Hungary sits on one of the richest geothermal and medicinal water resources of the world. The local culture of bathing goes back two thousand years; excavated remains of bath houses, frescoes and mosaics demonstrate that the Romans discovered and exploited these thermal water resources.

Of the approximately 1300 thermal springs currently registered, nearly 300 are used for bathing purposes and no fewer than one in every ten, which means about 130 mineral and medicinal water springs, are located in the capital, Budapest!

Gellért Bath: This must surely be one of the all-time favourites of visitors to Budapest. Its natural spring was known about as early as the thirteenth century, and its interior is a delight of original.

Király Bath: Construction of this was begun under Arslan, Pasha of Buda in 1565. It is one of the finest extant buildings of the Turkish period, and gives the visitor even today an inspiring glimpse into the splendour of Ottoman bathing culture.

Lukács Bath: This is a bathing complex dating from the nineteenth century but whose roots go back to the Turkish period.

The sixteenth century Császár (Emperor) Bath is part of the complex, and besides traditional Turkish baths there is also a very popular swimming pool.

The Rác Bath is currently closed for renovations.

Following the renovation of the landmark Turkish bathhouse, the Rudas Bath is reopened from 1st of December 2005.

Széchenyi Bath: It is one of the biggest bathing complexes in Europe, whose hot spring – both the city’s hottest and deepest – was discovered in 1879. The neo-Baroque building containing the thermal baths dates from 1913 and the adjacent swimming pool opened in 1927. The water is so warm that the outdoor pools are popular with bathers even in the depths of winter!

You can read more about these treatments in our Spa - from A to Z

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