Checked 16 September 2026 against each bath’s official website where it could be loaded, and the Hungarian sources listed at the end of this page. There are no affiliate links in this guide.
The short version
Of the four Turkish baths in Budapest that date from the Ottoman era, only two are open in 2026: Rudas and Veli Bej. Király has been closed since March 2020 and Rác since 2002, and neither has a reopening date. Choose Veli Bej for the Ottoman bath on its own, and Rudas if you also want a swimming pool, a rooftop pool or night bathing.
- Open: Rudas (1571/72) and Veli Bej (1574).
- Closed: Király (since 15 March 2020) and Rác (since 2002).
- Cheaper: Veli Bej, 5,700–7,200 HUF (~€16–20) for three hours.
- Minimum age: 14 at both open baths.
Which Turkish baths in Budapest are open in 2026?
Rudas Baths and Veli Bej Baths are the only Turkish baths open in Budapest in 2026. Both are working Ottoman baths built around an octagonal thermal pool, both admit visitors aged 14 and over, and both are on the Buda side of the Danube. The table compares all four.
| Bath | Built | Status in September 2026 | Adult ticket 2026 | Opening hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rudas | 1571/72 | Open | 12,000 / 15,000 HUF (~€33 / €41) weekday / weekend | Turkish bath 6:00–20:00 | Turkish bath plus rooftop pool and night bathing |
| Veli Bej | 1574 | Open | 5,700–7,200 HUF (~€16–20) for 3 hours | Wed–Sun 6:00–12:00 and 15:00–21:00; Mon–Tue 15:00–21:00 | The Ottoman bath on its own |
| Király | begun c. 1565 | Closed since 15 March 2020 | – | – | Guided building tours only |
| Rác | Ottoman era | Closed since 2002 | – | – | – |
Euro figures are approximate, converted at the ECB rate of 366.71 HUF per euro.
What makes a Budapest Turkish bath different?
A Budapest Turkish bath is an Ottoman-era bath built around a hot thermal-water pool under a dome, usually an octagonal one surrounded by smaller pools at different temperatures. The Ottomans built them in the 16th century, when Buda was under Ottoman rule, and the thermal water still comes from the city’s natural springs. The central pool is the main event, which sets these baths apart from the steam-and-scrub hammams many visitors know from Turkey.
Rudas Baths – the Turkish bath with the most to do
Rudas Baths, at the Buda end of Elisabeth Bridge, was built in 1571/72 under Sokollu Mustafa, the Ottoman governor of Buda, and keeps its Ottoman dome and octagonal pool. The Turkish bath has six pools from 16 °C to 42 °C, plus Finnish saunas and a steam chamber.
Rudas sells its standard adult ticket as an all-zone ticket, which also covers a 29 °C swimming pool and the wellness section with its 36 °C rooftop pool. It costs 12,000 HUF (~€33) Monday to Thursday and 15,000 HUF (~€41) Friday to Sunday. A cheaper ticket for the Turkish bath or the wellness section alone costs 8,000 HUF (~€22).
Single-sex and mixed sessions in the Turkish bath:
- Women only: Tuesday, 6:00–20:00.
- Men only: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 6:00–10:45.
- Mixed (swimsuit required): Monday, Thursday and Friday 11:00–20:00, and Saturday and Sunday 6:00–20:00.
The bath’s homepage also describes Wednesday as men’s day, so check the timetable on the Rudas website before you plan a Wednesday visit. On Friday and Saturday nights Rudas runs a separate night-bathing session from 22:00 to 03:00 for 15,000 HUF (~€41), sold online only. The shower in the thermal area is closed from 2 to 28 September 2026. More in our Rudas Baths guide.
Veli Bej Baths – the Ottoman bath on its own
Veli Bej Baths, at Árpád fejedelem útja 7 in District II, was built in 1574 by Sokollu Mustafa and has been run by the Hospitaller Order (Irgalmasrend) since 1806. Its octagonal central pool is the heart of the bath, with smaller pools, steam rooms and saunas around it. Only 80 people can be inside at once.
Every ticket is valid for three hours and costs 5,700–7,200 HUF (~€16–20) depending on the day and time. The cheapest slot is Wednesday to Friday morning. Each extra minute costs 40 HUF, and the bath does not accept the Hungarian SZÉP card.
Opening hours:
- Monday and Tuesday: 15:00–21:00.
- Wednesday to Sunday: 6:00–12:00 and 15:00–21:00.
