If you have on your to-do list to visit a spa in Budapest, you should know that it is one of the most typical and well-known things to do. The list of recommendations is huge because there are so many good ones.

But you can add a filter to that list. We propose you to visit some of the best spas in the city with a little hidden mission; to escape from the crowds of tourists.

It seems like an impossible mission, but we’ve put our heads together and compiled some of the least visited spas, compared to the best known, being still some of the best of Budapest.

Enjoy Thermal Baths in Budapest like a local

Dandár Thermal Bath

Dandár u. 7, 1095

Open since 1930, this sanitary bath changed its use to thermal bath after a thorough renovation of all its facilities in 1978.

This place is more frequented by Budapest citizens than by tourists, although this does not mean that there are no tourists at all. It has a great atmosphere and, most important of all, calm and tranquillity reigns.

The facilities include leisure pools with back and neck massagers, Finnish saunas and medical pools with maximum temperatures of 38 degrees.

If we think about its location, it seems that the plan makes itself. It is just a few metres from the Unicum Factory. The birthplace of one of the best known and most used liquors in the country. There you can discover its history and, most importantly, its taste.

Palatinus Thermal Bath

Soó Rezső stny. 1, 1003 (On Margaret Island)

If our previous resort had a great location due to its proximity to the Unicum factory, this time it is the setting that makes it special.

Margaret Island is a place that stands on the Danube River like an oasis in the middle of the big and beautiful tourist city of Budapest. Now the government has taken over the management of the island, so everything has been, or is being, renovated.

Palatinus Thermal Bath opened its doors in 1919 and has undergone several renovations due to the rapid growth of the population as well as the interest in the spa itself.

It has always been a place to rest the body with the most advanced facilities of the time, it was the first to have an outdoor swimming pool, the design of its building was innovative and minimalist, in 1936, and improvement after improvement it has become the great spa it is today.

It offers a large pool divided into three zones; swimming pool, fun pool and open air bath pool. In addition to a total of fifteen pools, spa, open air bath and a very wide range of services for relaxation and wellness.

Lukács Thermal Baths

Frankel Leó út 25-29, 1023

This spa is well known, but not as touristic as the big names of the city such as Gellért and Széchenyi. It is familiar, but not exclusive to Budapest citizens. It is right in the middle of both, tourist but familiar.

It is a well-known thermal bath, but it is not crowded with hundreds and hundreds of tourists. Locals and foreigners come together perfectly in its intimate facilities, which transport you to a place full of peace and relaxation.

It has good facilities, such as numerous indoor and outdoor pools with hot water, thermal baths and sauna.  All this for a price that will make you feel more like a citizen of Budapest than a visitor.

Csillaghegyi Strandfürdő

Pusztakúti út 2-6, 1038

Open since 1919, Csillaghegyi Strandfürdő is a family spa, designed to be enjoyed with all members of the family, both outdoors and indoors.

From the indoor pools to the hill on which the spa sits, where there are sunbeds for sunbathing and recharging your batteries with vitamin D, everything is designed to help you disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city.

It has pools for professional use, indoor pools both hot and cold, wellness treatment services and, anecdotally, many of the sculptures you’ll find are originals from as far back as Roman times. It is a magical place where, to this day, archaeological remains of great historical importance can still be found.

Paskál Baths

Egressy út 178/F, 1141

The youngest of the group is now a full-grown adult. Opened in 1989, Paskál has modern facilities and is designed to meet the needs of local users.

Although its centenary is still some way off, it has already undergone some refurbishment in 2016, as has happened to most of them in their early years. Always as a consequence of the high demand from visitors.

It has a total of nine swimming pools, both outdoor and indoor, which cover all the temperatures and needs of all those who are looking to relieve the pain and fatigue of work, a day’s sightseeing or everyday life.

Irgalmasok Veli Bej Bath

Árpád fejedelem útja 7, 1023

And from the youngest, to one of the oldest Turkish baths in the whole city. This is a lot to say, considering that we are talking about a city like Budapest, which has about 120 springs, both natural and artificial, and is known as the “City of Spas”.

Császár Bath, as it was previously known, is somewhat hidden from the public eye, perhaps in search of the tranquillity that it does indeed manage to offer its visitors. It is limited to 80 people, so if you arrive as number 81, you will have to wait your turn.

Enjoy its thermal pool of hot water under a classic Turkish vault full of colour, as well as its Finnish sauna, jacuzzi and other pools.