Gellert Thermal Bath

The Gellert baths opened in the 1910s over springs that had been used on this site far longer, and the building is the reason to come as much as the water. The interior is full Art Nouveau: majolica tiling, mosaic floors, stained glass, carved columns and a vaulted main swimming hall under a glass roof that can be opened. Thermal pools of different temperatures sit in side rooms with mosaic surrounds, and there is a sauna and steam section. Outdoors, behind the building, a large pool produces artificial waves in season, along with a shallow terraced pool used mainly by families. Water comes from the springs under Gellert Hill and is warm and strongly mineral.

What you actually see

• The main swimming hall - a glass-roofed gallery hall with columns, used for lane swimming.
• The thermal side rooms - tiled pools at different temperatures with majolica and mosaic decoration.
• Art Nouveau detail - stained glass, carved stone and original tiling throughout the building.
• The outdoor wave pool - a large summer pool behind the building with a terraced sun area.

When to go

The indoor thermal section works all year and is a good rainy-day option. The outdoor wave pool runs only in the warm months. Early morning on a weekday is by far the calmest, before groups arrive. Weekends and public holidays fill the changing area and the popular pools. Buy tickets online where possible to skip the ticket queue.

Honest expectations

It is expensive by Budapest standards, and extras such as cabins, towels and treatments push the price up further. The building is showing its age, with worn tiling, tired changing cabins and areas fenced off. Some pools are smaller than photographs imply, and the famous hall is often crowded. Locker and wristband systems confuse first-timers, and staff instructions can be brisk.

Nearby

Gellert Hill and the Citadella rise directly behind, with Liberty Bridge and the central market across the river.