- Ticket desk: closes at 11:00 and 20:00.
- Midday break: closed 12:00–15:00 every day.
We could not load Veli Bej’s official website, so these prices and hours come from Termál Online (prices updated 1 January 2026, hours updated 7 December 2024). Holiday hours can differ, so check the bath’s own website or Facebook page before you go.
Király Baths – closed since 2020
Király Baths in District II has been closed since 15 March 2020, and its official website says it is closed for an indefinite period. The bath shut for Covid-19 and stayed shut because the building was too run-down to reopen. Its renovation has a design by 3h Architecture but no funding or construction tender as of September 2026.
You can still see the pool hall on a Hungarian-language guided building tour run by Imagine Budapest (9,990 HUF, 90 minutes, ages 12 and over). The full story, including why the renovation has stalled, is in our Király Baths guide.
Rác Baths – closed since 2002
Rác Baths, at the foot of Gellért Hill, has been closed since 2002. Budapest Spas cPlc (BGYH) bought the building in 2021 and ran a construction tender that closed on 10 April 2026. In May 2026 Portfolio reported that the operator had received good bids but was waiting for a government loan, and that the work would take about 15 months once funded. No reopening date has been set.
Which Turkish bath in Budapest is best?
Veli Bej is the best Turkish bath in Budapest if the Ottoman bath is what you came for: it costs about half as much as Rudas and the ticket covers three hours in the historic bath. Rudas is the better choice if you want a full day, because the same ticket adds a swimming pool, a wellness section and a rooftop pool, and it is the only one of the two with night bathing.
A few practical points apply to both:
- Neither admits children under 14.
- Bring a swimsuit. It is required in Rudas’s mixed sessions. Our what to wear guide covers the rest.
- Know the house rules. The bath etiquette guide explains them before your first visit.
Frequently asked questions
Which Turkish baths are open in Budapest in 2026?
Two of Budapest’s four Ottoman-era Turkish baths are open in 2026: Rudas Baths and Veli Bej Baths. Király Baths has been closed since March 2020 and Rác Baths since 2002.
What is the best Turkish bath in Budapest?
Veli Bej is the best choice for an Ottoman bath on its own: a 1574 bath with an octagonal central pool, for 5,700–7,200 HUF per three-hour ticket. Rudas is better if you also want a swimming pool, a wellness section, a rooftop pool or night bathing.
Are Budapest’s Turkish baths mixed or single-sex?
At Rudas, the Turkish bath is women-only on Tuesdays and men-only from 6:00 to 10:45 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. It is mixed, with swimsuits required, on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 and all day at weekends. Check the bath’s current timetable before you go.
Is Király Baths open?
No. Király Baths has been closed since 15 March 2020 and has no reopening date. Its renovation has a design but no funding or construction tender as of September 2026.
Is Rác Baths open?
No. Rác Baths has been closed since 2002. Its operator ran a construction tender until April 2026 and is waiting for a government loan; the work would take about 15 months once funded.
Where to go next
For a ranking that includes Budapest’s non-Turkish baths, read the best thermal baths in Budapest. Current ticket prices for every open bath are on the Budapest thermal bath price tracker, and the Lukács Baths guide covers the bath that shares Király’s spring area.
Sources
- Rudas Baths – pools and saunas, opening hours, 2026 prices, night bathing: rudasfurdo.hu (checked 16 September 2026)
- Rudas Baths – construction date and Ottoman features: Wikipedia, “Rudas Baths” (checked 16 September 2026)
- Termál Online – Veli Bej opening hours (updated 7 December 2024) and 2026 ticket prices (updated 1 January 2026)
- Termál Online – “8 érdekesség a Veli Bej fürdőről” (2 January 2015)
- Csodálatos Magyarország – Veli Bej pools and saunas (checked 16 September 2026)
- Szallas.hu – Veli Bej address (checked 16 September 2026)
- Király Baths – official website and history page: kiralyfurdo.hu (checked 16 September 2026)
- Infostart – overview of Budapest bath renovations (10 July 2026)
- Imagine Budapest – “Egy törökfürdő meséje” building tour (checked 16 September 2026)
- Budapest Spas cPlc – information on Rác Baths: budapestgyogyfurdoi.hu (checked 16 September 2026)
- Portfolio – Rác, Gellért and Széchenyi renovation loan (5 May 2026)
- Népszava – Budapest bath renovations (18 June 2026)