A Guide to Visiting Gellert Baths, Budapest’s Stunning Art Nouveau Thermal Baths
The stunning Art Nouveau-style Gellert Thermal Baths are one of Budapest’s best thermal bath houses. Discover everything you need to know before you visit with our in-depth Gellert Baths guide.
Whether you’re a local or a tourist, soaking one’s weary bones in the warm, mineral-rich waters of a thermal bath is a quintessential Hungarian experience.
Sitting on a patchwork of more than 100 thermal springs — the result of a thinned Earth crust and the geographical collision point of the leafy Buda hills with the Great Hungarian Plain — the capital of Budapest has well and truly earned itself the moniker of the City of Spas.
In the thermal bath capital of Europe, there’s one place that lays claim to being the most beautiful of them all: Gellert Baths.
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An Art Nouveau architectural masterpiece brought to life early last century, it’s hard to believe that such a grand building could merely be a public bathing house and not the remnants of a palace still clinging to its former glory.
There are stained glass roofs pouring golden light on the pools below, grand columns and elegant sweeping bathrooms detailed with turquoise Zsolnay mosaic tiles, and ornately-carved sculptures and ceramics dotted everywhere.
It’s a feast for the eyes as well as a balm for tired, aching souls, and certainly deserving of its own affectionate nickname: ‘Palace of Baths’
Beyond its obvious accidentally Wes Anderson-esque beauty, Gellert also ranks as one of our favourite Budapest baths (yes, even above the more famous Szechenyi!) because it feels more local than some of its counterparts.
Visit in the morning and you’ll see friends meeting to soak and socialise, old Hungarian men gathering to argue politics, and those there to simply steam their cares away in quiet peace before getting on with their day.
Surrounded by the magnificent century-old facades, it gives the sense of literally soaking up the history of the city.
If you’re heading to Budapest and keen to add this unique Hungarian spa experience to your itinerary, this is everything you need to know about the Gellert Thermal Baths before you go!
ps. Want to explore more of Budapest? Read our in-depth guides here | Szechenyi Baths, Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar, New York Cafe, Budapest’s best brunch spots, and the best of Józsefváros, Budapest’s hipster 8th district
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GELLÉRT BATHS SNAPSHOT
WHERE | Gellért Baths, Buda
ENTRY FEE | Adult ticket with locker: HUF 10,500 - HUF 12,000
BOOK TICKETS | Purchase your skip-the-line tickets here
OPENING HOURS | 9 am - 7 pm daily
ABOUT GELLÉRT BATHS
Long before today’s baths had been dreamt into existence, a Middle Ages hospital founded by King Andrew II stood in its place. The thermal springs bubbled to the surface, offering healing, cleansing, and calming properties to the patients who frequented it.
Since then, the site has seen 16th-century Turkish Baths, 17th-century private royal bathing houses, and the 20th-century grand Art Nouveau building of today (built from 1912-1928 predominantly by Russian prisoners of WW1 as it were).
It’s survived world wars and been frequented by everyone from monks and soldiers to noblemen and everyday folk alike.
As for the water itself? Said to contain a mix of magnesium, calcium, chloride, sulphate, and fluoride among other minerals, these healing waters have many therapeutic virtues, including relieving arthritis and joint conditions, circulatory disorders and asthma, and even skin concerns.
So don’t be surprised if you detect the smell of sulfur in the air (though Gellert has nothing on the strong scents of Szechenyi!) — it’s doing you a world of good!
WHERE ARE GELLERT BATHS & HOW TO GET TO THEM
The Gellert Baths form part of the Gellert Hotel complex, on the Buda side of the river and right in front of the beautiful Szabadság (Liberty) Bridge.
The best things to do in Budapest are accessible on foot, and you can easily get to the baths on foot. If you’re coming from Pest side, simply cross Liberty Bridge and you’re already there.
Its location in the foothills left of Gellért Hill, Budapest’s highest accessible point and a key feature of its skyline, also means it’s almost impossible to lose track of where you’re going!
