Traditional Baths In Budapest

Rudas Thermal Bath, Budapest

To add a traditional Hungarian experience when  your conference breaks in the evening you could always add a trip to the thermal baths.

Gellert may be the most famous thermal bath in Budapest, but Rudas is the most historic. The building dates from the 16th century, when the occupying Turks were constructing bathing facilities to make the most of the city’s 80 geothermal springs. The Ottoman influence can still be seen in the octagonal pool, covered by a huge dome and supported by eight pillars, and the six steam pools. Try an underwater massage at 3am (the bath is open until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays). Note that it’s men-only during the week, except on Tuesdays when it’s women-only; weekends are for mixed bathing.

• From around £4 for a morning ticket to £10 for night bathing, and from £8 for massages; rudasbaths.com