Brutal price rise in the Budapest baths from January – we show a trick to bypass it
Budapest Hévizei és Gyógyfürdői (Budapest Spas cPlc.) announced its new ticket prices in effect from January. Spabook.net, a Hungarian bath and spa-focused website, analysed the prices and concluded that the rise would be significant, ranging from 10 to 33 percent. However, there is a way to avoid the consequences. Unfortunately, it will not work for tourists coming to Budapest.
Gellért, Széchenyi, Rudas baths getting more expensive
Budapest’s most popular and historic baths will increase their prices the most in 2023, an analysis of spabook.net concluded. The entrance fee to the world-famous Gellért and Széchenyi baths will increase by 32.9 percent next year. The prices will be the following:
- Monday – Thursday: from HUF 7,100 (EUR 17,64) to HUF 9,400 (EUR 23.35),
- Friday – Sunday: from HUF 8,200 (EUR 20.37) to HUF 10,900 (EUR 27.08).
Meanwhile, in the Rudas bath, another famous spa in Budapest near the Danube River, you will have to pay HUF 8,600 (EUR 21.36) instead of 6,500. Over the weekend, the entrance fee will increase from HUF 9,200 (EUR 23) to HUF 12,200 (EUR 31). If you want a night bathing in the 450-year-old, one-time Turkish bath, you will have to pay even more: the fee will rise from HUF 9,500 (EUR 23.6) to HUF 12,600 (EUR 31.30).
In the case of the Lukács bath, prices will increase only by 15 percent, which is lower than the average inflation in Hungary. Other baths focusing on locals will not increase their entrance fees that much. Dandár will be 9 percent more expensive, and Paskál will be 15-17 percent more expensive. On weekdays, entrance fees will not increase in the Csillaghegyi bath. But at the weekend, you will have to pay 20 percent more. Pesterzsébet will increase its prices by 15-17 percent.
Interestingly, there is one bath in Budapest that will not increase its prices: the Palatinus on Margaret island. The ticket remains HUF 2,900 (EUR 7.2) on the weekdays and HUF 3,400 (EUR 8.45) between Friday and Sunday.
Here is a trick
Those who buy a Zsigmondy card can buy tickets for the 2022 price, even in 2023. However, most foreign tourists will not be able to utilise that opportunity because the card has to be made in Budapest, at the customer service centre of the Budapest Gyógyfürdői Zrt. (1146 Budapest, Állatkerti körút 9-11.). Furthermore, the application form is in Hungarian (though it does not require too much data), and a photo is also taken of you on the spot. Moreover, you will need a Hungarian address, and the administration requires two weeks.
Thus, the opportunity is not for tourists spending a couple of days or weeks in Hungary. However, those working or studying here may utilise it and receive considerable discounts in 2023. You only have to find somebody who at least reads in Hungarian and helps you fill out the application form. The Zsigmondy card costs only HUF 5,000 (EUR 12.42).
And why did the significant price rise took place in the famous Budapest baths? Because of the soaring energy prices. BGYH needs to pay 18 times more for gas in 2022 than in 2021. Meanwhile, electricity prices increased 3.5 times for the company.
Read alsoHungarian spas in danger: many may not be able to operate next year
Source: spabook.net