What It’s Really Like Visiting the Best Budapest Baths in Winter

You likely already know that Budapest’s baths are one of the city’s top attractions. I mean, it’s called the “City of Spas” after all. But you might be asking yourself, ‘Are they really worth visiting?’ and ‘Should I visit Budapest’s baths in winter time or summer?’

If you’re traveling to the “City of Spas” in the winter, I can tell you from personal experience from our last trip to Budapest that spending an afternoon soaking in the baths is an extra special treat and the perfect way to warm up on a cold winter day.

Not to mention, spa culture is an integral part of Hungarian life—so you kinda can’t miss this one, right? Visiting the city’s famous baths is a top Budapest bucket list item for good reason, no matter what time of year you’re visiting.

In this post I’m going to honestly share what you can expect from a visit to the Budapest baths in winter including which ones are worth your time, plus tips and tricks for making your Hungarian thermal spa experience more enjoyable (so you can learn from my mistakes).

Budapest Baths in Winter FAQ

How many total baths are there in Budapest?

Budapest (and Hungary in general) is full of natural hot-water springs and the city has about two dozen thermal baths you can choose from.

Is it worth visiting the Budapest thermal baths in winter?

Totally! I’d even argue that winter is the best time of year to visit the baths because what better way is there to warm up on a chilly day than a hot soak in a thermal bath? It’s honestly the perfect winter activity.

What are the best Budapest thermal baths to visit in winter?

They all have their pros and cons, but I’d put Gellért Baths at the top of the list for best Budapest baths in winter, mainly because it’s all indoors in the wintertime so you won’t freeze walking from bath to bath. If you’re a fair weather bath-goer, this is your spot.

With that said, Széchenyi baths is the most famous of Budapest’s baths and is also a must-visit for any trip to the city.

What time of day should I visit the Budapest baths?

First thing in the morning is the best time to get there before the crowds. And as you might imagine, weekdays are going to be less busy than weekends.

What is appropriate to wear at the Budapest thermal baths?

While there are a few clothing-optional areas in some of the more popular baths and even some that are mostly nude, most people you see will be wearing their swimsuits the entire time—and because it’s Europe, definitely expect to see a whole lot of Speedo-clad men. 

How much time do you need to spend at each bath?

The baths are all about relaxing, so I wouldn’t rush it. You can be in and out if you’re short on time, but if you want the full Budapest bath experience, I’d plan to hang out for a few hours so you can bop around from pool to pool, relax, and people watch.

What to pack for visiting Budapest’s thermal baths in winter?

You can certainly show up to the Budapest baths in winter with just your swimsuit packed and be fine, but there are a few extra things to consider bringing along to optimize your experience.

The two things I’d definitely recommend packing are a pair of flip flops so your toes don’t freeze when you’re walking around outdoors (and for sanitary purposes) and a towel for drying off. You can purchase both of these at the baths, but we were shocked at how expensive they were. Plus, they’re not really they type of items you’re going to want to keep as a souvenir in my experience. Best to bring your own if possible as most baths do not offer rentals.

If you want an extra layer of warmth you could also bring a robe, and it’s nice to have a plastic/waterproof bag to stash your wet swimsuit in after you’ve changed.

Best Budapest Thermal Baths to Visit in Winter

If you’ve got the time, I’d definitely recommend visiting more than one of the thermal baths in Budapest. There are over 20 to choose from and they can offer really different experiences from one another, so it’s worth it to check out a few during your visit.

Hopefully the information below will give you a sense of the vibe of some of the most popular baths, so you can decide which ones are most appealing to you.

This is one of the best cities in the world to go bath hopping, and it really is the perfect winter activity in Budapest.

Here are the best Budapest baths in winter worth visiting:

Széchenyi Baths

If you’ve seen people posting from a bath in Budapest on Instagram or Tik Tok, chances are it was this one. Széchenyi Thermal Bath is one of the largest baths in all of Europe and it has 18 baths, 10 saunas, and steam rooms to explore.

The baths here are housed in a beautiful, yellow historic building that’s been around for over a century and all the baths are filled with natural, mineral-rich hot spring water that is believed to have therapeutic benefits. 

While both the indoor and outdoor baths are toasty warm year round, there are a few cold baths too (which can feel nice after sitting in some of the hotter pools), so be sure to dip your toes in so you know which is which!

