Széchenyi Thermal Bath

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The historic Széchenyi Baths (Széchenyi gyógyfürdő) has been one of the most popular public baths in Budapest since its opening in 1881. Visitors can enjoy three outdoor and 12 indoor pools ranging in temperature from 64° to 104° Fahrenheit (18°-40° Celsius) surrounded by stunning Neo-Baroque architecture. Skip the line tickets can be booked online so you have the smoothest and most relaxing experience on the day.

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Budapest: Széchenyi Spa Full Day with Optional Pálinka Tour

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Széchenyi Spa: Massage + Private Cabin

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Budapest Szechenyi Spa Ticket with Massages or VIP Area Pass

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Ticket to Széchenyi Spa with Dinner & Cruise Combo Deal

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6 tips for visiting the Széchenyi Thermal Bath

Széchenyi Thermal Baths | Flickr: Wei-Te Wong CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting up early is worth the effort!The baths open from 6 am and are loved by tourists and locals alike, so they get busier and busier as the day goes on. In order to get the best experience while avoiding the crowds, try to get there as early as possible. The baths get especially crowded after lunchtime.

Aquafitness | Behance: Balazs Glodi CC BY-ND 4.0

Treat Yourself to a MassageThe Széchenyi Baths offer a variety of wellness and therapeutic treatments as well as saunas, aquafitness, and gymnastics. Combo-tickets that include entry to the baths and a massage can be bought in advance from different providers.

Checkmate! | Flickr: Tiomax80 CC BY 2.0

Relax Your Body, Test Your MindThe outdoor pools are famous for locals playing chess while bathing. You can bring your own board or watch some of the regulars battle it out. If you’re lucky, you might even be invited to join a game.

Hot Springs | CityMaps2Go: Christopher Nixon

Hot Springs for Cold DaysThe thermal baths are open all year round, and that includes the heated outdoor pools. It makes the spa a popular destination in winter as well as summer, where you can sit back in a heated pool and let your body soak up the warmth before heading back out into the icy cold of Budapest.

Enjoy a relaxing BeerThe Beer Spa in the Széchenyi Thermal Baths doesn’t brew its own beer, but all-you-can-drink draft beer is only an arm’s length away. Meanwhile, your bathwater is full of hops, malt, and yeast, ingredients that have positive effects on your skin and body (according to the baths’ official website). Don’t worry, showers are also provided afterward!

Look Out for Parties in SummerParty animals take note: in summer the Széchenyi Baths host weekend spa parties, or ‘Spa-rties’, complete with laser shows, smoke machines, and great music. The fun kicks of at 10.30 pm and goes on until 3 am and the popularity of the events means it’s worthwhile to book tickets in advance to make sure you don’t miss out.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Széchenyi Thermal Baths first open?

The first explorations drilling for thermal waters began at the site of the baths in 1868 and continued for a whole decade before a reliable thermal spring developed. After being approved by the Budapest authorities, a simple public bathhouse called the Artesian Baths was opened in 1880. The baths were more popular than anticipated, and by 1907 they were already being pushed beyond capacity. Between 1909 and 1913 the bathhouse was developed into a palace-like complex that split the building into five different bathhouses. This newly developed spa was named after István Széchenyi, a politician and writer sometimes referred to as ‘the Greatest Hungarian’. The outdoor pool, which has a capacity of 3,400, was added in 1927, and a second deep well has been providing more thermal water for the different pools since 1938. Luckily, the Széchenyi Baths weren’t too badly damaged during World War 2, and they were able to reopen shortly after the end of the war. The baths were last renovated in 1998. Read more.

Are the baths divided by gender?

Since 1981 the baths have combined their sections for men and women, so all genders now bathe together. However, the fact that the baths used to be divided can still be seen in the architecture of the building, with the symmetrical right and left wings (right for men and left for women) each housing a matching sequence of pools. Today a visit to the Széchenyi Baths is a fun activity for couples and families alike, although the hot pools are only recommended for children over the age of 14. Read more.

Is it worth taking a guided tour of the baths?

The official tour of the Széchenyi Baths takes 20 minutes and is offered in English or Hungarian. If you’re not interested in swimming or trying the pools but you’d like to see the architecture and learn about the history of the baths then this short and insightful tour is well worth a try. Read more.

What kinds of wellness treatments and sports options are available?

The baths offer steam rooms, saunas, and a range of different massage therapies, but it also offers a range of less conventional treatments including mud baths and herbal or wine massages. You can also get a pedicure or visit the beauty salon to make sure you’re looking your best. Aquafitness and gymnastics are also available, and a free fitness studio is available to guests all day. The Thermal Beer Spa is another unusual option that lets you experience total relaxation with a delicious pint in hand. The complex also contains a day clinic offering physiotherapy and other prescribed therapies. Read more.

Can you eat inside the Széchenyi Baths?

The Széchenyi Baths contain a small self-service café where you can enjoy small meals and snacks for reasonable prices. For something more substantial, you might want to follow your trip to the baths with a visit to the Széchenyi Garden Restaurant which serves Hungarian classics like Gulasch and Lecsó. Read more.

What should I bring with me to the baths?

You must bring shoes that you can wear between the different pools - flip-flops or Birkenstock-style sandals are ideal. In terms of bathing suits, you’ll be fine wearing any swimwear you prefer. Clothes which aren’t specially designed to be worn in water, such as t-shirts or regular shorts, aren’t allowed. In summer you’ll probably also need to bring sunglasses and sunscreen if you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the outdoor pools. You can rent or buy towels, dressing gowns, and flip flops at the baths if you’d rather not bring your own. Read more.

General information

opening hours

The baths open daily at 6 am. The outdoor pools are open until 10 pm, while the indoor pools, steam rooms, and saunas close at 7 pm. Visitors are asked to leave the pools 15 minutes before the baths close. Guided tours take place daily at 10 am and 4 pm.

address

Széchenyi gyógyfürdő
Állatkerti krt. 9-11
H-1146 Budapest
Hungary

tickets

A regular day ticket with access to a changing cabin costs HUF 9,400, while entry tickets for only the morning with a locker cost HUF 7,500. Reduced tickets (4-hour access) are available for HUF 4,000. Fast Track tickets can be purchased online for HUF 12,500.

how to get there

Line 1 of the Budapest metro stops at the Széchenyi Baths. Alternatively, you can take bus number 105 to Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere). The baths are a 30-minute walk from Deák Ferenc tér, which is served by three lines of the metro, tram lines 47 and 49, and several bus routes. Parking is available at the baths but there is a charge for parking on weekdays.

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