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Gellért has been closed since 1 October 2025 and will not reopen before 2028, so the real choice is between Széchenyi, Rudas and Lukács. Széchenyi remains the pick for a first visit, with outdoor pools that stay warm all year. Rudas offers an Ottoman atmosphere and a rooftop pool facing the Danube. Lukács costs about half as much and feels more local. For your first time, go to Széchenyi on a weekday before 10 am.
You typed « Széchenyi or Gellért » into a search engine, like many people before you, and the good news is that the question is still useful: it just needs rephrasing. The Gellért Baths, Budapest’s Art Nouveau jewel, closed on 1 October 2025 for a full renovation, and their operator announces a reopening in 2028. There is no ticket to buy today, even though several websites still promote them.
In this guide, I compare the three baths you can actually visit in 2026, with a price range, a « who it’s for » profile and my reservations about the price gaps between guides. I also tell you what you are missing until 2028, and how the Sparty, the famous Saturday-night thermal party, changes your plans.
I did not include any bath entry ticket sold on Viator: their ratings are too low for me to recommend them, and I would rather you book directly with the operators. The ten experiences below are there to fill the rest of your thermal day, from tastings to the evening, such as the half-day in the Etyek vineyards, the best rated by number of reviews.
Széchenyi, Rudas or Lukács: the Pixidia way to choose
Budapest is built on hot springs, and its baths tell three eras: Ottoman in the 16th century for Rudas, neo-baroque in 1913 for Széchenyi, and a neighbourhood establishment rooted among locals for Lukács. The prices below are ranges taken from 2026 guides and from the Széchenyi operator: sources differ by 20 to 40% depending on the formula (locker or cabin, weekday or weekend), so always check the rate on the official website before you go.
| Criterion | Széchenyi | Rudas | Lukács |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank | Pest, Városliget park | Buda, foot of Gellért Hill | Buda, Víziváros |
| Style | Neo-baroque, 1913 | Ottoman, 16th century, modern roof | Neighbourhood bath, local atmosphere |
| Indicative price | About €33 to 40 for the day | About 12,000 to 15,000 HUF | About 7,000 to 8,000 HUF |
| Crowds | Very high | Medium to high, especially in the evening | Low to medium |
| Best for | First visit, winter steam | Architecture, sunset | Small budget, calm |
| Getting there | Metro M1, Széchenyi fürdő | Tram 19 or 41, Rudas fürdő | Tram 17 or 19 |
Széchenyi: the spectacle, for a first visit
According to the operator, the bath has 15 indoor pools and 3 large outdoor pools, plus saunas and steam rooms [Széchenyi official]; some guides count 18 pools in total. The outdoor pools stay open all year, with water around 38 °C, which is the whole appeal of going in cold weather. The downside is the crowds: the operator notes that June to August and the Christmas period often sell out, and guides advise arriving on a weekday before 10 am. The minimum age is 14.
Rudas: the Ottoman atmosphere, with a view as a bonus
The bath dates from around 1571-1572, with an octagonal hall under a dome and pools from 10 to 42 °C [Wikipedia]. Its modern asset is the rooftop pool, which looks over the Danube and Pest, especially at sunset. One point to check before you come: the historic Ottoman section is single-sex on certain weekdays and mixed at weekends, with swimwear required. I do not quote specific days, so look at the operator’s calendar. It is the closest bath to the old Gellért, and the one its operator names as the natural replacement.
Lukács: the calm, budget option
Popular with Budapest residents since the 19th century, Lukács offers around ten pools, saunas, a sun terrace and an inner courtyard. Expect to pay about half of what Széchenyi costs, with more real swimming pools. The Beer Spa session that guides mention also takes place within its grounds. One guide also cites Veli Bej, a small Ottoman bath in Óbuda with limited capacity: I have only seen it confirmed in a single source, so check before counting on it.
