After residing in Budapest, Caleb and I visited every thermal bath, and Gellért is one of my faves. The “blue room,” as I refer to it, is possibly the most gorgeous in the city’s thermal baths!
However, when we arrived, we were overwhelmed and had no idea what to do or where to go, detracting from the relaxation we were supposed to be doing. So, in this guide, we’re covering EVERYTHING you need to know to avoid feeling lost and enjoy a peaceful stay.
Whether you’re a couple looking for a romantic adventure or a beautiful place to beat the jetlag, we know you’ll enjoy these famed baths.
How to Get There:
Gellért Baths is located within the Hotel Gellért, which will be renamed the Mandarin Oriental in 2027. It’s a little outside the city center, right across the Liberty Bridge from one of the main tourist areas. We love walking, so we chose a 30-minute walk from the city center. Work off all that heavy Hungarian cuisine, ya know?!
You can also use busses 7, 7A, and 86, or trams 18, 19, 47, and 49. Trams are one of our favorite modes of transportation in the city.
You can also take the metro line M4 and get out at “Szent Gellert Ter”.
The Best Time To Visit:
Because the most beautiful pool is indoors, we believe the greatest time to visit Gellért Baths is any month of the year. If you wish to enjoy the outdoor pool, we recommend arriving in the winter.
Yeah, it will SUCK for the few seconds it takes to extricate your bathing suit-clad body from your towel before leaping in, but the warm water feels SO GOOD afterward.
Summer is also a good time to see a beautiful sunset in the outdoor pool; however, the water will not feel as pleasant, and there will be far more people, as bath tourists increase. However, the massive wave pool is only open during the summer, which is a benefit to visiting!
The Basics You Should Know Before Going:
The Prices:
Varied prices are depending on the day you go.
From Monday to Thursday, a day ticket with a locker costs HUF 10,500 (USD 30), while weekends cost HUF 12,000. ($33)
The baths are open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the cash desks close one hour before that.
How to Buy Tickets:
You can also get them at the bath’s cash desk and pay with a credit card or HUF (no other money accepted). We simply prefer to buy online because it is more convenient and eliminates the need to deal with language barriers.
Have you tried to speak Hungarian? It’s not easy!
What To Bring:
One of our top ideas for Budapest is to take a bathing suit, towel, and flip-flops so you may go on bath adventures. You can buy a towel in the bathroom, but it’s quite pricey. Strangely, it’s not included, right?
You can also purchase a swimsuit, but they are pricey and will not provide a LOOK if you understand what we mean. Ask Caleb how he knows. 😅
PRO TIP: If you forget your flip-flops, visit any of the PEPCO outlets in Budapest. We bought slippers for a dollar from a chain discount retailer. They were ideal for all-out thermal bathing escapades!
How Long Do You Need to Spend in Gellért Baths?
We believe that two hours is the ideal length of time at Gellért Thermal Baths. We got to explore the indoor pools and even went to the outdoor pools twice, in addition to changing in 2 hours!
Locking Up Your Stuff: Lockers vs. Cabins:
When you obtain your tickets, you’ll get a wristband. This bracelet serves as your locker key, so keep it on you at all times! You’ll also need it to get through specific turnstiles inside some hot baths.
To lock your locker, scan your bracelet on the locker you want and turn the knob to red.
To unlock it, scan your bracelet on your locker and turn the knob to green.
You will be able to choose between lockers and cabins (cabins cost an additional HUF 1000 and require only one person to pay for them, allowing everyone to use the cabin). Cabins are simply small changing rooms with lockers inside.
PRACTICAL TIP: we did just the lockers and wanted we spend the extra few bucks to have a cabin, so we recommend that.
The basic lockers are included in the standard admission price and do not include a changing cabin; nonetheless, they are available in the changing room area. The lockers are large, so you won’t have trouble keeping your items. We were able to accommodate winter clothes, boots, backpacks, and more.
Quick Amenities Overview:
The overall Gellért Spa complex is enormous, with approximately 13 separate thermal pools with temperatures varying from 26-40 degrees Celsius (78-104 degrees Fahrenheit), making them slightly warmer than the famous Szecheyni baths. Here’s a quick overview of the facilities.
Indoor Pools:
The first pool you’ll come across is arguably the most opulent, extravagant swimming pool you’ve ever seen. We’re talking about domed ceilings, balconies, and Roman columns. It’s a long cry from the public swimming pools my mother took me to as a child.
As one might expect, this one is only for swimming, and you’ll need a swim hat if you want to do any laps. You won’t spend much time here, but we found it’s really popular among the older, local Hungarians.
