Széchenyi Thermal Bath
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The historic thermal bath in the city park of Budapest, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath, has been one of the most popular baths of the Danube metropolis since 1881. It is the largest thermal bath in Europe with 18 pools and offers relaxation and recovery for all age groups. The water, sourced from thermal springs, is also said to have health-promoting effects. The architecturally impressive facility in neobaroque style is a favorite destination for tourists and locals alike and a must-see for anyone visiting Budapest. Get one of the popular tickets or book a wellness package in advance to treat yourself!
By Jessica Donev
By Jessica DonevSelect a date to find available tickets, tours & activities:
Tickets
Book skip-the-line tickets for the Széchenyi Baths.
Budapest Széchenyi spa entrance ticket
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Wellness Packages
Save with combo tickets for the spa's wellness offerings.Széchenyi Spa: Entry + Massage + Private Cabin
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More Tickets & Tours
Discover even more offers around the Széchenyi Thermal Bath.Ticket to Széchenyi Spa with Dinner & Cruise Combo Deal
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9 tips for visiting the Széchenyi Thermal Bath
In the outdoor area | Photo: Unsplash, Yoav Aziz
1
Getting up early is worth itVisit the bath in the early morning or in the evening to avoid the biggest crowds and to be able to enjoy a truly relaxed atmosphere. Around midday, it's better to avoid a visit since the pools can be very full then. As the bath is a popular tourist attraction in Budapest, it is especially busy on weekends and public holidays. Ideally, you should get the inexpensive Good morning Budapest ticket, which is only available on weekdays, but not on public holidays.
One of the indoor pools | Photo: Unsplash, Daniel Olah
2
Don't forget your bath slippersBath slippers or Flip-Flops are mandatory! You must strictly wear them outside the pools. Should you have forgotten them, there is a shop on site for swimming articles.
3
A variety of pools to testThe thermal bath has 18 pools, all with different temperatures and healing effects. If you actually want to try all pools, don't forget your swim cap, as these are mandatory in the colder swimming pools. However, these can also be purchased on site. Please note that the thermal water is not recommended for children under 14 years of age, so they may not be able to use certain thermal pools. The decision and responsibility rest with the parents or guardians.
4
Take a break in the sauna area or iside the caféRelax after a bath in the thermal pools within the large sauna landscape. There you will find a Finnish sauna, an herbal sauna, an infrared sauna, and a salt sauna. Additionally, the bath has a self-service café and restaurant offering drinks as well as delicious, hot and cold snacks and cakes at a reasonable price. It is even allowed to take drinks into the outdoor pools.
The spa | Photo: Unsplash, Elijah G
5
Take advantage of the numerous wellness offersIn this bath, you can pamper yourself from head to toe! The thermal bath's range of services includes massages, mud treatments, cosmetic treatments, and fitness classes. Combo tickets that include entry to the thermal bath and a massage are available from various providers.
The generous swimming area | Photo: Unsplash, Linda Gerbec
6
Visit the Grand Budapest Bath PartyThe Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest is not only a place of relaxation but also a popular party spot. Every Saturday from February to December, the outdoor area of the bath turns into a huge dance floor. To the beats of electronic music, guests celebrate until the early hours in the warm thermal waters. It’s best to book your ticket in advance online.
7
Bathe in beer ingredients and drink beerDuring a 45-minute BeerSpa session, you can bathe in beer ingredients (hops, malt and yeast) and simultaneously pour as much lager beer from the tap as you like. According to the official website, this special bath water is said to have a positive effect on skin and body. The BeerSpa ticket must be booked in advance; entrance to the entire thermal bath is included. Please note that this ticket can only be picked up from the ticket counter from 10:00 am onwards.
8
Watch movies at the CineSpaIn summer, you can not only enjoy the thermal water, but also watch a movie! The movies start at 9:00 pm and the private spa has extended opening hours until 11:00 pm. However, tickets for the CineSpa must be booked online on the official website. If you would like to enjoy dinner beforehand, reserve a table in the Széchenyi Garden Restaurant by email. In case of bad weather, the movie screening will be interrupted, but you can still swim until 11:00 pm. Please also note that the indoor pools and sauna areas are closed during the CineSpa experience.
