Kiraly Baths
Kiraly Baths
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1,020 reviews
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impressivehead
Bucharest2 contributions
Kiraly Baths were a big dissapointment. The premises are a complete wreck, with no investments being made there since the 60s or 70s, judging the ancient locker cabins and everything else inside the bath. I went there on a day when only men were allowed to get in and it seemed that most of them were there just to find a casual sex partner. Disgusting and promiscuous, since there are special saunas for that, where you expect to see only that kind of people. The massage I paid for (2000 HUF/8 Euros) was more a caress of my skin than a relaxation of my muscles; I was tempted to get off the massage table in the middle of the "massage" and ask the guy to spare his efforts for the next in line to get the fake massage...
All in all, the place made me the impression of an old, creepy, dirty bath, living from its supposed glorious past, nowhere to be found nowadays, unfortunately.
All in all, the place made me the impression of an old, creepy, dirty bath, living from its supposed glorious past, nowhere to be found nowadays, unfortunately.
Written January 8, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hayley G
Leicester57 contributions
This is exactly what I was expecting of a thermal bath - unlike the Szechenyi which was not unlike a normal swimming bath that I would find at home in England.
Kiraly was old, dark and traditional. It was how I imagined proper Turkish or Roman baths from thousands of years ago.
It's the cheapest in Budapest, I found the staff fairly helpful (unlike Szechenyi!!!). It has alternate days for men and women.
Be warned though, as bathing suits are optional and there were a few local ladies bathing totally nude, including one lady who looked at least 100 years old!!!
My time in the Kiraly felt very relaxing and really therapeutic. In fact I was totally knackered that evening! Whereas in contrast, the Szechenyi experience left me feeling I'd wasted a lot of money and time.
I would definitely recommend the Kiraly baths, although I only experienced Kiraly and Szechenyi - next time I go to Budapest I will try the Gellert.
I would also encourage people to exercise caution and not take any valuables to any bath as the locker attendants have access to you personal belongings.
Kiraly was old, dark and traditional. It was how I imagined proper Turkish or Roman baths from thousands of years ago.
It's the cheapest in Budapest, I found the staff fairly helpful (unlike Szechenyi!!!). It has alternate days for men and women.
Be warned though, as bathing suits are optional and there were a few local ladies bathing totally nude, including one lady who looked at least 100 years old!!!
My time in the Kiraly felt very relaxing and really therapeutic. In fact I was totally knackered that evening! Whereas in contrast, the Szechenyi experience left me feeling I'd wasted a lot of money and time.
I would definitely recommend the Kiraly baths, although I only experienced Kiraly and Szechenyi - next time I go to Budapest I will try the Gellert.
I would also encourage people to exercise caution and not take any valuables to any bath as the locker attendants have access to you personal belongings.
Written May 1, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldTrippn
Rancho Cucamonga, Ca71 contributions
In March 2006, in the middle of the coldest winter that most in Hungary remembered, I walked with a friend from the Danube to the Kiraly baths in Buda. They are authentic...the real thing! No one speaks english and at first they charged us the equivilant of 25 cents and took us to the "toilets"....we were able to let them know by our vigorous head shaking and verbalizion (no, no) that this wasn't what we wanted. They took us to the front and pointed to a "menu" with fees (in Hungarian) and asked (with sign language) what we wanted....we eventually got to the baths.
It was like stepping back in time....it was dark, mistly...the air so heavy with steaming mineral water that you could touch it. The cupola had many star shaped openings in it where the light would stream in and crisscross in the beams of other light sources giving an etherial feeling. One wades through shallow water to enter the main bath which has water spilling out of it and flowing into the side baths...the main bath is comfortably warm and the smaller baths range from hot to ice cold for a refreshing plunge after exiting the sauna. For one hour we stepped back into time...we were the only tourists and only found this bath because we had researched the internet before going on our trip. I would highly recommend going, but be prepared to blend.
Of interest:
Body Sheets are given before you are taken to a private changing area but you may bring your own towel.