The outdoor baths get a lot of the attention here (there was a fun little whirlpool section at the outdoor baths that brought me back to going to water parks as a kid), but don’t miss walking through the indoor baths as well, which we found to be much more quiet and relaxing. 

On the other end of the relaxation spectrum, if you’re looking for a different kind of bath experience, check out Széchenyi’s “Sparty” which is a wild electronic dance party and visual experience that they host every Saturday night from February to December.

Quick Tips for Visiting Széchenyi Baths

What to Expect at the Széchenyi Baths: Don’t expect a typical luxury US “spa” atmosphere here. Széchenyi feels more like a giant, old-world YMCA in an ornate building with lots of people (both tourists and locals). Not saying that’s good or bad, just good to know what you’re getting into so you can set your expectations accordingly. 

Location: Right in City Park on the Pest side of the city. 

Cost of Visiting: Prices differ by day and time you visit, but a daily ticket with locker use Monday–Thursday is 11 000 Ft (about $28 USD) and 12 500 Ft (about $39 USD) on Fridays and weekend days. For about $5 more you can get fast track tickets (which allow you to skip the line, totally worth it in my opinion) and entry is a little cheaper if you go before 9 a.m. I personally find Széchenyi’s direct website a bit confusing and prefer to book tickets easily here.

What’s Provided: Depending on which kind of ticket you book, you might get fast-track access or a locker included, however items like towels, flip flops, a robe, etc. are not included. They are available for rent at the thermal spas but can be pricey, so bringing your own is much more cost effective. Note that women’s and men’s locker rooms are separate here, so if you’re traveling with someone of the opposite sex you’ll each need to get your own locker. 

To take the thermal bath experience up a notch, visitors can book massages here or purchase snacks and drinks (including alcohol).

How to Book: Highly recommend booking your tickets in advance to skip the long queues when you arrive and going on a weekday first thing in the morning to avoid crowds.

Gellért Baths

A little bit more luxurious feeling than Széchenyi, Gellért Baths is an Art Nouveau thermal bath that’s part of the famous Hotel Gellért. If you’re into design, you’ll be in awe of the stunning architecture and intricate mosaic work here. 

Gellért spa has 10 pools that are all different sizes and temperatures, so it isn’t quite as big as Széchenyi, but a great option if you’re looking for an experience with less crowds that feels a bit more intimate.

I personally found this bath to be more beautiful than the Széchenyi Baths. I was in love with the design, especially in the big atrium section near the cafe and lap pool, and also the stunning tiling in the smaller baths.

And since I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold, I appreciated that all the baths were indoor pools (the outdoor baths are closed in winter here), so I didn’t have to freeze while transferring from inside to out. 

I also enjoyed that my husband and I were able to share a locker here, so we didn’t have to split up. Not a deal breaker, but just a nice little perk that made things easier. 

Quick Tips for Visiting Gellert Baths

What to Expect at the Gellért Baths: Expect less crowds here than Széchenyi and just a chiller, more upscale vibe in general. 

Location: Gellért Baths is located just over the Danube on the Buda side of the city, so it’s great to pair with a visit to Fisherman’s Bastion.

Cost of Visiting: Daily ticket with locker use Monday–Thursday is 11 000 Ft (about $28 USD) and 12 500 Ft (about $39 USD) on Fridays and weekends. If you want a private bathing experience for two for 90 minutes, you can book that for 21 000 Ft (about $54 USD). Check out Gellért’s pricing info here. If you want to purchase a fast-track ticket with a locker, this site makes it super easy and straight forward.

What’s Provided: Your entry fee will give you access to the baths, but bring your own towel and flip flops so you don’t have to buy them there. 

How to Book: Grab tickets in advance here to skip the lines.

Rudas Thermal Bath

If you’re looking for a bath experience with a view, head to Rudas Thermal Bath. It’s right on the Danube River and they have a panoramic rooftop hot tub that will give you amazing views while you soak.

Plus, Rudas baths was built in the 16th century which makes it one of the oldest baths in the city (but it was recently renovated so you get old world charm with a contemporary twist). Overall, the building that houses these thermal springs is really architecturally beautiful and historic. There are a variety of baths here of different temps and sizes but the real crown jewels are the Turkish bath and the panoramic rooftop hot tub. 

