Visiting thermal baths in Budapest is a year-round activity and soaking in hot water, however, feels a lot more revitalizing during the cloudy winter months. Most Budapest baths have both indoor and outdoor sections that stay open even during Christmas. Plus, some offer special programs during the winter months. In the following article, we’ve collected why it’s best to visit the baths in the winter.
Széchenyi Bath
Although it looks like a 19th-century Baroque palace, Széchenyi Bath is one of the biggest natural hot spring spa baths in Europe. With its 21 indoor and outdoor pools, various steams room, saunas, and numerous medicinal and wellness treatments, it’s a very popular place to relax for locals and tourists.
Why visit this Budapest bath in winter: Join the bath’s daily Sauna Program during the gloomy winter months! Hourly seances are between 1 pm and 8 pm. Széchenyi bath also organizes a pre-New Year’s Eve party on December 30th which is one of the highlights of Budapest nightlife at the end of the year. Programs include a colorful laser show, DJ, great cocktails, fire jugglers, beers and bikinis. Guests must be over 18.
Source: budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu
Rudas bath
Located at the foot of Gellért Hill on the Buda side, Rudas Bath is the most popular medieval Turkish bath in Budapest with a beautiful octagonal-shaped Turkish pool in the middle. Rudas offers a complex bath and wellness experience, including a hammam and a larger swimming pool. It’s the only thermal bath in Budapest, which has men-only and women-only days on weekdays.
Why visit this Budapest bath in winter: Rudas bath offers a unique bathing experience for thermal bath fanatics. On Fridays and Saturdays, the bath reopens between 10 PM and 4 AM., so you and your friends can spend the night bathing and relaxing. Avoid the daytime crowd and watch the beautifully lit Budapest from the warm rooftop panorama pool. (The sauna world however is not available during the night bathing).
Source: budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu
Gellért Bath
Budapest’s most exquisite bath is the Art Nouveau-style Gellért Bath, which is often referred to as the Palace of Baths. It’s been operating since 1918, although the miraculous healing powers of the hot water springs that emerged here were already mentioned in the 15th century. It has 10 pools, saunas, great massage treatments, and a bathing terrace looking over at Gellért Hill.
Why visit this Budapest bath in winter: Gellért spa offers a romantic private bathing session for couples which could be the ideal Valentine’s day gift for your loved one. Bath in a separate room in a small thermal pool for 2 persons with a sauna. The package also includes a bottle of champagne and fruits.
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Aquaworld Resort
One of Europe’s biggest indoor water theme parks takes you to an incredible tropical resort with 15 indoor pools, 11 giant water slides, jacuzzis, thermal baths, wave and surf pools, while lovers of relaxation can enjoy a sauna world offering a Russian and Finnish sauna, an outdoor log sauna, a steam cabin, and an ice cabin among other services.
Why visit this Budapest bath in winter: An amazing New Year’s party! On December 31, Aquaworld Resort invites you to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve Aqua party! The program starts with a gala dinner in the hotel’s restaurant at 7 PM Then, it’s time to change your party dress to a bathing suit as the party continues from 9 PM at Aquaworld with a live concert, a laser show, fire jugglers, a tropical pool party with dancers, farewell sauna seances, a midnight firework and lot of snacks and champagne. Of course, you’ll get to enjoy all the other services of Aquaworld as well.
Király Bath
Király Bath is a hidden gem. It’s the oldest thermal bath in Budapest and also a Turkish bath. It has not been renovated for many decades, which gives it an interesting historical appeal, where Turkish details are mixed with the medicinal bathing culture of the communist era. In addition to the historical Turkish pool, the bath offers 3 smaller pools and a modern Jacuzzi pool for 4-5 people.
Why visit this Budapest bath in winter: The bath offers amazing massage treatments including a 45-minute couple’s massage for two in an exclusive oriental surrounding. And in case you want to organize your own private New Year’s Eve spa party, you can rent the bath for a private bathing session after closing (max. 65 people between 9:30 PM and 2 AM)