Changing area is secure and double locked (you lock one lock and keep the key with you)
Bathing suits are optional
Hair dryers are available
Not coed...alternating days for men and women
It was like stepping back in time....it was dark, mistly...the air so heavy with steaming mineral water that you could touch it. The cupola had many star shaped openings in it where the light would stream in and crisscross in the beams of other light sources giving an etherial feeling. One wades through shallow water to enter the main bath which has water spilling out of it and flowing into the side baths...the main bath is comfortably warm and the smaller baths range from hot to ice cold for a refreshing plunge after exiting the sauna. For one hour we stepped back into time...we were the only tourists and only found this bath because we had researched the internet before going on our trip. I would highly recommend going, but be prepared to blend.
Of interest:
Body Sheets are given before you are taken to a private changing area but you may bring your own towel.
Changing area is secure and double locked (you lock one lock and keep the key with you)
Bathing suits are optional
Hair dryers are available
Not coed...alternating days for men and women
Written March 27, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dpat17
Canton, MA23 contributions
Smelly filthy vile facility - loaded with scary old men who are pretty much all obviously and overtly gay and very aggressive. I lasted 10 minutes and ran for the door. Totally bleak and gray - walls are falling apart and the odor is beyond words. The previous reviewer must own the place.
Written September 25, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
adalsub
Bangkok1 contribution
Kiraly baths is one of my favorite places in Budapest. It has thankfully not be renovated as Rudas was so you get a very atmospheric old-world feel. This bath is gay friendly. Tourists and prudes are better off going to Gellert.
Written November 25, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
gefsmith
Melbourne, Australia156 contributions
As noted in previous reviews this bath on mens day a very gay and homo erotic experience.
Men dressed in a thin linen lap lap enjoying healing spas, steam and saunas.. Hang on sounds like a gay sauna?
Well yes, in a way however this is a government run public bath house so don't attend thinking this is going to be a typical sauna experience.
Kiraly is stunning architecture that has sadly become run down in it's age.
The pools are great, with a choice of 4 different temperate levels, you also have massage, steam room and two saunas to help melt away your stress.
Of course on men's day there is also some visual entertainment as well.
To ensure you are up to speed it's important to note that there was an expose by a local news team a few years back that showed the budapest public that there was explicit man on man sex happening on the site.
This lead to a change of policy that people had to wear swimmers but this has been reduced to the above mentioned lap lap of today.
Whilst there may be some longing looks (and propositions by the young prostitutes that also populate the baths) this is not a place for outright sex. Discretion is the key and I would suggest if you meet someone you would like to know better then your hotel is a much better suited place.
If you are looking for an interesting gay experience with the feel of a Bel Ami video then this place is worth the stop.
If you are a straight male, I think you are unlikely to enjoy the experience as much and you may be better suited to attending on the mixed Sunday.
Men dressed in a thin linen lap lap enjoying healing spas, steam and saunas.. Hang on sounds like a gay sauna?
Well yes, in a way however this is a government run public bath house so don't attend thinking this is going to be a typical sauna experience.
Kiraly is stunning architecture that has sadly become run down in it's age.
The pools are great, with a choice of 4 different temperate levels, you also have massage, steam room and two saunas to help melt away your stress.
Of course on men's day there is also some visual entertainment as well.
To ensure you are up to speed it's important to note that there was an expose by a local news team a few years back that showed the budapest public that there was explicit man on man sex happening on the site.
This lead to a change of policy that people had to wear swimmers but this has been reduced to the above mentioned lap lap of today.
Whilst there may be some longing looks (and propositions by the young prostitutes that also populate the baths) this is not a place for outright sex. Discretion is the key and I would suggest if you meet someone you would like to know better then your hotel is a much better suited place.
If you are looking for an interesting gay experience with the feel of a Bel Ami video then this place is worth the stop.
If you are a straight male, I think you are unlikely to enjoy the experience as much and you may be better suited to attending on the mixed Sunday.
Written August 4, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jory34
Salt Lake City, UT28 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We opted for the Kiraly Baths because we prefer a less touristy experience. It was a major highlight of our trip. I have a bunch of tips to make your experience go more smoothly than ours. First, you probably don't need more than 2-3 hours. Second, bring your own towels and flip-flops. We bought some at the "Super Discount" store which is a 5 min walk from the baths. We also bought shower caps, but realized when we got there that they were not needed. Third, get a cabin for two people. It's a little changing area that has hooks to hang stuff, a bench, and it locks. You are given an electronic bracelet to wear that will lock and unlock your cabin. Your cabin number will be handwritten on your receipt after you pay. Fourth, bring toiletries to shower with afterward. There are showers at the entrance of the baths. You are supposed to shower before you enter (swimsuit on), and then can shower when you're all done. There are also hair dryers. Sixth, bring a water bottle into the baths as there are two drinking fountains. Finally, seventh, if you wear silver jewelry, the sulfur in the baths will tarnish it! Don't waste your time trying to find jewelry cleaner afterward, just use aluminum foil and baking soda (szódabikarbóna). If you prefer a more authentic bath experience, I highly recommend Kiraly. It's old and rustic, non-English speaking staff, scary looking from the outside, but a real Hungarian delight.