9
Get permission from your doctor to visit the thermal bathIf you suffer from certain diseases, a visit to the thermal bath may lead to complications. Therefore, you should consult the bath staff or your doctor before the visit if you have an illness. Pregnant guests must consult their doctor before visiting the thermal bath. Please note that no massages for pregnant women are offered.
In the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath, one can also swim laps | Photo: Unsplash, Linda Gerbec
The largest thermal bath in Europe
The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath is one of the most famous thermal baths in the world. It was named after Earl István Széchenyi, who supported the development of Budapest. The grand complex is located in the midst of a picturesque city grove and features 18 pools for bathersThe Baths
The civil engineer Vilmos Zsigmondy got the ball rolling by commissioning the first deep drilling, which was supposed to bring the thermal water to the surface. The first provisional bath was therefore established as early as 1881. However, between 1909 and 1913, the Széchenyi Thermal Bath was completely rebuilt to meet the requirements of the time. In the past, it was common for men and women to bathe in separate areas, but today the bathing is mixed.
The Historic Bath
The Széchenyi Thermal Bath is an architectural masterpiece in the Neo-baroque style, which was designed by Győző Czigler. The imposing and majestic bath impresses not only in the interior but also with its splendid facade. After its construction, the bath was renovated several times and expanded with new features including a whirlpool corridor, underwater bubblers, and seating benches.
Hot Springs | Photo: Christopher Nixon - CC-BY-SA 2.0
The Thermal Water
The 18 pools have different temperatures, ranging from pleasantly warm to hot water of up to 40 °C (104°F). The thermal water originates from the St. Stephen's Fountain, which has a temperature of 76 °C (168.8 F). It is rich in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, sodium, sulfate, fluoride, and boric acid and is therefore primarily used as a complementary therapy for conditions such as rheumatism, arthritis, skin diseases, or respiratory diseases.
Checkmate! | Photo: Flickr, Tiomax80 - CC BY 2.0
The Outdoor Area
Both in summer and winter, the outdoor area with three pools invites visitors to linger. Especially in winter, the outdoor swimming areas are a spectacle when the warm water begins to steam due to the temperature difference. The largest outdoor pool is intended for swimmers, while in the warmest pool, you can observe locals playing a game of chess.
Széchenyi Spa outdoor pool | Photo: Jessica Donev
Jessica's Day Spa in the Széchenyi Spa
My boyfriend and I spontaneously decided to escape the rainy weather in Austria in the summer of 2022 and head to Budapest instead. On the first day of our trip, which was also quite cloudy, we went to the famous spa.Subway entrance in Budapest | Photo: J. Donev TicketLens
The journey
As I still had to work from our Airbnb for half a day, we didn't set off until lunchtime. But half a day is enough to see and enjoy everything. Public transport is a great way to get from the city center to the Széchenyi Thermal Bath. The subway will take you directly to your spa day. But be careful: if you have to change between two different means of public transport, you will also need two public transport tickets. So it's best to buy 10 tickets at once to be on the safe side. We were checked again and again during our journey. After a short walk, we reached the largest thermal baths in Europe - in this time-honored style - and it is already very impressive from the outside. As we went to Budapest spontaneously, we didn't book tickets in advance and therefore had to queue for a few minutes.
Jessica at the Spa | Photo: J. Donev TicketLens
The Mission
Mission 1: Get slippers for my boyfriend. Luckily, this was easy to do, as you can find all the essentials for your spa day in the spa store.
Mission 2: We have to go to EVERY SINGLE POOL! So first the pleasure, then the relaxation, or at the same time. There are shelves all over the bathroom, similar to the Kallax shelves from Ikea, where you can store your towel and other bathing essentials. The pools inside are divided into different rooms and areas, and I can proudly say that we accomplished our mission, even if some of the pools were quite hot. After exploring the inside, we head out onto the outdoor loungers to relax. We get some ice cream there and, when the rain starts, simply sit down in the warm pool.