To get there via public transport, jump aboard the 19, 41, 47, 49, or 56 tram, or bus lines 7, 7A, 107, 109, 133, or 233 and alight at Szent Gellért ter.
GELLERT BATHS ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
GELLERT THERMAL BATHS ENTRY PRICE
The entry fee for the Gellert Baths varies depending on the day you visit, whether you book online or at the cashier’s desk, and what kind of experience you’re looking for there, all of which can get a little confusing!
We’ve broken down the pricing clearly for you below:
ONLINE / FAST-TRACK TICKET
We suggest planning ahead and pre-purchasing tickets to Gellert Baths here. It gets super busy, and it’s so much easier walking straight through without issues.
These will also give you fast-track access to the baths when you arrive.
BOOK | Gellért Baths tickets
PURCHASING AT THE CASHIER’S DESK
You can also purchase tickets at the Cashier’s Desk when you arrive at the entrance to the baths. Do be aware that there can be long queues during peak times, especially in the afternoon on weekends.
Tickets are for a full day, regardless of how long you visit.
WEEKDAYS, WEEKEND & PUBLIC HOLIDAY TICKETS | Basic adult ticket with a locker is HUF 10,500 per person
If you’d like to rent a private changing cabin, these are an additional HUF 1000.
The Budapest Card is accepted here (20% discount) - read more about this below.
NOTE | Ticket prices have increased 50% since 2021 due to the ongoing inflationary and gas crises in Hungary
PRIVATE BATHING TICKETS
Looking for the ultimate romantic weekend away activity? A Couples Private Bath Ticket gives you two hours of private bathing with your loved one, topped off with a fruit platter and bottle of sparkling wine.
NOTE | Thermal water isn’t recommended for kids under the age of 14. If you do decide to bring children with you, they need to be toilet-trained.
CAN I USE THE BUDAPEST CARD AT GELLERT BATHS?
If you’re not sure what on earth we’re talking about, the Budapest Card is Hungary’s official city tourism pass.
They’re valid for 72 hours (perfect for a city break!) and give you free public transport, plus free and/or discounted entry to the city’s main highlights, like most of the galleries and museums, for example.
It’s well worth it if you plan to do plenty of sightseeing while you’re in town — and you can also use the Budapest Card to get 20% off your entry ticket at the Gellert thermal baths, as well as Széchenyi and Rudas.
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GELLERT BATHS OPENING HOURS
During the pandemic, Gellert Bath’s opening hours have been revised to the new times of 9 am - 7 pm every day of the week (they were normally 6 am and 8 pm).
Opening hours vary on Hungarian public holidays, so it’s always worth checking before planning your trip.
The indoor pools are open year-round, but the outdoor wave pool is closed each winter between late September / October (weather dependent) and May.
BEST TIME TO VISIT GELLERT BATHS
The best time to visit Gellert Baths is definitely early in the morning, on a weekday if you can manage, before the hordes of tourists descend on the place and it becomes a bit of a circus.
Like most European cities, Budapest becomes incredibly busy with tourists on the weekends, especially during the summer peak.
Getting to the attractions right on opening, while many are still nursing their hangovers from Szimpla Kert, means you’ll get the place to yourself and enjoy a way better experience.
In terms of what time of year to visit, we think Gellert Baths are pretty perfect as a year-round destination, owing to the huge outdoor wave pool in summer and the warming thermal baths during winter.
It certainly wins some extra bonus points for being predominantly indoors during the icy winter months!
GELLERT BATHS FACILITIES
The first thing to know before a visit to any Budapest bath is that every one of them is a bit of a maze — and Gellert is no exception!
This is both a good and bad thing; you’ll definitely get lost wandering around the complex at some point... but there are always new treasures to be found tucked away in its unexpected nooks and crannies.
What is guaranteed is that you’ll find a huge array of 13 pools and thermal baths, both indoor and outdoor and ranging from 26c to 40c, plus saunas, steam rooms, and massage treatment rooms to keep you busy during your time here!
We won’t go through every facility or service here, just the ones you really need to know about as a tourist.
