Rómaifürdő: The most venerable spa in Budapest

Budapest is well-known for its sprawling spas and baths, and part of the buzz is due to the rich history of each establishment.

Rómaifürdő is a spa of superlatives: it is the oldest and the one of the largest baths in the capital, making it a must-visit during your stay. 

A historical recap

While there are prestigious baths and spas in town, there’s nothing quite like Római (literally “Roman”). There’s something romantic about enjoying the calming waters of the very same hot thermal springs Romans carried with their aqueducts over 2 millenia ago. The beach in its current form has only been around for 90 years or so: locals have forgotten about the hot springs for many centuries (or perhaps they were elated with baths like Rudas or Veli Bej), and Római opened its doors only in 1930. With many more popular spas around (Széchenyi, Gellért, or even nearby Pünkösdfürdő, to name a few), Római wasn’t amongst the most popular spots in the city for the next decades. This changed with its renovation in 1964: by splitting the grandiose, over 2000-square meter natural lake in three pools, Római quickly became a favorite for locals. In the early 2000s, the beach was further improved with an array of services, pools, and slides, upgrading it to a full-fledged aquapark.