Budapest is a city built on a bevy
of thermal springs - 123 of them ā and people have been ātaking the watersā,
as they say, for many, many centuries, at least since the 4th century BC. There are plenty of baths to choose from
and each has its own distinct feeling. I visited three of Budapestās top baths
to see how each one is unique and, in this video, Iām going to show you
and share my experience and tips. I hope this video will make visiting go more smoothly so all you have to do is enjoy. If youāre interested in my other videos
from Budapest Iāll link them as well. Iām going to start with the
Art Nouveau style Gellert Baths which are part of the Gellert Hotel that opened in 1918. Itās on the Buda side of the Danube River
and looms large as you walk towards it. Beware that you donāt enter through the
front hotel entrance, however, but through the side. There are lots of signs there to direct you which means that we werenāt
the only ones to make this mistake. The actual entrance has an impressive interior
with columns, statues, and stained glass. Like all the baths we visited, you get a little
bracelet that gets you in and out of the pool areas and lockers. You scan your bracelet to get
through the entry turnstile and then walk down a long, tiled hallway
that sounds a little bit like being underwater. There are little circular windows
along the wall that look a bit like port holes and they look out onto one of the pools
so you can see people swimming past. The windows are lit with multi-coloured lights
that cycle through a rainbow of colours. The change rooms here feel like organized chaos. As you walk down the long corridors
youāll see doors on either side that are private rooms called cabins. You can pay extra for these cabins
where you can change and leave your things. Paying less, however, will get you a locker
in a common changeroom which is what we did. The lockers arenāt that big so donāt bring
too much stuff if youāre planning to use one. There are different pools
indoors and outdoors at Gellert. The largest of the outdoor pools was closed
when we were there but it is open in better weather. They have a model of it so we could
at least see what it looks like. Another outdoor pool was open so we visited there first and this was also the first time I realized
I didnāt have flip flops and I wished I did. Not only was it was really cold on the ground outside but having flip flops anywhere
in the baths is a really good idea. We were there after dark and the exterior
of the building was illuminated which was really nice. If you want to actually swim instead of sitting you can do that back inside the swimming pool. Not, however, if you donāt have a bathing cap,
which we didnāt. This pool is surrounded by columns
and has those circular windows and lights that you see from the entry hall. When youāre finished swimming
there are water spouts you can sit under and thereās also a second floor balcony
that overlooks this pool. You can spread out there in a lounge chair and thereās also a restaurant to grab a snack or a drink. At Gellert thereās also a large area
where you can get massages done, use the sauna or steam room, or dunk in a really cold bath. Youāll notice in some areas ā like going
in and out of the sauna or some of the pools ā that there are these little water troughs
you have to walk through to rinse your feet. My favourite part of the Gellert Baths
was a large room covered in decorative tiles with a pool on either side. Itās really echo-y which is maybe why
thereās a sign stipulating silence - but nobody was obeying that rule. Overall, Gellert was a great introduction
to Budapest bath culture but it also left us wanting more. Not far from Gellert, on the Buda side
of the city as well, are the Rudas Baths. I was really excited to go there because
the Turks built a bath there in 1566 which is still in use today. The Rudas Baths are separated into three distinct parts and, unfortunately for us, the old Turkish part
was only open to women when we were there. And while this is great because it was
actually only open to men for a very long time, Marc and I wanted to enjoy together so we decided
to visit the other parts of the bath that were open to both men and women. Before you visit, make sure you look ahead and see when certain areas are restricted
so that you donāt miss out. You can see on the board in the entryway
what is open and how much it costs. We went to the āWellnessā baths
which are very contemporary feeling. On our way to that area
we also passed a large lane pool where swimming lessons were going on. The Wellness baths donāt feel private at all because theyāre at street level with huge windows
where cars and people are passing by. The area is pretty small but includes pools
with waters that feel warm, really hot, and cold. Marc braved the super hot water
which was too much for me. I sometimes get headaches from really hot water ā
does that ever happen to you? Maybe itās just me. It was 42 degrees and a sign suggests
not spending more than five minutes in there. Marc wanted some water afterwards and they have these cool water fountains
with a ram head design that you can drink from. The baths make you feel really thirsty so Iād actually suggest bringing
your own water bottle with you to stay hydrated. One of the larger pools has water fountains
that turn on every so often and itās so nice to just sit or stand underneath it and let the force of the water
massage your neck and back. Itās the worst, though, when youāre so into it
and then the water turns off and you have to wait for it to start again. I have to admit that I was a little bit
disappointed at the Rudas baths because Iād been expecting
to see the historic Turkish baths and the wellness area lacked
the charm I was really craving. But then we went up to the roof