INDOOR POOLS AT GELLERT BATHS
MAIN SWIMMING POOL
Coming from the changing rooms, the main lap pool is the first you’ll come across — though to call it a mere pool feels like you’re doing it quite an injustice.
It’s far more reminiscent of a grand entranceway to a palace or concert hall; a domed stained-glass roof rests atop ornately-carved roman columns and white twisted iron balconies with loungers. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the bright blue body of water fringed by green below, you can practically picture well-heeled folk resting luxuriously on balconies as a talented orchestra below serenades them.
The swimming pool is the largest of the indoor pools at Gellert, and also the coldest at 26c.
When we visited right at opening, it was very popular with the older crowd of Budapest who were happily lapping away and getting some aqua aerobics in. Probably don’t expect lane ropes and serious swimming; the general flow moves in an anti-clockwise motion around the pool.
This is also the only place you’re required to wear a swimming cap if you enter.
THE THERMAL BATHS
Once you’ve had your fill of the main lap pool, continue on through the very accidentally Wes Anderson-esque wooden change rooms and treatment areas to what you’ve really come here for: Gellert’s famous blue-tiled thermal baths.
This Art Nouveau-style bathing room is truly something to behold. The baths curve elegantly from the turquoise Zsolnay tiled walls, cheeky carved cherubs kiss and play while streams of water pour from the mouths of statue fish and lions below.
If it sounds over the top, it’s because it absolutely is. In the best possible way.
There are multiple thermal baths in this area, with water temperatures between 36c and 40c. There’s also an icy-cold plunge pool around the corner that you can jump in and out of too.
Just don’t get too comfy floating under those magnificent vaulted ceilings and intricate tile work - for health reasons, it’s recommended that you don’t exceed 5 minutes in the 40c pool. We don’t want you to become a lobster!
SAUNAS & STEAM ROOMS
You’ll also find plenty of saunas and steam rooms on offer here at Gellert — some so steamy you’ll literally struggle to see your hand in front of your face, let alone make out the shapes of others in there.
The cream-tiled steam room in the thermal bath area is one of the hottest, most humid environments you could find yourself in. Wooden step seats run along the wall as thick steam pours in from underneath you.
While you might think you’re alone in there, chances are you absolutely aren’t — and the lovers of a good story in us think it would have made for the perfect place for discussing secret conspiracies or politics anonymously in times gone by!
You’ll also find a collection of saunas within the complex here, with temperatures ranging from 50c - 80c.
OUTDOOR POOLS AT GELLERT BATHS
If you’re visiting Budapest in late Autumn, winter, or early spring, be aware that the outdoor wave pool is closed seasonally between October and May each year.
If you really want to make the most of outdoor winter bathing during your time in the city, your best bet is Szechenyi Baths, where the outdoor pools remain open year-round.
OUTDOOR WAVE POOL
The ultimate summer fun pool, guaranteed to whip you straight back to the summers of childhood. Is it just us, or was a day spent at a wave pool with your besties basically the greatest day of your existence to date back then?
This huge blue-tiled outdoor pool is 27c, and does exactly what it says on the label: creates artificial rolling waves that mimic being at the beach.
The wave pool is closed between October and May. The final ‘waves’ are generated in late September, and the pool stays open for swimming depending on the frosty weather, until October (or less commonly, November, dependent on the weather).
OUTDOOR THERMAL BATH
The small outdoor thermal bath next to the wave pool does generally stay open during winter, as long as the temperature remains above 0c.
The water temperature sits at a lovely 36c, the perfect balm for cooler days!
OUTDOOR FINNISH SAUNA
You’ll find Gellert’s Finnish Sauna outside, in a little wooden hut with glass windows overlooking the wave pool outside. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart - the temperature in the cabin ranges from 80-90c — but there is a cold plunge pool opposite for when it all gets a bit much!
MASSAGE & TREATMENT ROOMS
If alternating through the baths and plunge pools isn’t enough during your spa day, you can also book yourself in for a massage or treatment while at Gellert Baths too.
