How to Visit the Incredible Szechenyi Baths, Budapest’s Most Popular Attraction
Welcoming visitors for over a century, a swim in the healing thermal waters of Szechenyi Baths is one of the best things to do in Budapest. Discover everything you need to know before you visit with our in-depth Szechenyi Baths guide.
We visit Széchenyi baths early on a freezing cold winter’s morning. It’s surprisingly busy, given it’s early January, and Budapest is still getting back on its feet after two years of pandemic-reduced tourism.
The baths are one of Budapest’s most popular attractions, built in 1913 over healing hot springs feeding 18 separate pools, 3 outdoor and 15 indoor, and a range of other wellness features including steam rooms and saunas, in the ornate complex.
After a mad dash from the changing rooms, we sink our chilly bodies into the steaming baths. It’s a sensation unlike no other - tingles over every inch of our skin as our bodies slowly acclimatise to 38 degrees of pure heaven.
The morning sun illuminates the weathered yet grandiose neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance baths, as billowing steam slowly floats from the pools.
We sink deeper into the water, delighting in the therapeutic waters while watching the baths slowly fill up. There are the old ladies, enjoying their prescribed ‘natural therapies’ or balneotherapy (it’s a thing here in Hungary!). There’s the man, lounged on the steps, deeply engrossed in a novel. There’s the group, presumably talking about Hungary’s questionable politics. And there are the tourists, standing out like a beacon with their phones, snapping memories of this insta-famous hotspot.
It’s a microcosm of everyday Budapest. A city of fading grandeur where citizens, despite their tumultuous past, revel in the good life. A city where politics is whispered under the noses of unsuspecting tourists flitting from gorgeous attraction to gorgeous attraction.
And it’s bloody wonderful.
As we make our way from pool to pool, sauna to the steam room, we can’t help but delight in the glory that is Széchenyi baths. Despite all we’d read and seen online, it’s so much more than we expected.
A visit to Szechenyi baths is truly one of the best things to do in Budapest. In fact, it’s so great, you should plan to visit more than once, to really soak it all in (yes, that is a pun!).
To help you plan your visit, our Szechenyi Baths guide will run through everything you need to know before you visit.
ps. Want to explore more of Budapest? Read our in-depth guides here | Gellert Thermal Baths, Szimpla Kert Ruin Bar, New York Cafe, Budapest’s best brunch spots, and the best of Józsefváros, Budapest’s hipster 8th district
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SZECHENYI BATHS SNAPSHOT
WHERE | Városliget, Budapest
HOW TO GET THERE | M1 metro from city centre, or walk
ADMISSION | 10,500 ft on weekdays (€25), 12,000 ft on weekends (€29). Buy advanced tickets here
WHEN TO VISIT | May - October
TIPS| Arrive early to avoid the crowds, bring your own towel + flip flops
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING SZECHENYI BATHS
WHERE ARE SZÉCHENYI BATHS, AND HOW TO GET THERE
Visiting Budapest on a weekend vacation? Or planning to spend a little more time exploring the best of this incredible city? Either way, you’re going to want to visit Széchenyi baths!
The baths are located in City Park (Városliget) in the northeast of the city. Fortunately, the baths are located very close to the centre of town, and all the main attractions Budapest has to offer.
To get to Széchenyi baths, you can catch the historic M1 metro from any station between Vörösmarty Square and Széchenyi Fürdö (baths) station. This includes popular tourist stops, such as Deak Ferenc Ter, Opera, Oktogon, and Hösök tere (Heroes Square).
The metro is super efficient in Budapest and costs 300 ft per ticket. Please note that tickets are not available at every stop on the M1 line, so buy a 10-pack in advance just in case.
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If you’re keen to walk off some food/booze calories, it’s a super easy stroll to Széchenyi baths.
From Deak Ferenc Ter, you can walk the length of Andrassy Utca (Street), a UNESCO World Heritage site, and admire the beautiful, tree-lined boulevard, before arriving at Heroes Square.
From Heroes Square, continue straight across the bridge, before arriving at Széchenyi baths on your left. Overall, the walk from the Deak Ferenc Ter and surrounds should take under an hour.
HOW TO PURCHASE SZÉCHENYI THERMAL BATHS ENTRANCE TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased online prior to your visit, or at the ticket office upon entry to the baths (there are two entry points - Állatkerti Korut and Kós Károly Setany).
However, we suggest joining this wildly popular tour of Szechenyi Baths, including a traditional Palinka tasting.
It gets you skip-the-line access which, trust us, is needed, especially in summer. Plus, you’ll get to try Hungary’s most famous (and notorious) liqueur.
The Széchenyi ticket price is as follows (2024 prices):
Weekday ticket with locker | 10,500 ft
Weekend ticket with a locker (Fri, Sat, Sun) | 12,000 ft
Good morning Budapest ticket (entrance until 9 am) | 8,400 ft - 9,700 ft
Cabins are an additional 1,000 ft
BOOK | Your Szechenyi Baths tickets (+ Palinka tasting) in advance
* Note that due to inflation, prices are almost doubled as of May 2024
CAN I USE THE BUDAPEST CARD AT SZÉCHENYI BATHS?
