Rudas Thermal Bath

"Known for its octagonal pool lined with pillars, Rudas offers a serene experience under a dramatic dome dating back to 1572."

"While visiting Széchenyi Gyogyfürdo, Europe’s largest thermal bathing facility, is on many Budapest visitors’ lists, and a worthy detour, we can’t help but be drawn to another of the artsy Eastern European city’s thermal baths. Rudas Baths’ 21 hot springs are the prominent feature behind the 16th-century facility, which welcomes guests 14 and older. Traditional water massage treatments incorporate Swedish techniques, and handmade soap made with macadamia oil for ultra silky skin, is used to cleanse and soften the body. The domed space (built during the time of Ottoman rule) delivers self-care in an atmosphere that’s both calming and thought-provoking." - Stacey Lastoe

"A 450-year-old Turkish bath with five pools surrounded by arch-topped columns and domed ceilings, featuring a modern thermal pool with a view overlooking the Danube." - Carole Rosenblat

"With six thermal pools, a large swimming pool, a wellness area, and an oft-Instagrammed rooftop jacuzzi, Rudas has been a full-service spa bathhouse since its restoration and renovation in 2014. Its center, however, reveals a centuries-long history: the octagonal pool under a domed ceiling and surrounded by old stone vaults and pillars, dates to 1550, the Ottoman occupation of Budapest, and is thus literally steeped in history. Though it initially only served men, Rudas now separates genders on weekdays (Tuesdays are for women) and offers coed bathing on weekends. Tip: single-gender bathing can be fabulously pressure-free and almost spiritual; Rudas is the only place that this is still possible. And Fridays and Saturdays, Rudas stays open until 4a.m. Tickets can be booked online."