Then there’s what you came for: the stunning “blue room” with thermal tubs ranging from 36 to 40 degrees Celsius (96-104 F) and a plunge pool so cold that my teeth started shivering. I wouldn’t recommend that one.
The art-nouveau-style blue-tiled area with cherubs and fountains with fish and lion carvings appears in all Instagram and Pinterest photographs. It’s perhaps the most beautiful chamber in any of Budapest’s thermal spas, to be honest.
If you grow tired of staring at all that loveliness (who are you?), there’s a large white-tiled steam room and saunas to keep things interesting.
Outdoor Pools:
The main wave pool outside is exactly what you expect: a massive pool with really exciting artificial waves! The temperature is 27 °C (80 °F). However, it is closed from October to May.
There is still a much smaller, outdoor thermal pool that runs around 36 Celsius (97 F) and is open all year (as long as the ambient temperature does not dip below 0 degrees Celsius). We sat in it in January for sunset, and while it was really cold to get in and out of, it felt fantastic. Even though the pool is facing away from the sunset, the colors in the sky shift on a clear day, which is beautiful.
COUPLES TIP: If you do this, go during sunset, not afterward. It became increasingly busier and less romantic. Plus, there are these awful motion lights that go off all the time, which kills the atmosphere.
If you want to spend a lot of time outside, you might want to stick to Szecheyni Spa, where the outdoor pool is open all year.
Exactly What You’ll Do From Start to Finish:
To make things easier for you, here’s a detailed list of what to do and expect throughout your visit from beginning to end:
First, purchase your ticket or present your confirmation if you bought it online, and they will issue you a wristband. Go down to the end of the entry, past the therapy entrance, and enter through the turnstiles (with your watch).
Now enter the labyrinth of halls leading to the changing area. Continue until you notice people inquiring whether you have cabins or lockers.
If you have lockers, go up a short flight of steps to the coed changing area. (If you have a cabin, keep going straight through and ask an attendant for assistance if you don’t know your number. They’ll show you how to operate the machine that scans your wristband and provides you with your locker.
If you’re “locking,” go up the stairs, find a free locker, leave your belongings, and change into one of the changing cubicles. Lock your locker, as we discussed before in this piece.
To access to the outdoor pools, you must pass via the changing room. Do not go downstairs! Simply walk past all of the lockers and up the stairs.
To access the lovely interior thermal pools (the blue room), walk past/around the swimming pool (from the locker room) and via a very small door that leads to a large room with small massage stalls. Follow the thermal bath signs (you can’t miss them) and walk right through the two large doors to find it.
To get to the steam room, travel straight through the blue-tiled area, and you’ll stroll into
When you’re ready to depart, walk back through the maze to the changing rooms. When you exit, you will pass through a turnstile. To cause it to move, you drop your bracelet into the little open compartment (vertically).
You just visited the baths like a pro – bravo! Do you feel like a large bowl of Jell-O?
Tips to Make the Most of Your Visit:
- Visit on the week of the opening. This is the least busiest and most fun time.
- Be silent. You don’t have to be silent, but others are trying to relax (especially at the indoor pools), so be considerate and keep your voice low.
- Waterproof cameras are the ideal companions. The baths are very photogenic, thus a waterproof camera is recommended. We used our iPhones, and it was a huge pain. There aren’t many ledges to rest your phone on, so you’ll have to tote it around awkwardly.
- Be considerate to people when taking photographs. We felt a little creepy shooting pictures of people in their bikinis, so don’t be weird about it.
- Don’t bring a water bottle – we brought our own, but no one else did, so we looked ridiculous. I’m not sure if you’re authorized. So don’t.
- Take a shower before bathing. This is necessary for all thermal baths in Budapest. Keep things clean!
- No nudity – you wouldn’t go in your birthday suit, right?
You now know everything you need to know to visit Gellért Baths in Budapest like an expert! It is a wonderfully lovely complex and a pleasant way to spend the day, so try to incorporate it into your itinerary! If you have any questions, please post a comment and let us know.
Conclusion:
Visiting the Gellért Thermal Baths is more than simply a pleasant bath in thermal waters; it’s a culturally rich experience that provides insight into Hungary’s wellness practices.
To make the most of your visit, reserve your tickets online, arrive early to avoid crowds, and explore all of the distinct facilities, including the beautiful interior pools and the sun-soaked outdoor ones.
To maximize your comfort, carry necessary goods such as a swimsuit, flip-flops, and a towel. Understanding the layout and regulations will allow you to navigate like a pro, resulting in a smooth and refreshing experience.
By following these suggestions, your visit to Gellért will not only leave you refreshed, but also enriched with historical and cultural immersion.
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