Mission 2: We have to go to EVERY SINGLE POOL! So first the pleasure, then the relaxation, or at the same time. There are shelves all over the bathroom, similar to the Kallax shelves from Ikea, where you can store your towel and other bathing essentials. The pools inside are divided into different rooms and areas, and I can proudly say that we accomplished our mission, even if some of the pools were quite hot. After exploring the inside, we head out onto the outdoor loungers to relax. We get some ice cream there and, when the rain starts, simply sit down in the warm pool.
Picture from the 2nd Floor | Photo: J. Donev TicketLens
The relaxation
Already refreshed and softened, we both treat ourselves to a massage. They are a lot cheaper in Hungary than in Austria. At the massage rooms, we also find a relaxation room that we probably wouldn't have discovered otherwise. The massage rooms are all on the 2nd floor of the building, from where we have a wonderful view of the baths and take a few photos. Despite the first strange feeling in the one-size-fits-all underpants, I can still enjoy the massage. Relaxed and freshly kneaded, I wait for my boyfriend in the relaxation area. We then enjoy it together until our stomachs growl.
Heroes' Square (Hosök Tere) | Photo:J. Donev TicketLens
Clean, kneaded and soaked into the evening
It's hard to say goodbye, but the feeling of hunger is greater. We leave the Széchenyi spa for a snack, although there is something to eat here too. However, I had already discovered a Langós stall on arrival, which I was determined to visit. Relaxed, very clean, thoroughly kneaded and still a little soggy, we leave the largest and, in my opinion, most beautiful spa in Europe and get a langós with cream and cheese.
A tip for the way back to the city: the walk from here to Heroes' Square (Hosök Tere) is short and leads you through a nice park. When you're already here, you should definitely tick this sight off your list. Back in the city center, Ghettó Gulyás is one of the best-known restaurants for the popular national dish - but we recommend Kazimir. Thank me later!
A tip for the way back to the city: the walk from here to Heroes' Square (Hosök Tere) is short and leads you through a nice park. When you're already here, you should definitely tick this sight off your list. Back in the city center, Ghettó Gulyás is one of the best-known restaurants for the popular national dish - but we recommend Kazimir. Thank me later!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Széchenyi Medicinal Bath accessible for people with disabilities?
The bath is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Read more.
What is the minimum age for the medical bath?
Guests of all ages are allowed entry, however, the thermal water is not recommended for children under 14 years of age. Also, individuals with pre-existing conditions or pregnant women should only plan a visit to the thermal baths with medical permission. Read more.
Are there food options available at the thermal bath?
The bath has a café with a self-service restaurant. For something finer yet still down-to-earth after the thermal bath visit, the Szécheni-Garden Restaurant located in the immediate vicinity of the bath serves classics of Hungarian cuisine such as goulash and lecho. Read more.
Is it allowed to bring food into the Széchenyi Thermal bath?
It is allowed to bring food that has been purchased outside. Therefore, bringing food, drinks and even picnic baskets is permitted. Read more.
Is there a shop for swimming items on site?
If you forget your swimming items, they can be purchased on site. In addition to swimwear and towels, items such as flip-flops, swim caps, and bathrobes can be bought. Check the website of the thermal bath in advance to see if the rental service is currently offered, as it would be significantly cheaper. Read more.
Is it allowed to take photos and videos in the medicinal bath?
In principle, photos and videos may be taken in the pool, but consideration should be given to other bathers. Read more.
General information
opening hours
address
Állatkerti krt. 9-11
H-1146 Budapest
Hungary
website
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how to get there
Written byJessica DonevJessica is the definition of Jack of all trades. When she wants to do something, she just does it. That's why Jessica is an event manager, professional dancer, trainer, content creator, speaker / presenter in training and much more. Having traveled the world a lot, she knows what's important when traveling and shares it with you here on TicketLens.
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