Bucket List: Széchenyi Baths
“It is better to see something once, than hear about it a thousand times. ”
Welcome back to another bucket list blog post! This week we’ve got the Szechenyi Baths on our bucket list.
Have you ever heard of it?
Ok, ok….so the Szechenyi Baths are not always like this, but they are one of the coolest places you can find in Budapest. Ironically, Budapest is known as the ‘City of Baths’ and while Buda and Pest were once two very different cities (with a loooooong amount of history), the city has a total of six bathhouses throughout the city that are open year-round, and are even home to some of the above - ehrm, ‘Spa Parties’ that you just watched.
All in all, let’s get down to some of the need-to-know info about the baths of Budapest, but if you’re not intrigued, then you better check your pulse.
So, what are they?
The Szechenyi Baths (1.7 million visitors annually) were built in 1913 and are the most visited (and most praised) attraction throughout Budapest. Relaxing, fun, affordable, and even downright romantic in the right setting, are situated on a fault line that runs through Budapest, which has attracted geothermal activity in the area. These naturally occurring ‘Hot Spots’ have been capitalized on over the past 100 years and have even been thought to have magical healing powers for anyone visiting the baths.
In my opinion, you might just be building up your immune system with a plethora of different bacteria, but I digress….
The Szechenyi Baths are Budapests’ largest baths and have 18 different pools, 10 saunas, steam cabins, massage parlors, physical therapy rooms, facial treatments and much more. Meaning that these baths are quite the local attraction…..located in the City Park area of Budapest, the baths are in a Neo-baroque palace that was specifically built for the Roman settlers who first built the baths over 2,000 years ago! Of course, it wasn’t what it looked like today, but for centuries this specific area has been known to have the perfect amount of geothermal activity. Even the Turkish occupiers of the 16th century built bathhouses on this specific location and in the late 19th century into early 20th-century, the Szechenyi Baths were officially constructed and still stand here today. Pretty awesome in my opinion….
For more information directly, you must book your visit to the Baths online HERE.
Even more impressive, though - is that these baths are the biggest natural hot spring spa baths in Europe. Bigger than the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. That means hundreds of millions of bathers have enjoyed the warm medicinal waters and pools in the surrounding complex (see what I mean about your immune system?!). Either way, the interior of the Baths include fitness rooms, as well, if that is your thing, and it is important to know that all of the different pools have varying temperatures for you to partake in.
However, all of the pools have been tested to have high concentrates of calcium, magnesium, and hydrogen carbonate that is said to ease joint pain, arthritis and improve blood circulation.
Anyways, the complex is rather large, requiring reservations, but is open every day of the year, including National Hungarian Holidays, which are the most popular times for the baths. The complex also is home to several bars which you can relax and have a cocktail, beer, or glass of wine if you wish.
Pricing: If you want to enter the baths on any given day, it is 22 euros for the entrance and a one hour massage also comes at an additional cost of 18 euros. Again, you can pay ahead of time here.
The ‘Spa Parties’ even more important about the parties of Budapest, are the ‘Sparties’ featuring DJ’s, laser shows, projection mapping, film screenings and more, that are held on most Saturday nights until 3 A.M. throughout the summer. If you’re looking for more information on those, you can read about them here.
P.S. you must purchase your tickets ahead of time for these! They do come with lockers for your belongings, as well. Just….be aware of the rather youthful crowd these parties tend to attract!
Photo courtesy of: Aaron Butler
How To Get There
The Szechenyi Baths are not difficult to get to, especially if you are in the downtown area of Budapest.
You will need to take the subway or cab to the Baths. If you are looking for all six Budapest Baths on one map, you should check this out here.
Szechenyi Baths
ADDRESS
Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11, 1146 Hungary
PHONE
+36 1 363 3210
When To Go
As we mentioned above, the Szechenyi Baths are the biggest, best, and most centrally located Baths within the city, and are open year-round. The spa parties only happen in the summer, but even if you wanted to walk up and reserve your tickets to the Baths, you most likely can, although, sometimes there is a wait!
How Much Is It?
We mentioned this above, but tickets are 22 euros each, and an additional massage comes at a price of 18 euros, as well. All tickets do come with an RFID wristband that you can unlock your locker in, as well.
What To Bring
A swimsuit, a pair of sandals, and a towel are all you need to bring. And a swim cap in case you want to use the swimming pools, too. The general admission, which ranges from €10 to €20, includes the price of a small locker (you can also rent a cabin for a surcharge).
On weekends, baths operate at full capacity, meaning that people are packed like sardines. You will do yourself a favor if you go on a weekday (they're also slightly cheaper then).
If you go to Széchenyi or Gellért, try to get there early in the morning (between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.)—that's when you'll find the few remaining local regulars and the baths won't be so crowded.
Like it or not, nudity is no longer accepted. Except for Rudas, all Budapest baths are coed and require a bathing suit. See details below on Rudas.
Bathing is a year-round activity, but soaking in steaming-hot water feels all the more reviving in the gloomy winter months, especially in the outdoor pools (except for Veli Bej, all baths have both indoor and outdoor sections).
In most bathhouses, expect a labyrinthine system of lockers and changing rooms with few signs to help you find your way. Instead of losing your patience as you keep getting lost, think of it as part of the experience.
Water temperatures usually range from 30 to 40 degrees Celsius (86 to 104 Fahrenheit). The general admission ticket covers the use of cold pools, saunas, and steam rooms.
Some of the baths offer refunds for shorter stays. Tickets for less than two hours and afternoon-only stays are the most common.
Baths offer additional services like massages, private baths, and pedicures for an extra charge. Check the baths' websites below for the full list of amenities.
Thermal water enthusiasts can buy mineral-rich water to drink. Széchenyi, Rudas, and Lukács each have a thermal water fountain with sulfurous water for consumption (if you bring an empty bottle, you can also take some to go). Prices won’t set you back much: a glass costs about ten euro cents.
All bathhouses except Király can be accessed by a wheelchair
Why It Should Be On Your Bucket List
There are a lot of things in Budapest that should be on your bucket list, but the ability to sit in the waters where bathhouses have been for over 2,000 years is pretty unique and special. The Romans, The Turks, The Hungarians, and about 100 million other people have all been wading in the same waters as you have, and despite how gross that can sound, the waters are said to have mysterious healing powers. I probably wouldn’t go in the pools at 2 am on a Saturday night, but in the morning after they shock the water? Sure.
Not only that, but science has yet to disprove balneotherapy, or - the treatment of pain by bathing in water, so the effects are still a bit elusive as to the actual amount of healing power soaking in these types of waters does….as it is, these bathhouses have long been a place of social gathering, business discussion and even dating, so in Hungarian society, going to these baths represent a myriad of cultural affluence and should be enjoyed in any regard!
You should know that about 75% of the visitors to the Szechenyi Baths are tourists, but the Budapest scene has quite the number of regular locals. For more on this (and on Budapest), read here.
Add it to your bucket list and read up on the Szechenyi Baths (and the other bathhouses) here.
Overall, what do you think? Is this on your bucket list or nah? It’s definitely on mine, and I think it should be on everyone’s, but I would kind of understand if you’ve been to one thermal bath, you’ve kind of been to all of ‘em, right?
Either way, let me know your thoughts on Budapest, the Szechenyi Baths, and what else might be on your bucket list. Comment below, or email me any time!
~ Cam // cam@voyedgerx.com
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