You can choose between 20 minute or 45 minute massages, and there are plenty of different massage types on offer (aroma, Swedish, Thai, relaxing). Pedicures and manicures are also available.
Do keep in mind that the baths aren’t a typical wellness retreat or targeted day spa you might find elsewhere in the world, so you aren’t likely to get a luxurious 5-star treatment - just a chance to enjoy a little spot of extra relaxation while you’re here!
Massages can be booked by phone, on arrival, and by email: info.gellert@budapestspas.hu
GELLERT BATHS THINGS TO KNOW
KEEP YOUR CLOTHES ON
If you’re worried about having to strip bare on your spa day, fear no more. While many countries in Central Europe take a strictly nude approach to their wellness areas, Budapest’s baths are quite a different story.
Gellert’s various pools and baths — as with most of the thermal baths in the city — are co-ed throughout and therefore you’re required to wear something to cover up in all public spaces.
The only exceptions to this rule are in the shower, or if you’re having a massage in one of the gendered treatment rooms (then you go topless). Everywhere else, you’ll need to be clothed!
REMEMBER YOUR SPA SLIDES / FLIP FLOPS / THONGS!
No matter what name you choose to call your sandals, do not leave them at home! Going barefoot at any Budapest thermal bath is a big no-no, both for hygiene and safety reasons.
You’re expected to wear them from the minute you take your outdoor shoes off in the locker room to the pool’s edge — so don’t be surprised if you get told off — and plenty of looks — if you’re not wearing them!
SHOWER BEFORE ENTERING THE POOLS
It’s expected that you shower before entering the thermal pools to remove bacteria, lotions, and other gross, greasy things that could impact the water quality.
Note that soap and shampoo aren’t supplied, so you’ll need to bring this along yourself.
KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN
You can absolutely chat while you’re in the baths — plenty of locals come here to catch up or play floating chess with friends while soaking their cares away! — but it is generally frowned upon if your chatter is disruptive to the calming ambience of the space.
This is a place where people come to relax and rejuvenate themselves, so do try to keep your voice to a minimum, especially if you’re visiting in a group.
And it goes without saying that this is definitely not the place to practice your bombs, somersaults, or backflips!
YOUR WRISTBAND IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING
You’ll be given a wristband when you purchase your entry ticket — this is your key to the baths! It’ll give you access to the various rooms pools, the outdoor space. It also doubles as your locker key — so it goes without saying that you should secure it properly so as to not lose it! Lost keys will set you back HUF 3000
When you leave, simply drop it at the exit gate.
THERE ARE LOCKERS FOR YOUR VALUABLES
When you purchase your ticket at the entrance you can also book a locker to keep your valuables in while you’re off enjoying your downtime.
The lockers are available in the changing rooms, and can be locked/unlocked via your ticketed wristband - just follow the instructions on the wall in the changing rooms!
They’re also huge, so unless you’re travelling with a full suitcase, there’s ample space to store two backpacks, coats, and shoes!
Forget your locker number? Just tap your wristband on the tv screen at the entrance to find out which one is yours.
You can also rent private changing cabins to slip into your bathers and store your stuff in, but personally, we think these are a little unnecessary at Gellert. Unlike other baths in Budapest, Gellert has private communal changing cabins you can duck into as needed. They can get busy, but we’ve never waited longer than a couple of minutes.
BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL
Towels aren’t supplied, so be sure to bring yours along with you! Alternatively, you can purchase one from Gellért Baths for HUF 5,000 (roughly £11 / $15).
Pre-COVID times, you could rent a towel from reception, but at the time of writing this service has been suspended and we don’t know if or when it will restart again.
We use lightweight Turkish towels when we visit, however, any towel will do. If you have space, we recommend packing a second towel. They can get very wet as you move between swimming in each thermal pool, so having a non-soggy spare for properly drying off at the end of your session is a godsend!
GET THERE EARLY TO ENJOY THE PEACE & QUIET
The Gellert Thermal Baths are one of the best-known in Budapest and a favourite among locals and tourists alike... which means they can get super busy during peak times and weekends.
