (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). The thermal is closed on Sundays. Bathing suits are now mandatory for all. Your time is limited to 1 1/2 hours due to limited locker space. Saturdays, it is 1 hour only. Entrance fee is 1,300 Huf.

Széchenyi - The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is o­ne of the largest spa complexes in Europe. It's also the first thermal bath of Pest. Chances are if you have seen photos of men playing chess on floating chess boards, it was this thermal. It is mixed men and women and bathing suits are mandatory. During the warm months, there are separate roof top areas for nude sunbathing. This thermal has a graduated pay system. You will pay 2,400 Huf for a locker or 2,800 Huf for a change room. If you leave within 2 hours, you will receive 400 Huf refund. Leaving between 2 and 3 hours, the refund is 200 Huf. If you really are enjoying your stay and leave after 3 to 4 hours, you will have 200 Huf refunded. After 4 hours, you do not receive a refund.

Gellért - This is our least favorite thermal since it is over-priced and it is mostly foreigners. Hotel guests do not have to pay for the thermal and often they make up the bulk of those using the facilities. The Gellért Thermal Bath and Hotel, known world-wide and highly favored by foreigners, built in a secession style, opened its gates in 1918 and was expanded in 1927 by the wave-bath and in 1934 by the effervescent bath. This is by far, the most expensive thermal in the city. Entrance is 3,100 Huf with very small refunds similar to the Széchenyi. The thermal pools are separated for men and women, but currently the women's thermal is under reconstruction. Due to the work being done, everyone is together in one thermal. You have to wear a bathing suit. The pools are also mixed.

Lukács - In the 12th century, knights of the order of Saint John engaging in curing the sick settled in the area of today's Lukács Bath, followed by the orders of Rhodos and Malta, who built their monasteries baths as well. The bath operated through the time of the Turks but the energy of the springs were used primarily to produce gunpowder and for grinding wheat.  There are separate days for men and for women to bath as the Király.

For more comprehensive information on all of the thermals and pools visit the Budapest Pool and Spa website. There are histories, picture galleries, hours of operation, and price lists. Click here to be redirected.