Budapest Thermals

  We highly recommend Gabor Pál for massages.

It may seem like a natural decision to get a massage while at the thermals, but cost aside, it is sometimes confusing and difficult to communicate with the masseur or masseuse. As one of the crowd with little privacy, it is not as pleasant an experience as one would hope for. We recommend a Gabor Pál, a private and professionally trained massage therapist who we see regularly. If you look at his fees, you will notice they are a small portion of those charged at the thermals. Gabor provides an hour massage for close to what the thermals charge for a 30-minute massage. You can visit his studio within the beauty salon at Erzsébet krt. 18 suite E 18 or he will come to wherever you happen to be staying. Gabor speaks Hungarian, English, and French. You can reach him at +36-30-491-8559 internationally or within Hungary at 06-30-491-8559, 06-70-357-1575, or via e-mail at palgabormail@yahoo.com. Click here to visit his new website. 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, Friday, and Saturday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm); women (Monday and Wednesday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm) and both men and women on Sundays 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. Entrance fee for an all day ticket with cabin 2,100 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 so bathing suits are mandatory. During the warm months, there are separate roof top areas for nude sunbathing. On weekdays, an all day ticket with a cabin is 3,400 Huf; a locker is 3,000 Huf. Weekends, each will run you 100 Huf more. They no longer have the refund system that they once had.

Rudas - This Turkish bath was built during the 16th century in the period of the Turkish occupation. Eight pillars support the 10 meter diameter dome. There is an octagonal pool in the center and four smaller pools in each corner of the room with varying degrees of water from cold to hot. The thermal bath has been  exclusively for men from 1936 until just recently. It has been opened to men and women on Tuesdays only and special events on Friday and Saturday late nights. Only the swimming pool is open on weekends except for late night events. The swimming pool, operating as a therapeutic swimming facility and with a sauna, was built in 1896. In its drinking hall, the water of the springs Hungária, Attila, and Juventus can be consumed for the purposes of a drinking cure. The bath also operates as a daytime outpatient hospital with a complex physiotherapy department.

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 so they often make up the bulk of those using the facilities. The Gellért Thermal Bath and Hotel is known world-wide and highly favored by Hungarians returning to Budapest. The hotel does not own the baths. The baths are owned and operated by the City of Budapest, though there is a cooperative agreement with the hotel. The hotel built in a secession style opened its gates in 1918. The thermal 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 3,800 Ft for a cabin and 3,500 for a locker. Weekends are 100 Huf more. The indoor thermal pools are separate for men and women. The swimming pools are men and women mixed.

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.