The Turkish bath is a MUST, but note that it is not co-ed on weekdays so you’ll want to double-check before you go to see which day is which, especially if you’re traveling with someone of the opposite sex. On that note though, the locker rooms are co-ed here. 

Quick Tips for Visiting Rudas Baths

What to Expect at Rudas Thermal Bath: Expect similar vibes to Gellért here but with some added perks like the rooftop hot tub and the traditional Turkish bath. 

Location: Right on the river on the Buda side of Budapest. It’s close to Gellért Baths too, so worth noting that these two pair easily if you’re looking to visit more than one bath in a day. 

Cost of Visiting: A daily ticket on weekdays is 9 800 Ft (about $25 USD) and 12 800 Ft (about $33 USD) on weekends. It’s important to note that if you want to enter the Turkish bath you have to pay an additional fee of 3 100 Ft (about $8). There are special night tickets on Fridays and Saturdays too for 13,000 ft (about $33). Find out more about Rudas’ pricing here. You can grab easy all-day entry tickets to Rudas Thermal Baths here.

What’s Provided: Your entry fee will give you access to the baths and a locker, but like with the other baths in Budapest, you’ll want to bring a towel, flips flips, and a swimming cap (which is required in some of the pools) unless you want to buy them there for a lot more money. 

How to Book: You can buy easy entry tickets for Rudas Thermal Bath here.

Other Unique Baths to Check out in Budapest

Széchenyi, Gellért, and Rudas Thermal Baths are all pretty well-known, so if you’re looking to make it past the big three, here are a few other top Budapest baths in winter you could also check out: 

Lukács Baths: A favorite among locals, Lukács Baths is not heavily touristed, and it’s priced lower than most baths. They’re known for their drinking fountain which is said to have medicinal properties and healing powers. 

Veli Bej Baths: An off-the-beaten-path and beautiful bath from the 16th century. Add this to your list if you want to avoid the crowds and soak while enjoying historic charm. 

Thermal Beer Spa: Ok, so this one is located in Széchenyi, so it’s not its own separate bath, but I wanted to call it out for being a unique option. Not only do you get to drink beer here, but you’re actually soaking in beer too. Worth a visit if you’re a beer lover!

Our Personal Experience Visiting the Budapest Baths in Winter

We visited the Gellért and Széchenyi baths during our trip to Budapest and had very different experiences at each, which was nice as it didn’t feel like a redundant activity on our itinerary.

Logistically speaking, we did some research ahead of time and everything we read mentioned that the queues can be long, so we made sure to buy the advance tickets. I’m so glad we did. At both spas we visited early in the morning with advance tickets and didn’t have any issues with massive crowds or waiting in excessive lines.

Overall, the experience was a truly lovely respite from the cold. Budapest in winter is magical, but it can be FREEZING, especially when you’re spending so much time walking around the city, so I honestly couldn’t get into the baths fast enough.

We had a great time relaxing and testing out the various pools of different temperatures, but honestly the people watching was some of my favorite part of the experience.

Hungarian baths are a bit different from spas in the US. They’re more of a social hour than a place for tranquility and quiet relaxation. If you like to people watch though, you’re in luck because let me tell you, people watching at a bath in Budapest is an experience all its own.

I kind of imagine chilling at the baths in Budapest as the Hungarian version of sitting at a cafe in Paris—it’s a great spot to socialize, people watch, and sit back and do nothing.

So is it worth it?

Some of the criticisms I read about visiting the baths in Budapest are that it’s overrated and overcrowded. Some people are also weirded out by the communal bathing aspect. While I get that, it’s also such a historic part of Hungarian culture in the way that saunas are to Finland, so I personally feel like it’s one of those things you need to experience at least once—even if it might not be #1 on your list.  

And although it is a big tourist attraction, visiting Budapest’s thermal baths didn’t feel overly touristy to me, as there was a healthy mix of locals and tourists when we visited. You really get the feeling visiting these baths, that there are locals who are regulars and have been coming for years.

Plus, if you visit in winter you get to enjoy fewer crowds.

All in all, if you’re strategic about when you visit and purchasing advance tickets, you can make visiting Budapest’s baths into an enjoyable experience rather than another overcrowded tourist trap.

Did this post give you helpful information about exploring the best Budapest baths in winter? Let me know in the comments!

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