Best Budapest Beer Baths
If you are looking for the best thermal baths in Budapest and want to know about their prices, opening times, rules and main highlights, you have come to the right place. Here, you can compare those features and decide which bath, and optional upgrades, work best for you.
Beer Baths and Parties
Surprisingly, this is not a boozy activity aimed solely at stag or hen dos, nor is it some kind of wild party. Beer spas feature wooden hot tubs, filled with brewer’s salts and water infused with ingredients used in beer, and you soak in these while enjoying specialist, tap-poured craft beers. It has medicinal qualities, and this trend, which was popularised in Czechia, claims to make your skin look younger. The beer spas are a hugely popular activity and can be enjoyed by groups, couples, and even individuals who want to try something different.
Adding some contrast to that, Széchenyi also offers something that is more in line with what the stag and hen dos, or wild partygoers, seek. On Saturdays, after the day tickets expire, at 9:30 PM Széchenyi starts its famous Sparty events. These are full-blown parties with laser shows, music, and even aerobatics to raise the roof.
Here are some fun facts for you about beer baths:
- You aren't bathing in beer, but water infused with beer ingredients
- You won't come out smelling of beer
- Bathing in these waters (without drinking) doesn't make you drunk
- You don't actually have to drink beer at the spa (it is completely optional)
- These beer ingredient-infused waters can hydrate and clean your skin, and improve circulation
Adding some contrast to that, Széchenyi also offers something that is more in line with what the stag and hen dos, or wild partygoers, seek. On Saturdays, after the day tickets expire, at 21:30 Széchenyi starts its famous Sparty events. These are full-blown parties with laser shows, music, and even aerobatics to raise the roof.
Experiences Comparison
| Bath | Duration | Price | Add-Ons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Széchenyi Unlimited Beer | 45 minutes | €77 | Full day baths pass (€125) |
| Lukács Beer Spa | 45 minutes | €86 |
Ice Bath (€115) Full day pass (€117) Ice bath + full day pass (€146) |
Always check the opening times and price yourself, as these are subject to change. Especially during high season or for weekday/weekend passes
Széchenyi Unlimited Beer
The Széchenyi is the biggest and most popular spa in Budapest. It has both indoor and outdoor pools, has a bar where you can grab a bite to eat during visits, and a wide range of treatments to make the most of your relaxation time.
- Scheduled time slots: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Ticket prices: €77
- Upgrade: Full day access to thermal baths (€125)
- Provider: Beer Spa Budapest
- Location: 1146, Budapest, Állatkerti körút 9-11
- Phone: +36 20 435 0051 (from 8 am to 5 pm)
- E-mail: info.szechenyi@budapestspas.hu
The Unlimited Beer packages at Széchenyi are held in private spa rooms, that hold 2 wooden tubs each. These tubs have seats on either end, so they could fit two people, but its more comfortable to sit in them alone, and there are taps placed between tubs so you can easily refil your beer. You can pour as much beer as you want, and if the keg runs out, don’t worry, the staff can replace it.
These rooms have the same feel as the rest of Széchenyi: bold, luxurious, and luxurious. You also get private cabins to store your stuff, but if you purchase the general admission combo, then you will have to move your things to the public lockers after your beer spa is over. Also, don’t forget to bring flip flops and towels, if you don’t have them you will have to buy them at the spa.
Lukács Thermal Bath
At the base of Gellért Hill, Rudas is a gem of a spa. This spa is a stone’s throw from the Danube River, and you can take in breathtaking views of the river from Rudas’ rooftop Panorama Pool. The other key attraction is the Turkish Bath, an extra well worth the additional charge. While the spa as it is today was opened in 2006, it has roots that date back to 1571, when Hungary was under Ottoman rule.
- Scheduled time slots: 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Ticket prices: Start from €86
- Upgrade: 30-minute Ice Bath Upgrade (€115)
- Upgrade: Full day thermal baths pass (€117)
- Upgrade: Ice bath and full day pass (€146)
- Provider: Beer Spa Budapest
- Location: 1023, Budapest, Frankel Leó út 25-29
- Phone: +36 1 326 1695
- Email: N/A
The Lukács beer spa is very similar to Széchenyi, the only difference being that there are 4 tubs in every room (so for couples, they aren’t as private), and at Lukács you can also upgrade with the Ice Bath package. The rooms are not as grandiose as Széchenyi; instead of tiles, chandeliers and tall opaque windows, you get simple yellow or green walls, and less ornate surroundings.
But the ice bath is a worthy extra to try out. This is a guided 30-minute plunge in icy cold water, and your guide teaches you important breathing techniques to best combat the 6°C water. You begin with the ice bath, and afterward recovering, you can enjoy the 45 minute beer bath. Upgrade to the full admission, and you can spend the rest of the day at the Lukács thermal baths.
Széchenyi and Lukacs are the two most prominent baths that offer beer baths in Budapest, with the unlimited draft beer taps and the designated lockers, and private rooms for beer baths. If you are looking for drinking experiences at the baths, there’s also the Széchenyi Sparty that is worth checking out.
Instead of sitting in wooden tubs and drinking draft beer, the Széchenyi Thermal Baths has full parties on Saturdays. You drink, dance, and mix with partygoers in the famous outdoor pools, and the parties carry on until the early hours of the morning.
Széchenyi Sparty
The oldest spa in Budapest, baths have been located in the area since the 12th century. Lukács is a hidden gem among the Budapest thermal baths, with both indoor and outdoor pools, a rooftop tanning area, and a variety of saunas and hot tubs. It is a popular destination for locals too, and has a quieter atmosphere than some of the more well-known spas in Budapest.
- Duration: Every Saturday 21:30 - 2:00
- Open: February - December
- Ticket prices: €77
- Upgrade:
- Optional extras: Premium (€100)
- Provider: INTERSPUTNIK Kft.
- Location: 1146, Budapest, Állatkerti körút 9-11
- Phone: +36 30 395 8581
- E-mail: info@spartybooking.com
The Szechenyi thermal baths turn into one of the hottest nightclubs in Budapest every Saturday, dancing to the sound of electronic dance music and illuminated by epic laser shows.
The basic entry comes with a locker, and you will need to bring flip-flops and a towel. One of the most important points to note is that you cannot pay for drinks with your bank card.
You will be given a SpartyPay card that you can top up and used to pay for your drinks. The only snag is that the top-ups can only be done by cash. Drinks are about the same going rate as other top Budapest nightclubs, and you can get beer, cocktails, and spirits here. Smoking is allowed, but only in the designated areas next to the pools, you can’t smoke in the pools.
This is an 18+ event, and one very important piece of advice is to use taxis to get to and from the party. You can use Bolt or other official services, and avoid the standing taxis in the parking areas because they are not all official.
Everything considered, though, this is a pretty rare experience that tends to get fully booked and even continues into December, with heated pools to keep you warm in the early hours of morning.