Budapest is well-known for its thermal baths. There are about 100 thermal sources with temperature from +22 C to +76 C in the bowels of the earth on the territory of the city. You can find around 27 thermal baths in Budapest.
You will see all the bath amenities such as towels, swimsuit, slippers in the thermal baths complexes. But you can take it with you from home as well, what will help you to save some money. There are some thermal pools outside.
So if you are going to visit the thermal baths during the cold season, you should take your swimming cap to keep your head dry. When you are in the thermal pool, you don’t feel any discomfort because you are fully covered with water vapor. But when you run between the thermal pools outside, on cold air, it is rather cold for the head because it is already wet.
It is more convenient to get the ticket with a cabin rental, where you can change your clothes and leave your belongings. Everyone has a bracelet, which opens/closes your locker/cabin and indicates the time that you spend in the thermal bath complex.
You can find here a shower, hair dryers, where you can tidy yourself after bathing.
The first thermal bath that we visited, was Gellert Furfo, which is situated in the hotel on the “Buda” part of the city. This bath is spacious, the pools are decorated with beautiful fresco, everywhere are sculptures of angels. There are pools with fresh and thermal water (up to +40 C) and sauna.
Our score: 10/10.
Address: Kelenhegyi út, 4.
www.gellertfurdo.hu
Operating hours: 06:00 – 20:00.
Széchenyi Furdo is the most famous thermal bath. You will see here more youth. Disco-parties are held on weekend. There are pools with fresh and thermal water (up to +40 C), steam baths and saunas.
Our score: 10/10.
Address: Állatkerti krt. 9-11
www.szechenyibath.hu
Operating hours: 06:00 – 22:00.
Dandar Furdo thermal bath is more popular among the locals, and not so crowdy. It is a little bit smaller but rather comfortable. There are pools with fresh and thermal water (up to +40 C) and sauna.
Our score: 9/10.
Address: Dandár u, 5-7.
www.en.dandarfurdo.hu
Operating hours: Monday-Friday, 06:00 – 21:00, Saturday-Sunday, 08:00 – 21:00.
Kiray Furdo is one of the most ancient thermal baths, which was build during the Osmanian Empire Ruling time. The most impressive interior part of this thermal bath is a big dome above the central pool. There are pools with fresh and thermal water (up to +40 C), steam bath and saunas. This thermal bath can be interesting from the historical point. But, unfortunately, it is not so comfortable and well-equipped as another thermal baths like Széchenyi, Gellert, Dandar.
That’s why we recommend to visit the previous three thermal baths above first of all.
Our score: 5/10.
Address: Budapest, Fő u. 84.
http://en.kiralyfurdo.hu/
Operating hours: 09:00 – 21:00.
Author (c): Iryna Melnyk
Photos (c): Nick Melnyk