Gellért: what you are missing until 2028
The Gellért Baths, opened in 1918, closed on 1 October 2025, after a last day of operation on 30 September. The operator, Budapest Gyógyfürdői, announces a reopening in 2028 on its « Visszavárunk Gellért » page [Budapest Gyógyfürdői]. I found no precise month. The Hungarian press mentions a construction site due to start in the fourth quarter of 2026 and a budget of 20 billion forints [We love Budapest, Telex]. If you are reading this later, reconfirm the date on the operator’s website, because it can move.
What you lose in the meantime: an Art Nouveau interior and an outdoor wave pool added in 1927, which guides describe as calmer and more « couple-friendly » than Széchenyi. To recapture a historic atmosphere, look to Rudas instead, its direct neighbour at the foot of the hill, and keep Széchenyi for the spectacle. The operator itself writes that visitors will most likely go to Rudas, some to Széchenyi or Lukács.
Two precautions. Several third-party sites still list Gellért tickets: do not buy anything without confirmation from the operator. And two 2026 guides also list the Király bath as closed, with no reopening date [Budapest Tourism]; I could not confirm this with the operator, so treat the information with caution.
The Széchenyi Sparty: what is it?
The Sparty is a thermal party held on Saturday nights at Széchenyi, with a DJ and lights, from February to December (a break in January), running late into the night. Dates change from year to year: check the official Sparty calendar before locking in your trip, rather than relying on a copied list. No Sparty on the night of your stay? I suggest the party cruise on the Danube or the ruin bar crawl, two evenings that do not depend on a pool calendar.
10 experiences to complete your thermal day in Budapest
I sort these ten experiences as complements to a day at the baths, not as entry tickets: ways to rest between two baths, see what the water does not show you, or extend the evening. Prices are totals for two adults, measured over the period from 12 October to 10 November 2026, and they may change depending on the date and the number of participants.
1. A half-day feast in the Etyek vineyards
If you are stacking two days of baths, this is the break I would slip in between: a minibus, a wine region outside the city and a proper meal with Hungarian wines. Departure is from the Opera or the centre, and you need at least two people for the trip to run. The price moves with the date, hence the range.
- Air-conditioned minibus and local guide
- Wine tasting with a meal
- Minimum 2 participants
2. Budapest food tour with 8+ tastings
For the evening of your bath day, it is the easiest way to try eight or more specialities without picking a restaurant at random. Two routes are offered: the city centre or Óbuda, the city’s oldest district. Confirmation is manual, so book a few days ahead and do not count on an instant reply.
- 8 or more tastings
- Local wines
- Local guide, departure in front of the Opera or the Árpád statue
3. Small-group walking tour, strudel included
A good way to settle your first day before heading to the baths: a small-group walking tour, ten people at most, starting at the Opera and ending in the Buda Castle district. Strudel and coffee are included, and so are public transport tickets, which is handy if you head on to Rudas or Lukács on the Buda side.
- Maximum 10 people per group
- Strudel and coffee
- Public transport tickets
4. A 3-hour Segway ride across Buda, Pest and Margaret Island
The route passes close to Gellért Hill, the one that hosts the closed bath: a way to see it anyway during your stay. Allow three hours across Buda, Pest and Margaret Island, with a training session before departure. The 5 out of 5 rating over 363 reviews is the highest in my selection.
- Personal Segway and helmet
- Training included before departure
- Buda, Pest and Margaret Island in 3 h
5. Party cruise on the Danube with an after party
If your stay does not fall on the right Sparty Saturday, this cruise is my fallback for an evening on the water, with a DJ and drinks. It only sails on Friday and Saturday evenings: over the window I checked, 12 October to 10 November 2026, 8 dates out of 30 were open. Check your evening before locking in the rest.
- Danube cruise with a DJ
- Alcoholic drinks included
- After party entry with the right ticket
6. Ruin bar crawl with VIP entry and shots
This is the cheapest night option on the list, for an evening in the spirit of the Sparty but without a pool. A guide takes you through the ruin bars of Pest’s party district, with VIP entry and drinking games. A paid « Party Pro » option is available as an extra.
- 6 shots included
- VIP entry to the bars
- Drinking games with the guide
7. Hungarian wine, cheese and charcuterie tasting
After a day in hot water, here is the calm plan: a sommelier, five Hungarian wines and a selection of cheeses and charcuterie, in an hour and a half. One detail matters: all sales are final, so only book if your schedule is settled.