If you’re not sure what on earth we’re talking about, the Budapest Card is Hungary’s official city tourism pass.
They’re valid for 72 hours (perfect for a city break!) and give you free public transport, plus free and/or discounted entry to the city’s main highlights, like most of the galleries and museums, for example.
It’s well worth it if you plan to do plenty of sightseeing while you’re in town — and you can also use the Budapest Card to get 20% off your entry ticket at the Széchenyi thermal baths. Winning!
NOTE | It is not recommended that children under 14 swim in thermal waters. If you do wish to visit with children, the child must be toilet-trained.
SZÉCHENYI THERMAL BATHS OPENING HOURS
Széchenyi Baths have differing opening hours for the summer and winter seasons, so check the most up-to-date times here.
SUMMER OPENING HOURS
Every day from 6 am - 10 pm (indoor pools close at 8 pm)
WINTER OPENING HOURS
Every day from 7 am to 7 pm
EARLY MORNING IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT SZÉCHENYI BATHS
The best time to visit Széchenyi baths is early morning before the hordes of (other, ill-informed) tourists arrive! This means before 9 am, if not slightly earlier in the summer months (7:30 am is the sweet spot).
In Europe, especially during the peak seasons, tourist attractions get busy. Very busy. But if you’re out enjoying the attractions early in the morning while most people are still sleeping, you’ll have the place to yourself and enjoy a way better experience.
And this is the case here at Széchenyi.
Arrive as early as possible (even with sore heads from a big night at Szimpla Kert) and enjoy the beautiful baths all to yourself. Alternatively, arrive later in the day/evening when the crowds have left for the day.
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We highly recommend visiting the baths between May - October. The outside temperatures and longer hours of sunlight make the whole experience more enjoyable.
Although winter is a wonderful (and quieter) time to visit, getting to the outside pools when the temperature is low can ruin the vibe a little (trust us, your feet will freeeeeze!). That, and the position of the winter sun means the outdoor pools are only partially bathed in sun.
AN OVERVIEW OF THE SZECHENYI BATHS FACILITIES
Szechenyi is filled with everything you need for health and wellbeing, however, we’re not going to list out every facet of the baths, but rather just what’s important for visiting tourists.
OUTDOOR POOLS
Szechenyi baths are separated into two distinct sections, with the beautiful outdoor area the most popular for visitors.
Here, there are three pools encased by the pastel yellow building, two heated immersion pools (one activity pool of 30 - 34 degrees, one thermal pool of 38 degrees), and the 50m swimming pool (26-28 degrees).
The thermal pool is the best place to relax and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere, especially in the winter, with the soothing warm waters providing perfect respite from the chilly air. Here, locals like to relax, read books or even play pool. In summer though, it’s a different story.
Head for the activity pool for the cooler temperatures and the insanely strong whirlpool, and relax all day in the glorious sunshine.
In summer too, the outdoor area becomes a terrace for sunbathing, or relaxing on the ornate gallery.
The 50m swimming pool is used for, you guessed it, swimming. You’ll need a cap to enter the pool, and most likely goggles if you’re really keen for a few laps.
To get to the outdoor section can be a little bit of a struggle from the changing rooms. Just follow the signs to the pools, and follow your nose as far right (or left) as possible, at which point you’ll see a glass door that opens to the outdoor section.
It is signposted, albeit quite poorly, but you’ll get there in the end.
INDOOR POOLS
The interior pools, while less awe-inspiring than the outdoor pools, are no less enjoyable.
In total, there are 15 indoor pools ranging from 18 degrees to 40 degrees, of which a few are just not worth visiting unless you’re a regular.
Do you really want to do aqua aerobics in a 28-degree fitness pool? Nope.
Prioritise the most picturesque section of the interior complex (it’s not quite as beautiful as Gellert Baths), which includes the curved centre pool, and the ornate, Roman-like section to the left of the complex.
Here, maroon pillars flank the rectangular pool, which is illuminated beautifully by the sunlight for most of the day. There’s also a 40-degree plunge pool (and 20-degree pool to cool off), as well as numerous sauna and steam rooms in this part of the baths.
MASSAGE
If the thermal pools aren’t enough, it’s also possible to get a massage at Szechenyi Baths.
There are a range of massage types, from the aroma massage (20 mins: 5,500ft) to the harmony aroma massage (20 mins: 16,000ft).
SZECHENYI BATHS SPARTY
What happens when you combine spas with a party? A Sparty, of course.
Each summer, Szechenyi comes alive at night for a huge set of parties, where 2000 revellers party till dawn in the outdoor spa area.
We have to admit, we’d have totally been up for it if we visited Budapest 10 years earlier, but this isn’t quite our thing now (we don’t have the bodies nor the drinking ability anymore!).
But, if you’ve come to Budapest for a good time, you can’t join a Sparty.
More info can be found here.