and this made it all worth it. Thereās a large circular pool up there with a stunning front row view
of the city, river, and bridges. The pool has this lovely curved design
that almost looks like a crown and looks beautiful with light flickering on it. Once we discovered the rooftop
we spent the rest of our time up there. Luckily it wasnāt too crowded
and we sat for around two hours. The combination of the fresh air,
the hot water, and that tranquil view made me sink into this super deep feeling of relaxation and I actually fell asleep floating in the pool. Marc was using the GoPro
and thereās this shot I find hilarious where you just see my legs floating there
totally motionless as Iām sleeping in the water. Iāll never forget that calm feeling of waking up
afloat in a hot pool on a Budapest rooftop. For me, those are the unexpected moments
that make travelling so amazing. The third place we went is on the
Pest side of the river located in City Park. The Szecheyni Baths were built in 1913 and as you walk through the park it feels
more like walking up to a palace than a spa. Columns hug the buildings curves
and the golden yellow colour feels regal. There are graceful statues that dot the building and a Hungarian flag
waves at you outside the entrance. The palatial feeling continues inside
with detailed ceilings and carvings. Szechenyi has 15 thermal baths and 3 swimming pools but thereās also a ābeer spaā
where you sit in little pools for two soaking in thermal waters and beer ingredients while also served beer to drink. Szecheyni also has pool parties on Saturday nights so look at the calendar ahead of time if you want to go. The large lap pool takes
centre stage in the outdoor area and there are two smaller
swimming pools on either end. I just love how this looks from way up in the sky. You can see the scale of it. One of the pools has a large spiral part
where water pushes you around in a giant swirl. You can paddle to speed up or just let the water
gently carry you around and around. It really does push you. Yeah. Marc and I had a lot of fun
being pushed around the spiral. Itās fun. Yeah. It feels sort of like a pepped up lazy river
that can make your stomach flip after a while. This pool also has jets that push up
from the bottom that are fun to play in. The best is to balance on top of one
and let the water massage your feet - very into massages, as you can see. The pool on the opposite side is where people
traditionally sit to play chess at the side. Thereās also a big fountain
that sprays water from a statue. We had fun playing with the GoPro again underwater,
like Marc having a tea party ā did you guys play that as a kid? I definitely did. I personally have to plug my nose
when I go underwater. I donāt know if Iām the only adult
who does that still but it was still really fun. The outdoor baths are charming day or night
but it takes on a different feeling after dark when the steam rising off the hot pools is exaggerated and the lights have this hazy halo
that brings everything into soft focus. The steam also makes it feel more private because you canāt see
all the people around you which is nice. Indoors is a maze of connected rooms with pools and they vary in size, depth, and temperature. To get in and out youāll walk through
a water trough again. The tiles, colours, and symmetry
make it really easy to feel like youāve walked onto the set of a Wes Anderson film and, to be honest, that happens
quite frequently in Budapest. Donāt commit to a location
until you take a look around, though, because you might find a pool you like better. There are also showers that spray hot
and cold water as the colours change. Marc was afraid it was going to turn cold,
which was a valid fear. All three of the baths we visited in Budapest
felt quite different, as you can see, and in my opinion, the outdoor baths
at Szecheyni are best, the indoor baths at Gellert are best, and Rudas has the best view of the city. If you only have time for one, though,
Iād make it Szechenyi. The prices vary at all the baths depending on
where and when you go, how long you stay, and if you want a locker or cabin, for example, but in general you can expect to pay
ballpark $26CAD or $20USD. Really important is to bring your own flip flops,
towel, bathing suit, and bathing cap to avoid having to buy or rent them. Make sure also to check opening hours ahead and whether certain baths are restricted
on certain days or times. As a general rule, Iād say going early or late
is a good way to avoid the biggest crowds. Give yourself lots of time to enjoy
the different parts of the baths and really relax. Iād say two hours at the very minimum but know that youāll probably want to stay longer
once you actually get in there. I also suggest exploring a little
when you first arrive just to get an overview so you donāt spend all your time in one area and then realize youāve
run out of time to experience others. Also check whether one section of the baths
closes earlier than another, like the indoor and outdoor areas
might open and close at different times. Thermal baths are an essential part
of Budapestās past and its present and I highly recommend visiting
at least one if youāre in the city. I think itās the perfect way
to wind down after a day of wandering. I hope you enjoyed this video and find it helpful. Marc and I made a series of videos
about our trip to Budapest about all sorts of things so Iāll link those
in the description box below and Iām curious which of these three baths
looks most enticing to you so leave me a comment
and let me know what you think. Thanks for watching!
This is a little video about some of the best baths in Budapest. We visited these three after locals recommended them. Which ones are your favorites?