- Professional sommelier
- 5 Hungarian wines
- 4 cheeses and 4 charcuteries
8. Private 2.5-hour tuk-tuk tour with hotel pickup
When your legs feel heavy after a bath, this tuk-tuk saves you the trams: the driver-guide picks you up at your hotel and builds the route with you. It is the most expensive city tour on the list, but the only one that is fully private and effortless. A Danube cruise is offered as an option.
- Private driver-guide
- Free hotel pickup and drop-off
- Custom itinerary
9. The Jewish Quarter and Great Synagogue on foot
A bath tells you nothing about the city around it. This guided walk, which includes entry to the Great Synagogue on Dohány Street, opens up the Jewish Quarter and its memorials. It was only open 16 days out of 30 over the window I checked: look at the dates before planning your bath around it.
- Professional guide
- Great Synagogue entry
- Meeting point in front of the Dohány Street synagogue
10. Kürtőskalács workshop: the chimney cake
One hour, under €30 per adult, in central Pest: the workshop is the easiest break to slip between two baths. You make your own chimney cake, sweet and piping hot, at a Hungarian family business. Unlike the baths, there is no 14-year minimum age, so it suits families too.
- Chimney cake you make yourself
- Tea, coffee and snacks
- Workshop a few minutes from the central sights
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See the flightsPractical tips on site
Swimwear is compulsory in mixed areas, flip-flops are recommended, and you bring or rent a towel depending on the bath. Plan two to three hours on site: at the entrance you choose a locker or a cabin, and a wristband serves as your key. Some swimming pools require a swim cap. The three baths above require a minimum age, 14 for Széchenyi according to the operator, to be checked for the others. Opening hours vary by season, so check them before you leave.
In hot water, do not stay more than 20 to 30 minutes at a stretch in a very hot pool, and drink water. This is not medical advice, just common sense. Book your bath tickets directly with the operators: skip-the-line tickets resold by intermediaries cost more than at the ticket office. To schedule the extras, keep a quiet afternoon after the bath, for example the wine tasting, and note that the Jewish Quarter tour is not open every day.
To continue your trip, read my budget guide to Eastern Europe, the 10-day Prague, Budapest, Sofia itinerary and our feature on Danube river cruising.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Gellért Baths open in 2026?
No. The Gellért Baths closed on 1 October 2025 for a full renovation, and their operator announces a reopening in 2028. Check the date on the operator’s website before buying any ticket.
Which bath should I choose in Budapest for a first visit?
Széchenyi, for its large outdoor pools that stay warm all year and its neo-baroque setting. Come on a weekday before 10 am to avoid the crowds. If you prefer a historic atmosphere, choose Rudas.
Which bath is the cheapest?
Lukács, at about 7,000 to 8,000 HUF according to guides, roughly half the price of Széchenyi. Rates vary by 20 to 40% depending on the source, so check the official rate.
Do I need to book in advance?
In high season (June to August) and at Christmas, the Széchenyi operator reports days that are often full. Book your ticket on the official website, and also book the extras on the list in advance, including the food tour, which is confirmed manually.
What is the minimum age to enter the baths?
14 at Széchenyi, according to the operator. Rudas and Veli Bej also state 14 according to third-party guides, to be confirmed. For a family with younger children, the chimney cake workshop is an alternative.
Sources
- Budapest Gyógyfürdői, Visszavárunk Gellért, accessed 2026-10-05
- We love Budapest, Gellért closure and renovation, accessed 2026-10-05
- Telex, renovation of Budapest’s baths, accessed 2026-10-05
- Index, Gellért closure, accessed 2026-10-05
- Széchenyi Baths, official website and Sparty calendar, accessed 2026-10-05
- Hungary Unlocked, 2026 guide, accessed 2026-10-05
- budapest-trip, prices and tickets, accessed 2026-10-05
- Budapest Tourism, bath comparison, accessed 2026-10-05
- Wikipedia, Gellért Baths and Rudas Baths, accessed 2026-10-05
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