Széchenyi Thermal Bath
Széchenyi Gyógyfürdő
One of Europe's largest medicinal thermal baths. Its three outdoor pools sit inside a bright yellow neo-Baroque palace, and old men playing chess in the pools are a classic Budapest image.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath opened in 1913 in the City Park. Its waters come from a thermal well 1,246 metres deep, at 74 to 77°C, rich in calcium, magnesium and bicarbonate, and they are known to soothe joints and rheumatism. The bath has 3 outdoor pools (a swimming pool at 26 to 28°C and two thermal pools at 38°C, one with whirlpool currents) and 15 indoor pools with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 40°C, plus saunas and steam rooms. The neo-Baroque decoration, mosaics and domes of the indoor areas are also worth seeing.
Tickets: a weekday all-day ticket including a locker costs about 10,500 to 12,000 forints. Weekends cost a little more, and a private changing room costs extra. Buying tickets in advance on szechenyibath.hu lets you skip the queue. Bring your own swimsuit (required), slippers and towel (available to rent or buy). Swim caps are only needed in the swimming pools.
Suggested route: warm up in the indoor pools first, then head to the outdoor pools, where the atmosphere is best around sunset. Avoid staying in the water for more than 20 minutes at a time; get out, rest and rehydrate in between. 'Sparty,' a light-and-electronic-music bubble party held every Saturday from 21:30 to 02:00, costs about 60 to 80 euros and must be bought in advance. Quiet-seeking travellers should avoid it.
Getting there: exit at Széchenyi fürdő station on Metro M1, or walk 10 minutes from Heroes' Square. It can be combined with Heroes' Square, Vajdahunyad Castle and the zoo on the same day.
Opening hours
07:00–20:00 (outdoor pools until 20:00; times vary by pool)
Nearby sights
- Vajdahunyad Castle
- Heroes' Square
- Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest
- Andrássy Avenue
- House of Terror
- New York Café
- Kerepesi Cemetery (Fiumei Road Cemetery)
- Szimpla Kert