Written May 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuckyTraveler1975
Vienna, Austria1 contribution
Nov 2011 • Couples
Being on a romantic Budapest weekend, we got a free entrance ticket for this Bath with our hotel-package. I don't want to sound too negative now. Maybe we expected something else (a nice "Therme"-Bath as they have in Austria for example). What we found was really a horror! First of all we did not find the place (we crossed it several times though, but did not recognize it as a BATH from the outside as it looked pretty dilapidated). Inside it was not really better... In short: it was stinky, old, rotten, filthy, the water brown,... and the place really reminded us on the "Saw" movies! It might be something for locals and the 15 minutes we were inside were a very interesting experience :-) But don't go there for having a nice, relaxing bath though!
Written November 28, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Coops
Berlin, Germany8 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Actually choose both, there both great to see!
Széchenyi is a place you only ever need to go once whilst Kiraly is a place I go every time I visit the city!
Location
It’s a little bit hidden, but that makes it a gem, better yet tie it in with a walk from the castle as it is in the Pest side of the city. Look for a set of stairs leading down to a door that is easily missable, if your looking for one of those grand bath buildings, you might never find it.
Price
If I lived in Budapest I’d be there every week or more, this place was actually recommended to me by a friends father a local to the area as his weekly hangout. Price is around 6-8€ depending on if you take a locker or a cabin.
Style
I can’t quite put my finger on the year it was last renovated but there is something so beautifully 50’s about this building and a touch of Soviet Union. Everything, although dated is very cared for, just watch the continuous mopping of some of the caretakers working there, who are also extremely friendly and hold a nice smile on their faces, it’s a place for tourists and locals alike!
Changing facilities
There are changing rooms 3 or 4 in the main locker room or if you prefer a bit more privacy take the cabin, which is similar to the 19th century beach changing huts. Either is an experience
Main Bath
The main bath is a large round pool, fairly shallow and often busy. Littered with lovers and locals don’t be afraid to step over people to get in, a bit of skin on skin contact never hurt. At the right time of day the crowds drop and beautiful calms comes over the place, even when its busy the cathedral like shape of the room echoes every voice creating a drowning noise that also offers you serenity and privacy.
Side Baths
There is a medium bath as you enter and a hot bath and a cool bath next to the largest bath in the main room. Make sure you get a good circulation between all and don’t be afraid of the cold or hot, there is nothing more rejuvenating than a cold dip after a long steam bath.
Sauna
Definitely not the best Sauna I have been in but it is quite an experience. 2 large saunas contained within a greenhouse type structure, the hotter one is entered through the cooler one. Although you are a little bit more on display than the traditional sauna the effect is still the same.
Steam bath
This is my favourite steam bath of any spas or baths anywhere, I’m unsure quite how they scent the steam but it is beautifully aromatic and the dim light sets you in a slight trance. The burning drips from the ceiling become less annoying over time and ground from being lost in the vapour.
Conclusion
If you can only visit one bath on your trip I recommend this one. After a long soak leave the building to your left and search for a bar on the corner just a few minutes away. It is a canteen style looking bar but has a deep routed leftist past, so I’ve been told, expect an unfriendly reception from the waitress but good beer, snacks and a taste of real Budapest.
Széchenyi is a place you only ever need to go once whilst Kiraly is a place I go every time I visit the city!
Location
It’s a little bit hidden, but that makes it a gem, better yet tie it in with a walk from the castle as it is in the Pest side of the city. Look for a set of stairs leading down to a door that is easily missable, if your looking for one of those grand bath buildings, you might never find it.
Price
If I lived in Budapest I’d be there every week or more, this place was actually recommended to me by a friends father a local to the area as his weekly hangout. Price is around 6-8€ depending on if you take a locker or a cabin.
