Király Bath: relaxation, Ottoman style

An Ottoman-era heritage, Király Bath is a cozy place if you’re looking for an authentic bathing experience in Budapest.

Did you know that out of the 12 thermal baths in Budapest, 4 of them are part of the Ottoman heritage? One of them is Király Bath: this small and cozy building has stood the test of time with being almost 5 centuries (that’s right, 500 years) old. If you’re into Turkish baths, Király is a must-visit. This charming Ottoman-era bath takes you right back to the late 1500s: domes, semicircular arches, steam cabins, saunas, and 4 indoor thermal pools add up to a unique bathing experience.

History of Kiraly Baths

More than 450 years ago, it was Pasha Arslan’s idea to build up a bath. He figured that in the event of a siege, there should be at least one thermal bath available within the city walls. The building was finally completed by Sokoli Mustafa, and then it became the property of the König Family at the end of the 18th century. They rebuilt the spa to its present form, preserving its monumental character, and the bath also got its Hungarian name after the family (the german original “könig” translates to “király” in Hungarian (“king” in English).

 Just like in several other baths in Hungary, Király’s unique feature is that it doesn’t need hot water to maintain its daily operations, as the water is provided by the thermal water wells of the Lukács Bath. Kiraly is a truly authentic Turkish bath, with many of its interior features reminiscent of the Ottoman era. Still, we must note that the spa, last renovated in 1950, really needs a thorough renovation both inside and outside. This doesn’t mean you can’t spend hours here with ease: the bath boasts medicinal pools, hot air chambers, a steam bath and a jacuzzi as well.

Bathing like a pasha

While nowadays Király might be an eclectic building with added features throughout different eras, relaxing in any of its pools will take you right back to 16-century Budapest. As you submerge in the 36-degree water of the largest pool, tilt your head towards the dome: this mighty structure looks just like the Turkish nobles saw it almost 500 years ago. After a 15-minute stay, try one of the smaller pools on either side of the large pool: you can either turn it up a notch and dip in a 40-degree pool, or train your blood vessels a little by plunging in a 26-degree pool.

If you’ve soaked enough in either of the pools, it’s time to try something different! Sweat a few minutes in the delicate chamomile-scented steam bath, or try one of the wooden vats located in the sunbathing yard. With massage services (without erotic massage budapest), private baths, sauna available, Király Bath is truly an all-rounder when it comes to baths in Budapest.

Good to know

• Király Thermal Bath, unlike Rudas Baths, is co-educated every day. This means men and women can visit the bath any given day desire, without any restrictions.
• The healing water of the bath is primarily recommended for the treatment of joint diseases, inflammations and disc herniation.
• Pack a pair of slippers, a towel, and swimwear. It might be worth taking your own hair dryer if you don’t want to queue up.
• The bath opens at 9 a.m., so if you purchase a morning ticket, expect to spend around 3 hours in total.

Getting tickets

Though there are more popular thermal baths (e.g. Széchenyi Baths, Rudas Baths) in Budapest, Király bath has one of the longest waiting lines from all. So if you don’t want to waste a lot of time (or if you’d like to get an appointment for a professional massage), it’s probably easier to buy your ticket online.

Getting there

The bath is located on a busy one-way road, so getting there by car might be tricky as it’s pretty hard to find a parking spot. If you take a taxi, it’s easier to get off in a nearby street and walk a few minutes. If you’re arriving by public transport, tram line 4 and 6 both drop you a 10-minute walk away from Király, or alternatively, tram lines 19 and 41 both have a stop 5 minutes from the entrance. Another option could be dropping off from your Hop on-Hop off ride: two routes include a stop at Batthány tér, which is just a few blocks away from Király Bath.

Landmarks near the bath

Either before or after your visit, there are a few sights worth visiting in the vicinity, some of which are even included on our top 100 things in Budapest article! Batthyány square with its view to the Parliament on the Danube-side is just a 10-minute stroll from Király Bath; similarly, the Grave of Gül baba is a mere 15 minutes from Király Bath and offers a stunning (and lesser known) vantage point over the city.

Q & A

Where is Király Bath?

Király Bath is on the Buda side, not far from Margaret Bridge. It’s right next to Lukács Bath.

Is Király Bath a Turkish bath?

Yes, Király Bath was built in the 16 century by Ottoman noblemen.

What can I do in Király Bath?

There are 5 thermal pools, steam cabins, sauna, and massage service waiting for those looking to relax.

Is Király Bath open?

Due to COVID-19, all thermal baths are closed. Please visit the bath’s website for updates.