One of Budapest’s most famous buildings, the Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool opened its doors to bathers on 13 June 1913. Built-in neo-Baroque style, the spa has grown to become one of the largest spa complexes in Hungary and Europe.
In the XIV. district of Budapest, in the Városliget, you will find one of the most beautiful baths in Hungary. The Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool, nicknamed the “Szecska”, offers a magical experience in winter and summer, day and night. It is one of the most popular and best-known spa complexes in Hungary, with 18 pools. The spa is unique because of its natural spring water, special fountains and sculptures, and fabulous mosaic paintings. It is a very popular bathing spot for Hungarians and tourists alike.
The beauty of the Széchenyi Spa is unrivaled. Not by chance. Győző Cizgler worked on its design for more than 20 years, and his masterpiece was realized by Ede Dvorák and Kálmán Gerster after his death. The beautiful building is mainly neo-Renaissance, and the south-eastern wing is neoclassical. Its architectural elements, sculptures, fountains, paintings, and fairy-tale decorations are all inspired by the water, with fish, mermaids, water monsters, and shells, giving the spa a unique atmosphere.
- How to get to Szechenyi Bath?
- Szechenyi Baths Prices
- What’s the best time to visit Szechenyi Baths?
- Opening hours & entrance fees
- Szechenyi Baths SParty
- Best for a Family Day Out in the City Park
- History of the Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool
- The Beer Spa at Szechenyi Baths
- Szechenyi Thermal Bath form inside
- The outdoor area
- Services of the Széchenyi Spa
- Why the thermal waters of the Széchenyi spa are good?
How to get to Szechenyi Bath?
Metro
The Szechenyi Bath is a centrally located area northeast of Budapest, particularly at Városliget, and easily accessible from the City Center. Directly behind the bath is the metro station Széchenyi Fürdő (yellow lines MM1).
Trolleybus or Bus
- The trolleybus numbers 72 and 75 take you closest to the bath complex.
- The nearest bus station from Széchenyi Baths is Hősök Tere M that is a 9-minute walk.
- There are numerous bus lines that will take you to Hősök Tere M, that is, Heroes’ Square. The bus lines are 20E, 30, 30A, 105, 178, 230.
Taxi
Of course you can take a taxi, but remember to use an official service, I always use BOLT, they are fast reliable and have a very good app that speaks English. There is no UBER in Hungary, don’t look for it.
Bike
- If you’re not short on time and can explore the city at a leisurely pace, then you can choose to rent a bike as your means of transport in Budapest.
- One of the easiest ways to rent a bike in Budapest is through MOL BuBi bikes.
- There are various bicycle lanes in Budapest that make commuting with bikes quite easy and economical.
Electric scooter
This market currently consists of three players. Lime was very early, followed by Bird last year and Tier shortly afterwards.
Carsharing
MOL Limo is an eco-friendly car sharing system and you can rent a car for up to 24 hours.
Car
I don’t recommend driving there because you won’t find much space, and if you park in the wrong place you’ll be quickly and easily fined, or in the worst case, a wheel clamp.
Szechenyi Baths Prices
The entrance fees at Szechenyi Spa have been relatively modest compared with others in the area. It can be discounted nightly and morning. Tickets include all of the inside rooms, saunas and baths. The regular ticket costs about 19 euro every day and is available for booking if the ticket comes in an airplane cabin or is only used in a locker. If the bag is in your bag it is advisable to get a ticket for the cabin use. The Szechenyi Baths have been open all year around. Open hours are Monday through Saturday between 07:00 and 11:00. The pool indoors remain open until 8:00pm, the outdoor swimming pool is available until 10:00am on the night.
What’s the best time to visit Szechenyi Baths?
Picture yourself in an extremely cold January. Overcast skies and bitter breezes. You get goose bumps and your heart won’t shiver anymore. The air is hot from the waist down. Your brain says your legs do not feel sore. It actually warms up when blood is flowing into your veins and arteries. Denser steam obscures your vision until you break in a mist to see a thermal bath in which you had stepped a moment ago. There’s nothing to worry about for now. Enjoy a 38 C (1010 F) large indoor pool at the Szechenyi Thermal Bath.
