SZÉCHENYI THERMAL BATHS
When arriving at the famous Széchenyi Thermal Bath there is a payment booth in the main entrance. The prices are not a lot and the options are laid out. You can also book online by visiting their website here.
You will then walk into the changing rooms. Wooden cubicles that you enter on one side before locking the doors, changing and then exiting the other side to the locker room. When you have placed your belongings into the lockers you are free to explore the baths.
Széchenyi Thermal Bath is famous for its large outdoor pools and famous yellow architecture. We walked through the indoor pools straight to the outdoor section as we had arrived early before the crowds. Like most thermal pools there is a strong sulphur smell especially indoors.
The outdoor pools are split into different sections and some have a different temperature level. You can also use the outdoor lockers here if you have a phone or camera for photos. There is a lazy river at one end and it is very relaxing to float around in the warm water.
There are many different options in the indoor pools and this is actually where we found most of the locals. We visited early on a Monday morning and the outdoor pools were very quiet. We figured out that the locals must have a ritual to how they bathe and the different indoor pools must be a part of that. There are also steam rooms and saunas available.
Széchenyi is fed by two thermal springs and is the largest thermal bath in Europe. Originally opened in 1913 and expanded in 1938. After the expansion the original thermal spring could not supply enough water and a second spring was searched for. Eventually a second thermal spring was found at a depth of 1,256 meters! This new spring supplies around 6 million liters of water a day at a temperature of 77 degrees C. In 1999 the baths entered a 10 year renovation phase and they did a great job as these grand old baths looked and felt very clean and comfortable.
