Soaking in the Thermal Baths of Budapest

As a bathing enthusiast, I’m always very excited to visit places around the world that have unique cultures around bathing. Whether it’s a hammam in Türkiye, a sauna in Finland, a banya in Russia, or a thermal bath in Budapest, I’m sure to flock to whatever’s available.

On a recent five-night stay in Budapest, I had the chance to visit five different thermal baths. The city is famous for its bathing culture, and I relished every moment in the pools.

There’s a lot of history and tradition behind bathing in Budapest, so I wanted to share some of my experiences with Budapest’s unique thermal baths.

Why Does Budapest Have So Many Thermal Baths?

Deep below the ground in Budapest is a massive reserve of spring water. There are over 123 thermal water springs underneath Budapest, and over 1,300 spread out across Hungary.

Budapest sits on a fault line, where the hills of Buda merge into the plains on the Pest side. The result of this collision is tens of thousands of cubic metres of thermal spring water gushing upwards each day.

The bathing culture in Budapest predates the Roman Empire, where the thermal baths were discovered and harnessed for good use. Fast forward hundreds of years later under Ottoman rule, the bathing traditions continued, amplified, and combined with elements of hammam bathing.

In fact, some of the thermal baths that were built during the 16th century are still standing to this day. Indeed, bathing underneath an ancient dome is an experience to savour, and one that you’re likely not to forget.

Currently, there are 12 thermal baths in Budapest, although not all are operational. You’ll find them spread across the Buda and the Pest sides of the city, with many are situated along the banks of the Buda. 

The styles of the baths range from ancient to modern. Some are architectural wonders, while others are more utilitarian.

Many of the baths have expanded their properties to include swimming pools and other rooftop and outdoor facilities. If they’re separated from the thermal baths, you can usually choose to have access to either the thermal baths or the pool, or both.

Depending on the type of experience you’re hoping to get out of your visit, you can decide to stick to the thermal baths for a more traditional experience, or to stick to the other…