After residing in Budapest, Caleb and I visited every single thermal bath, and Széchenyi will always be my favorite. It is the most popular for a reason: it is stunningly lovely!
However, when we initially arrived, we felt like foolish tourists and were unsure what to do. So, in this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know to avoid feeling lost and make the most of your vacation! By the end, you’ll have mastered the Budapest baths!
Whether you’re a couple like us looking for a romantic encounter or just want a good Instagram snap, you’ll enjoy visiting Budapest’s most famous bath. Let’s dive in!
How to Get There:
Széchenyi is located in City Park, which is a little distance from the city center and key tourist districts. We wanted to work off all of the heavy Hungarian cuisine and wine we had been eating and drinking (mmmm, sour cream!), so we decided to walk for approximately 45 minutes.
You could also take an Uber/Bolt from the city center, which will only take around 10 minutes and cost $5-10.
Alternatively, take the M1 metro (yellow line). The journey to Széchenyi Fürdő metro station takes only 10-15 minutes from various sections of town. The metro is one of the most convenient methods to navigate about Budapest.
The Best Time To Visit:
It’s also less “people” and lets you take some nice Instagram pics with the mystical steam rising! We feel the same way about visiting the rooftop pool at Rudas Baths for this reason!
However, many tourists prefer to visit during the summer to avoid the “Cold! Cold! Cold!” situation. On a hot day, hot water will not feel as pleasant! You will also begin to see a lot more tourists! If you wish to avoid crowds in the summer, we recommend visiting Lukacs thermal baths!
The Basics You Should Know Before Going:
The Prices:
Varied costs are depending on the day and time you visit.
- Morning tickets before 9 a.m. cost HUF 8400 during the week and 9700 on Fridays.
- After 9 a.m., a day ticket with a locker costs HUF 10,500 on weekdays and HUF 12,000 on Fridays and weekends.
- A fast-track ticket costs HUF 12,500 on weekdays and HUF 14,000 on Fridays and weekends.
The Opening Hours:
Monday through Friday, the baths are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on weekends from 8 a.m. Saunas and massages have various operating hours, so check out the full list here.
How to Buy Tickets:
The easiest way to purchase tickets is through the official website here.
If you’re visiting during the low season (fall or winter), you don’t need to pay extra for fast-track tickets. We visited in the winter at the opening and there was no line.
If you’re going in the spring or summer, we recommend taking the fast track. Especially if you go midday! Save time waiting in lines. ← I had no idea I was a poet.
PRACTICAL TIP: If you purchase the fast-track ticket, you will enter from a different place! We learned the hard way and went to the wrong location. The fast-track ticket door is on the opposite side of the building, facing City Park.
The standard tickets are located at the main entrance, facing Allatkeri Krt (the major street name). They resemble the photo above.
PRO TIP: Don’t fall for the tickets available on Viator that include a Palinka taste, as we’ve seen other travel websites pitch. Palinka tastes like rubbing alcohol, and the tickets are exorbitant. Simply buy them straight and complete the ticket.
What To Bring:
Bring a bathing suit (no nudity allowed in the baths), a towel, and flip-flops. You can buy a towel there (no rentals), but it is not included in the price, which is unusual. But that is the rule.
You can also purchase a swimsuit, but they are pricey and ugly. Ask us how we know. 😅.
Practical Tip: If you forget your flip-flops, head to PEPCO in Budapest. It’s a budget store chain with several locations, and we acquired slippers for about a buck, which worked well!
How Long Do You Need to Stay in Széchenyi Baths?
We believe that 2 hours is the ideal amount of time spent in the baths. We stayed for a long period and had plenty of time to explore both the indoor and outdoor pools.
If you do the beer spa or massage, stay a little longer!
Locking Up Your Stuff: Lockers vs. Cabins:
When you receive your tickets, they will offer you a wristband. This serves as your locker key, so keep it with you at all times! You’ll need it to get through turnstiles in some hot baths once inside.
To lock your locker, scan your bracelet on the locker you want and turn the knob to red. Scan your bracelet on your locker and switch to green to unlock it.
You will be able to choose between lockers and cottages. Cabins are simply small changing rooms that appear to accommodate two people, but only if they are extremely small. We propose that you change it separately.
You can use your cabin as a locker and use your wristband to secure it.
The basic lockers are included in the standard ticket price but do not include a changing room, therefore you will need to change your gender changing room. The lockers are quite large, and you’ll have no trouble keeping your belongings! We can fit winter coats, boots, backpacks, and more.
Practical Tip: We didn’t believe the cabin upgrade was worth it, so we changed into a toilet stall because the changing facilities aren’t particularly private. Be warned.
