Good news: Római Beach, one of Budapest’s most iconic bathing spots, is now open!

The summer heatwave has arrived, and soon all the bathing areas in Budapest will be open. This week, Római Beach and Pünkösdfürdő Beach are welcoming visitors looking to escape the summer heat.

Photo: romaistrand.hu

Római Beach is located in a very special bathing area in Budapest. As Csodálatos Magyarország writes, it is located in Aquincum in Óbuda, which was a well-known water source in ancient times, and was also considered a sacred place. Archaeological excavations have uncovered not only the foundations of the sanctuary on the beach, but also numerous building fragments that show evidence of the presence of the spring. According to written records, in the Middle Ages the springs in the area formed a continuous lake and there was also hospital on the shore. The Római Beach, as we know it today was founded in 1930. It was later rebuilt and reopened in 1964, and today retains the shape it had back then. In addition to the beach pool, it awaits guests with a children’s pool, swimming pool, slide park and sauna.

Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévízi Ltd., which operates most of the spas in the capital, has two beach areas that operate only seasonally, both of which will open this week. However, ticket prices have risen again, so visitors will need to dig deeper into their pockets. Római Beach is already open, and from 22 June, Pünkösdfürdő Beach will also be available, as reported by Világgazdaság. Ticket prices have increased by 8-11%, with separate prices for weekdays and weekends.

Prices have increased compared to last year, reflecting a trend seen at almost every spa and beach in the country. In Budapest, admission prices rose by 5-13% as of 8 January 2024, which is still below the average inflation rate of 17.6% in 2023, according to the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

How much is the entrance fee at Római Beach?

Photo: romaistrand.hu

At Római Beach, an adult ticket was HUF 3,200 (EUR 8) on weekdays last year, and it now costs HUF 4,000 (EUR 10.1) this year. On weekends, the price was HUF 3,600 (EUR 9.1) last year, rising to HUF 4,000 this year. The cost of student and pensioner tickets has also increased to HUF 3,100 (EUR 7.8) this year, up from last year’s HUF 2,800 (EUR 7).

At Pünkösdfürdő Beach, ticket prices were generally lower. A weekday adult ticket, which cost HUF 2,500 (EUR 6.3) last year, now costs HUF 2,700 (EUR 6.8). On weekends, the price was HUF 2,600 (EUR 6.6) last year, rising to HUF 2,900 (EUR 7.3) this year.

Világgazdaság also reported that on the peak day of last year’s season, more than 7,000 bathers bought tickets for the Palatinus. For years, the company has been opening its pools and beaches on a scheduled basis, taking the weather into account, roughly from the end of April to mid-June

As we previously reported, last year’s beach season did not have a bright start, as double-digit inflation and utility increases significantly impacted ticket prices. In Budapest, it is challenging to find a thermal spa where the daily entrance fee does not exceed HUF 10,000 (EUR 25.5), and the situation is similar in the countryside. However, there are other options for those who want to enjoy their time in the water. If you are on a budget, you should consider outdoor pools that are not operated by thermal baths, as they are generally cheaper.

Read also:

• Outdoor pools and thermal baths: here are some budget-friendly options to consider this summer
• New beach opens at the site of the closing Budapest beach: operator is a well-known person – Read here