Style
I can’t quite put my finger on the year it was last renovated but there is something so beautifully 50’s about this building and a touch of Soviet Union. Everything, although dated is very cared for, just watch the continuous mopping of some of the caretakers working there, who are also extremely friendly and hold a nice smile on their faces, it’s a place for tourists and locals alike!
Changing facilities
There are changing rooms 3 or 4 in the main locker room or if you prefer a bit more privacy take the cabin, which is similar to the 19th century beach changing huts. Either is an experience
Main Bath
The main bath is a large round pool, fairly shallow and often busy. Littered with lovers and locals don’t be afraid to step over people to get in, a bit of skin on skin contact never hurt. At the right time of day the crowds drop and beautiful calms comes over the place, even when its busy the cathedral like shape of the room echoes every voice creating a drowning noise that also offers you serenity and privacy.
Side Baths
There is a medium bath as you enter and a hot bath and a cool bath next to the largest bath in the main room. Make sure you get a good circulation between all and don’t be afraid of the cold or hot, there is nothing more rejuvenating than a cold dip after a long steam bath.
Sauna
Definitely not the best Sauna I have been in but it is quite an experience. 2 large saunas contained within a greenhouse type structure, the hotter one is entered through the cooler one. Although you are a little bit more on display than the traditional sauna the effect is still the same.
Steam bath
This is my favourite steam bath of any spas or baths anywhere, I’m unsure quite how they scent the steam but it is beautifully aromatic and the dim light sets you in a slight trance. The burning drips from the ceiling become less annoying over time and ground from being lost in the vapour.
Conclusion
If you can only visit one bath on your trip I recommend this one. After a long soak leave the building to your left and search for a bar on the corner just a few minutes away. It is a canteen style looking bar but has a deep routed leftist past, so I’ve been told, expect an unfriendly reception from the waitress but good beer, snacks and a taste of real Budapest.
Written March 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lordflashman
London, UK39 contributions
Oct 2018
I have read many reviews of the Kiraly Baths;some positive, some negative. I will spell this out now loud and clear. The baths are over 600 years old! Parts of the baths date back to when Hungary was ruled and occupied by the Ottomans. Step outside the baths, look at the domed roof, you clearly see a star and crescent. What drew me here was the history and the pricing. If you want a bath for the same reasons as me, then visit. If however you want to prance around and pose, have some pool party, and want to enjoy modern facilities, do not visit. Yes the baths are dated, all part of their appeal. The coppery tones and ageing inside and outside of the baths is a genuine patina of 600 years of history! There was talk from someone I spoke to they there are plans afoot to restore the baths? A case of 'gentrifying' it? The baths, like the people inside it were characterful. Mainly locals of all shapes and sizes , from the young (over 14's only) to the very old! Thanks Kiraly for providing a highly affordable entrance charge; whereby people can also marvel at your history. One word of caution. The sauna is incredibly hot!
Written November 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How many pools are at Kiraly bath?
Sorry, I can't really figure out, how many actual pools, saunas, etc. it has.....
Written February 9, 2020
Kiraly baths has 4 little pools, 1 sauna, 1 steam cabin, 1 whirlpool
Written February 9, 2020
Good question....I'm not sure...we did see people in with tattoos when we visited....so im sure you will be allowed.
Written January 15, 2020
È possibile entrare con la mia famiglia oppure uomini e donne hanno giorni di accesso diversi?
Written February 13, 2019
Markéta C
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
Dobrý den, prosím o info, zda do Királů je potřeba koupací čepice?? Děkuji Markéta
Written February 11, 2019
Pardon, spletl jsem si lázně :) Moje předchozí odpověď se vztahovala k lázním Széchenyi. Do lázní Király čepici nepotřebujete (žádný plavecký bazén tady na rozdíl od Széchenyi ani není).
Written February 11, 2019
Periodo di Natale come sono gli orari?
Written September 23, 2018
A quanto mi risulta nel periodo natalizio gli orari restano gli stessi, a parte i giorni festivi di chiusura. A Natale sono sicuramente chiusi, per santo Stefano (che in Ungheria non è festa pubblica come in Italia) dovrebbero essere aperti. A san Silvestro sono chiusi.
Written September 23, 2018
No - both not, just a regular swimsuit
Written August 2, 2018
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