BOOK | Pre-purchase your Sparty ticket here
SZECHENYI BATHS BEER SPA
As much as we love Budapest, there are a few travel gimmicks around this city that make our millennial hearts cringe - those awful ‘all you can eat’ candy stores, the tacky tourist paraphernalia, the try-hard ‘ruin bars’ that are just lame bars trying to piggyback off something cool.
We thought the beer spa at Szechenyi might have been one of those unfortunate gimmicks, but it actually seems really cool.
The beer spa includes a 45-minute beer spa that’s been infused with hops, malt and yeast, session, plus unlimited beer from your very own beer tap. The only sticking point is the price - it’s €50 per couple, or €30 per single, which is a little steep in a city like Budapest.
Regardless, if you’re looking for something fun and different to do in the city, drink beer while bathing in beer at Szechenyi!
Learn more here.
ENTRANCE HALL DOME
We have a thing for Budapest’s architecture and ornate finishings, and the entrance hall to Szechenyi is one of our faves.
The dome itself is the work of Hungarian artist Zsigmond Vajda, featuring motifs of Helios, the sun god, on his four horses, surrounded by zodiac signs. There are also water motifs based on Roman, Greek, Oriental and Egyptian mythologies.
The centaur statue and fountain in the middle of the entrance hall were our favourites though.
So, when buying your tickets, make sure you stop, look up and around, and enjoy this entrance hall in all its glory!
Prepare to be wowed as you walk in.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING SZÉCHENYI BATHS
Visiting the baths in Budapest can be a daunting experience for first-timers. Do I have to go naked? Are change rooms supplied? Can I store my valuables?
Thankfully, Hungarians have perfected the bathing experience and have thought of just about everything.
Here’s a quick overview of what you should know before visiting:
YOUR WRISTBAND IS YOUR KEY
Upon entry to the baths, you’ll be supplied with a plastic wristband that looks a little like a watch.
This wristband will be your entry ticket, as well as your locker/cabin ‘key’ - allowing you to secure your belongings safely for your visit.
It goes without saying, but put your wristband on properly and you shouldn’t have any issues.
BRING YOUR OWN FLIP FLOPS/SLIPPERS, TOWEL & SWIM CAP
If it’s your first time visiting thermal baths in Hungary, there are a few essentials we recommend bringing to make your bathing experience better.
Firstly, flip flops/thongs/slippers/sandals, whatever you call them, are mandatory at any thermal baths in Hungary, as you must wear them in between pools, into steam rooms/saunas, and in changing rooms. So make sure you pack a pair (or even take some slippers from your hotel) for your visit.
Towels are not supplied, so make sure you bring your own for your visit. We use lightweight Turkish towels, however any towel will do. If you have space, we recommend packing a second towel - as they can get very wet drying off between swimming in each thermal pool, so have a spare for properly drying off at the end of your session.
If you’re keen to take a dip in the lap pool, you’ll need a swim cap (and goggles). It’s easy to purchase one at Széchenyi Baths, just ask one of the staff members and they’ll tell you where. They generally cost around €5.
Slippers (4,000ft), towels (5,000ft) and swim caps (2,000ft) can be purchased at the baths if you’re really in a pickle.
CABIN VS LOCKER - WHICH SHOULD YOU USE?
When visiting the Széchenyi baths, you’re given an option when buying your ticket - locker, or cabin?
Cabins, which are an extra 1,000ft (€2.50), are large enough to fit two people, although we recommend getting changed one at a time as they can be a little tight.
Cabins also act as a locker for your valuables, which you can lock with your electronic wristband. Each cabin includes a small bench, as well as a mirror.
Lockers are included in the overall entrance price. They are based in gendered change rooms, so no changing cabins are provided, unlike other baths in Budapest, such as Gellért and Rudas. This means you’ll need to get changed in the change rooms, with little in the way of privacy.
The lockers easily store a bag, clothes (coat hangers are included) and shoes, and other valuables. We’ve never had an issue storing our stuff in the lockers provided.
It’s really up to you whether you think a cabin is worth it. If you value your privacy (and a little more space), go with the cabin option. If money is tight, or you don’t mind getting changed in the change rooms, lockers are a good option.
SHOWER BEFORE BATHING
It’s customary to shower before jumping into the thermal baths, so don’t forget to do this or you’ll feel the wrath of locals.
Thankfully, there are showers throughout the complex, so you’ll have no trouble washing off.
NUDITY IS NOT ALLOWED
As this is a public bath, nudity is not allowed... which is definitely a good thing.
Pack your swimmers, trunks, and bikini and enjoy the baths to your heart’s content.
MEN, MAKE THE LADIES FEEL SAFE
We recently had a video from Szechenyi Baths go viral on TikTok, and overwhelmingly, everyone loved their time at the baths.
However, there were a number of comments from ladies who suggested they’d had issues with harassment, including gawking, catcalls, and inappropriate touching.
Men, if you’re visiting the baths, please don’t be inappropriate. It’s not cool, and it’s 2022 now - you know better!
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