When taking passengers on my shuttle from Budapest airport to city many of them plan on visiting at least one of Budapest’s thermal baths on their break. Although with so many to choose from, most are unsure where to start. As an airport shuttle driver, I felt it was my duty to show you the three best:

Szechenyi Bath

Budapest’s most famous bath is the Szechenyi, housed in a neo-baroque building which was established in 1913. Surrounded by the distinctive yellow building, the three outdoor baths are popular with locals and playing chess in the thermal pool with waterproof boards is a popular past time with the locals. I always advise tourists, who claim to be good at chess, not to be shy and to strike up conversation and a game with one of the locals. The main chess playing pool is the thermal pool, where water temperatures often reach 35 degrees. Whilst most people are content to just soak in the warm waters, there are jet massagers and waterfalls for those looking for a little more luxury.

The second pool is slightly smaller and geared towards swimming, with wave machines and whirlpools for you to practise swimming against. Temperatures are slightly cooler than the main pool and never exceed 25 degrees. Whatever you do don’t let the weather determine whether or not you visit these baths. On my Budapest airport to city route I got chatting to a couple of tourists that had visited Szechenyi when it was snowing outside and they both agreed it was an incredible experience, and they only noticed the weather when they had to run from one pool to another barefoot in the snow!

Gellert Bath

I have to admit that, as a local, I prefer the Szechenyi bath, the majority of tourists on my Budapest airport to city routes visit the Gellert Bath. This is often because they hear about it from their friends who have in turn heard about it from their friends. We locals rarely visit the Gellert Baths and I would advise tourists that want a more authentic experience to visit the Szechenyi Baths. Although having said that I have to add that the Gellert Baths are beautiful and those that don’t want to brave the cold will be happy to hear that they have a few baths housed indoors in the stunning art-nouveau style building. Braving the cold is all part of the Hungarian experience so I would suggest visiting the outdoor baths, of which there are three. One of these is solely for children and the other two are separated by swimming and bathing facilities. The Gellert Bath differs from Szechenyi in that certain areas are separated by sex, with men and women able to bathe in separate areas.

Kiraly Bath

One of the rarer baths and not known by many people on my Budapest airport to city routes is the Turkish Kiraly Bath. This must be one of the oldest baths in the city, if not Europe and dates from 1565. Men and Women have different bathing times with women on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and men on all the over days. The hot water in this bath is supposed to cure all muscle aches and the site benefits from having a hamman on the premises.

Whichever bath you choose, you’re certain to have an incredible experience in one of Budapest’s famous baths. Just try not to stay in there too long as you may come out looking more than a little prune-like!

Gergely Garami is a driver for Shuttle Direct on the Budapest airport to city route. They provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.