If you’re looking for some proper R&R, we recommend getting there as early as possible (they open at 6 am normally, though later during these pandemic times - check before you go!) to enjoy the baths at their most quiet and peaceful. The pools and general areas will really start to fill up by about 10:30-11 am.
YOU’LL NEED A SWIMMING CAP FOR THE MAIN POOL
You can go bare-headed in the thermal pools, but if you want to take a dip in the main swimming area you’ll need to wear a swimming cap.
If you don’t have a cap of your own, you can purchase one for HUF 700 (less than $2).
PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULDN’T USE THE THERMAL BATHS
Sorry, mamas-to-be, but you’re going to have to sit the heated pools out. Hot thermal water, especially when the temperature is above 30c, isn’t recommended medically for pregnant women due to the risk of overheating.
This is especially true in the early weeks of pregnancy, but the advice remains pretty much the same the whole way through as well.
WHAT TO PACK FOR THE GELLERT BATHS
As mentioned above, you’ll definitely need to pack the following for your trip:
The essentials:
Bathers
Flip flops / thongs
Towel
A few optional items that are still absolutely recommended:
A water bottle - the thermal waters can be pretty dehydrating, so bring along a reusable water bottle to refill as needed. There are a few drinking taps around!
A swimming cap - if you want to swim in the main pool, otherwise purchase one at the entrance
Tote bag - we always use a tote bag to keep our bottles, phones, and random bits together
Soap / Shampoo - for your pre-and post-swim showers, as there are no public dispensers in the showers!
A spare dry towel for getting changed after your swim
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO BUDAPEST
WHERE TO STAY IN BUDAPEST
We have a full guide to the best areas to stay in Budapest, including our personal hotel recommendations after over two years of living in the city, coming soon. In the meantime, here are some of our top picks for your Budapest stay:
THE SPLURGE | Matild Palace
This Luxury Collection Hotel has finally reopened its doors.
It’s luxurious, stylish, spacious and a huge splurge, but worth it for a once-in-a-lifetime stay in exceptional luxury.
BOOK | MATILD PALACE
MID-RANGE | Hotel Memories
Right in the heart of downtown Budapest, Hotel Memories is a stylish, modern stay with the lively 7th district right at your fingertips.
Just a minute’s walk from the Dohany Street Synagogue, 10-minutes from the river, and 8 minutes from St Stephen’s Basilica, it’s conveniently located for sightseeing.
BOOK | Hotel Memories
HOSTEL | Hostel One Budapest
Consistently rated as one of the best hostels in the city, Hostel One is right in the heart of the 7th district (aka where all the nightlife is). It’s known for being all about community and socialising, but not just in the party sense.
Guests are provided with free homemade dinners each night, and the staff go out of their way to organise activities, sightseeing, etc.
BOOK | Hostel One Budapest
OUR BUDAPEST POCKET GUIDE
Our Budapest City Guide is a curated travel guide, designed to be downloaded to your phone and used as your trusty companion when exploring the city.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find our personal recommendations on the best things to see, eat and drink, places to stay,and things to know, gathered over the two years we spent living in Budapest.
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PLANNING A TRIP TO BUDAPEST SOON?
BUDAPEST TRAVEL GUIDES | 25+ amazing things to do in Budapest, The best Ruin Bars in Budapest, Explore the best of Budapest’s Jewish Quarter, Józsefváros, Budapest’s hipster 8th district, the best brunch in Budapest, and Where to stay in Budapest
BUDAPEST ATTRACTIONS | A guide to Szechenyi Baths, the majestic Fisherman’s Bastion, Gellert Thermal Baths, New York Cafe, Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar, How to visit Dohany St Synagogue, A guide to St. Stephen’s Cathedral
BALATON BLISS | What to see and do on Lake Balaton, and our 3-day guide to Balaton
EXPLORE MISKOLC | Enjoy our short city break guide to Miskolc, explore the enchanting forest town of Lillafüred, or discover the Miskolctapolca Cave Baths
AIRBNB GUIDE | Our essential guide to getting the best out of Airbnb
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