Quick Amenities Overview:
Indoor Pools:
Do not ignore the indoor pools; they are stunning in a basic and classic way, with wonderful maroon pillars. There’s a reason why the Independent named it one of the top spas in Eastern Europe.
The indoor facility is enormous and contains a TON of various thermal pools (approximately 15) with temperatures ranging from 20-40 degrees Celsius (68-104 degrees Fahrenheit).
COUPLES TIP: Inside, there were more residents than visitors (most likely because it is less Instagrammable). If you want a peaceful and private atmosphere, here is the place to be!
Inside, there are steam rooms, saunas, and a salt room where you can taste the salt in the air. In just a few minutes, we likely consumed more sodium than our daily limit. 😅
Outdoor Pools:
The outdoor pools are what you see all over your Instagram feed; they’re quite gorgeous with their golden construction and aqua-blue water! Here you may relax (er, warm?). There are three massive pools, one of which is for swimming, so you’re unlikely to utilize it. (If you wish to swim, you’ll need a cap!)
The remaining two are shallow and delightfully warm! One is about 35 degrees Celsius, while the other is near 38. Which is 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit for our American friends. When entering the outdoor area from the non-fast-track entrance, turn right to find the milder thermal pool. The colder one is on your left.
The two hot pools are ideal for relaxing, Instagramming, and simply enjoying your time.
PRO TIP: The colder thermal pool includes a lazy river/whirlpool that is fun to swim in. It’s called the “activity pool.”
Beer Spa:
Budapest, like many big cities, has some highly “touristy” things you should avoid, such as dumb ruin bars that aren’t that cool, and the beer spa sounds like one of them. But it isn’t.
Full disclosure: We did not do this, but we wish we had. The place seems to be quite cool, and there are many positive reviews.
Where else can you take a bath inside what appears to be a gigantic beer keg, bathe in beer, and drink it all at the same time?!
You may do this right at Széchenyi Thermal Baths.
Massage:
They also provide a variety of massages, the pricing of which are shown here.
Exactly What You’ll Do From Start to Finish:
We were a little disoriented when we initially arrived, so here’s how your visit will go so you don’t meander around like blithering tourist idiots like we did.
First, you’ll enter through the specified entryway. If you buy your ticket online, show your confirmation and they will give you a wristband.
If you acquire lockers, you must go downstairs once you arrive; going straight through leads to the cabins.
When you arrive at your lockers, proceed to your respective changing rooms (which are divided by gender). Change and lock your locker.
Now, prepare for the maze! From the changing rooms, follow the pool signs. They are there, even if it is not immediately visible. Once you notice a glass door, it leads to the outdoor pools!
It’s quite confusing, and you’ll ask staff for assistance, but they won’t, so you’ll have to figure it out on your own, feeling slightly stressed the entire time. But I am being theatrical. You will get there, we promise.
To get to the indoor pools, simply climb the stairs on the small balcony beyond the outdoor pool.
PRO TIP: As shown in the photo above, this is also a wonderful location for photographing the outdoor pools!
Do what you want and rest for a bit.
When you’re ready to depart, go back through the maze to the changing rooms. When you exit, you will pass through a turnstile. To cause it to move, you drop your bracelet into the little open compartment (vertically).
BOOM! You had a successful visit to the baths. Do you feel calm and jello-like?
Tips to Make the Most of Your Visit:
- Visit Széchenyi Thermal Baths at night and early in the morning during the week. This is when they are least busy. We went straight at the start, and people started arriving about an hour later. This is a professional suggestion for all Budapest spas!
- Waterproof cameras are the ideal companions. The baths are very photogenic, thus a waterproof camera is recommended. We only used our iPhones, and there were plenty of places to put them, but we did occasionally have to carry them over our heads.
- Be considerate to people when taking photographs. It’s hard taking pictures of random people in their bikinis, so please be respectful.
- Take a shower before bathing. This is necessary for all thermal baths in Budapest. Keep things clean!
- Check out SPARTY, a thermal bath party. What happens when you combine a hot bath with a dance club party vibe? A SPARTY! We keep missing these (they’re seasonal), but they look like so much fun! Check out the details here.
Conclusion:
Visiting the Széchenyi Thermal Baths is an iconic Budapest experience that combines relaxation, history, and culture. Whether you want to relax in the warm waters, have a massage, or just admire the great Neo-Baroque architecture, there is something for everyone.
Planning ahead of time—booking tickets online, carrying items like flip-flops and a towel, and familiarizing yourself with the layout—will make your visit go more smoothly and pleasurable.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular spa-goer, Széchenyi’s distinct ambiance and therapeutic benefits make it an unforgettable stop on any Budapest itinerary.