Opening hours & entrance fees
Szechenyi Baths SParty
Best for a Family Day Out in the City Park
History of the Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool
The history of the spa began in the second half of the 19th century, when Vilmos Zsigmondy, a mining engineer, concluded from studying the waters around Pest that hot water could be extracted from a well drilled in the area of the City Park (today’s Heroes’ Square). The idea caught the attention of the city councilors, who commissioned him to drill an artesian well for the city. The well was drilled between 1868 and 1878, and the result was water at a temperature of 74.5℃ from a depth of 970 meters, which was immediately put to good use: a temporary drinking hall was erected, and ambitious plans were made for a spa, due to the medicinal properties of the water.
The area was then used as an Artesian baths, but it became increasingly inadequate for the needs of the time, and in 1884 Győző Czigler was commissioned to design a new baths building. The construction lasted from 1909 to 1913, but not at the originally planned site, as there was a demand to extend Andrássy Street through the Városliget, so the baths were not built there. The interior and exterior decorations were the work of prominent personalities of the time, from Géza Maróti to Miksa Róth.
In addition to the renovation, a second artesian well had to be drilled to increase the water yield. Drilling work began on 9 July 1936 and lasted for about two years. On 16 March 1938, 77 °C thermal water was discovered at a depth of 1256 m. The well produced 6,000 m³ of water every 24 hours, which supplied the spa with thermal water and heated the building. By 1939, the heating system had been converted to heat the spa with thermal water and a drinking hall was built next to the spa, which was named the St. Stephen’s Spring.
The condition of the spa had deteriorated considerably by the second half of the 20th century and further renovation work began in 1997. The first was the monumental reconstruction of the Francsek wing. The walls were restored to their original yellowish colour, the missing artificial stone elements were replaced and the front steps and terraces were restored. The renovation of the roof and façade of the Francsek wing continued from summer 2003, and renovation work began on the Czigler wing and the drinking fountain. The reconstruction of the dome hall, which is considered the most ornate part of the building, with its mosaic paintings and stucco, began at the end of 2005. The renovation of the dome was fully completed by summer 2006.
The Széchenyi Spa is one of the largest spa complexes in Europe, with 21 indoor and outdoor pools and 10 saunas. The adventure pool features a water jet, underwater whirlpool, neck shower and back massage jets hidden in the benches. In addition to traditional spa treatments, a range of wellness services are also available at the spa, including sauna use and aqua gymnastics.
The Beer Spa at Szechenyi Baths
Szechenyi Thermal Bath form inside
The outdoor area
Services of the Széchenyi Spa
Today, Széchenyi Spa offers a choice of 18 pools, including thermal pools with different temperatures, thermal water pools, plunge pools, swimming pools, adventure pools with a drifting waterfall, back massage jets, underwater splashing and neck splash. If that’s not enough, the Széchenyi Spa also offers aqua fitness, a camomile steam room, steam room, light and aroma sauna and a weight room. The latter can be used with a specialist’s referral or for an extra fee, as can the bath tub, mud treatment, medical massage and underwater group therapy.
Pools
Wellness
Massage
Private Spas
Private Medical Services
Private Medical Services
Why the thermal waters of the Széchenyi spa are good?
The medicinal waters of the spa contain chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, sulphate, hydrogen carbonate, sulphide, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, lithium, metaboric acid, metacarboxylic acid, free carbonic acid and dissolved oxygen, excellent for the treatment of spinal disorders, chronic arthritis and pain, nerve pain, calcification of the skeletal system, rehabilitation after orthopaedic surgery. The drinking water of its drinking fountain is a remedy for treating intestinal complaints. But it’s not only for health problems that you should regularly visit the spa, which was awarded the Hungarian Product Grand Prix in 2012. The incomparable beauty of the Széchenyi Spa and Swimming Pool offers unforgettable relaxation for everyone at any time of the year.
The spring water here is sulphur-fluoride medicinal water. The water is recommended for the treatment of degenerative articular diseases, arthritis and post-accidental injuries. It is recommended as a drinking cure for gastritis, stomach ulcers, gastric acidosis, kidney diseases and urinary tract inflammations.
