Turkish Baths in Budapest | Blend of Thermal Baths & Turkish Architecture
A Turkish bath or a hamam is a steam bath or public bathing place that holds significance for both religious and civic reasons. Your visit to the City of Spas is incomplete without visiting these cultural fixtures from the Islamic world through the four Turkish Baths in Budapest, dating as far back as the 16th century.
What is a Turkish Bath?
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Although Turkish baths are a central feature of the Islamic world, their layout was largely inspired by the Roman and Greek bathhouses, with a sequence of progressively hotter rooms. Beginning from the changing room, a visitor would pass through the transitional space and then enter the hot bathing room. These bathing rooms featured a marble sweat stone at the center, where visitors were massaged. Additionally, small washbasins of running water were stationed along the walls. These baths were first and foremost centers of ritual cleansing before worship. But they also served as gendered gathering places for the community.
How are Turkish Baths Different in Budapest?
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Budapest’s Turkish baths are a unique intersection of oriental structures with modern-day amenities. Unlike the steam baths of modern-day Turkey, the medieval Turkish baths of Budapest are historically significant in their construction. Designed with a central pool in the shape of an octagon, which is extended with other baths. Nonetheless, you can head to the Rudas Bath complex to take a traditional Turkish steam bath, or to experience the Turkish sauna (hammam). You’ll also be able to make use of a traditional Turkish warm thermal spring, which is called ilidza. This was the site for the heating center that was built by the knights of St John in the 13th century. It was after the Ottoman Turkish armies captured the Hungarian Royal Palace, that the Turks began their construction of a series of Turkish baths along the Danube.
Visit Budapest BathsHistory of Turkish Baths in Budapest
- Turkish baths are historically founded in the Islamic practice of the ritualistic purification of the mind and the body before prayer. Thus, this faith-based cleanliness practice grew into a cultural fixture in Islamic societies. Budapest’s Turkish baths are ilidza type baths, in contrast with the traditional Turkish hammams.
- Out of the 4 Turkish baths in Budapest – Rudas, Király, Veli Bej, and Rác – the Király Bath is the smallest and the oldest. Construction began in 1565 under Arszlán Pasha of Buda and was later completed by his successor, Szokoli Mustafa Pasha of Buda. Interestingly, Király Bath was built away from the hot springs, and so, has never had a direct source of water. This is because it was built with the sole purpose of providing a bathing complex within the castle walls in case a siege took place. So, the baths are fed by water from Lukács Bath.
Turkish Baths in Budapest
Budapest is home to four Turkish bathhouses, namely Rudas Bath, Király Bath, Veli Bej Bath, and Rác Bath. All of them have similar layouts, with a warm central pool surrounded by hot plunge pools, as well as cold ones, along with a sauna and a steam room. These historic bath complexes represent traditional Oriental architecture through their surviving central domed bathing halls.
Rudas Bath
Rudas Bath dates to the 16th century and offers an array of wellness options with its six thermal baths, a sauna world, a panorama pool on the roof, and a breath-taking historic Turkish pool. Head here at night on Fridays and Saturdays for a uniquely fun evening of bathing and relaxing. During your visit, note that the bathhouse still retains its original construction, with some minor additions.
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Király Bath
Budapest’s Király Bath has stood for around 450 years. Relax in its 4 rejuvenating pools filled with mineral-rich thermal water, fed by the nearby Lukács Bath. This coed complex was built to serve as a bathing site that would remain safe within the castle walls in the event of a siege where the other bathhouses may not be accessible. Király Bath is currently closed for renovations.
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Veli Bej Bath
Commissioned by Szokoli Pasha, Veli Bej is one of the most beautiful baths of its time. It had been closed to the general public for several decades. After recent renovations restored the bath to its former splendor, it was reopened. Apart from the original Turkish pool, it now also houses a Finnish and an infrared sauna, a steam bath, a full body shower, a jacuzzi, and a Kneipp walking pool.
Rác Bath
The Rác Bath was originally built by the Turks with its domed pool in the 16th century. Rác Bath also houses pools from the Imperial Habsburg Era. Rác Bath was rebuilt and expanded in the mid 19th century based on plans drawn up by the renowned Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl.
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FAQs on Turkish Baths in Budapest
A. Turkish baths are culturally significant bath complexes prominently from the Islamic world, which were used as sites of ritualistic cleansing, as well as communal gendered gathering spaces. Budapest’s Turkish baths are famous for their mineral-rich waters which have healing properties.
A. Yes, you can visit four Turkish baths while you’re in Budapest, namely Rudas Bath, Király Bath, Veli Bej Bath, and Rác Bath.
A. There are four Turkish baths in Budapest, the City of Spas.
A. Yes, the Turkish Baths in Budapest are bestowed with minerals from natural hot springs, which gives them their unique medicinal properties.
A. Budapest Baths have taken all sorts of precautions after Covid-19 to ensure the safety of their guests. These measures include the mandatory wearing of facial masks when inside the bathhouses, except when entering the pools. Further, all visitors are obligated to wear slippers while walking indoors and are expected to take hot showers with soap before and after using the pools and restrooms.
A. You can easily book your Budapest Bath tickets online. Visit here to book your tickets.
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