Budapest Thermal Baths with Kids: Family Friendly Pools

Many visitors  in Budapest wish to know whether children (teens, toddlers, babies) can go to the Thermal Baths, and which, if any, are the most suitable and best value for families with teenagers and children.

Children under 14 are not allowed to enter the thermal baths in Budapest (some notable exceptions are the outdoor cold water summer pools in Palatinus Baths or Csillaghegy Baths).

Children Under 14 Years

Minimum age of entering the thermal pools in the Baths: 14 years of age.

Kindly note that only older teens, over 14 years old, are allowed to enter the hot water pools in the bath. Underage (0-14 year old kids) are, unfortunately, not allowed, not even under parental guidance.

As most Budapest bath visitors prioritise Szechenyi Bath at the moment, we hope to broaden your scope with Family Friendly Baths in Budapest. In the meantime, please find our Question and Answer style information about Szechenyi Bath with Children focussing on some of the most frequently asked questions by families.

FAQ for Families with Children at Szechenyi Bath

Q: Are babies and toddlers allowed in the Szechenyi Bath?
A: Yes, children under the age of 3 can enter the Szechenyi Bath for free.

However, babies – toddlers are not allowed to enter any of the 18 pools. When a toddler does not need a swimming nappy any longer and is fully potty trained, there are two open air pools (see below) which can be used with them with continuous parental supervision and at parental responsibility. If a baby or child is not potty trained (regardless of the age), the children are required to stay outside of the pool areas.

Q: Can my child enter the pools at Szechenyi Bath?
A: From the age of 3, potty trained children are permitted to enter the bath building and use two outdoor pools (only if they are potty trained to maintain the necessary hygiene levels).

If the little ones are not able to independently and responsibly use the toilet when needed, they are not allowed inside the pool waters at all, but can stay with the family during the bath visit, avoiding the pool areas.

Children under 3 years of age (0-2) do not need a bath ticket and can enter the bath complex free of charge (but will not be able to use the pool waters, neither inside nor outside).

Parents can bring the child their own food and feed them on the terrace or in the cafeteria building, not by the pools.

Q: Which pools are accessible for children between the ages of 3 and 13?
A: Children between the ages of 3 and 13 are allowed to use only 2 of the 18 pools in Szechenyi Bath complex.

The outdoor swimming pool (this necessitates the use of a swimming cap + a parent)

The adventure pool, which features a whirlpool, under the continuous supervision and responsibility of a parent.

These pools do not contain hot thermal water, making them suitable for children aged 3-13 years of age.

Note: there are no slides, chutes. Jumping is not allowed. Inflatables are not allowed. Szechenyi Bath is a grown up kind of thermal bath, therefore we have a list of recommended baths, lidos, pools and lakes where having a great time with typical child friendly pool elements and house rules make the life of parents much easier and make children happier.

Q: At what age can children use all the facilities, including thermal pools and saunas?
A: From the age of 14, children can access all the pools, including the thermal water pools, as well as the saunas.

There is no child discount – kids are expected to have the same kind of ticket as adults from 3 years or older.

They can also enjoy massage services at the facility.

Note: make sure that a responsible adult stays with the child at all times in the pool waters and saunas (as well as during massage therapy).

The thermal waters (due to the minerals and the increased load on a child’s developing circulatory system) are not geared towards families with younger children, hence the minimum recommended age of 14.

The two major thermal bath complexes in Budapest, Szechenyi Bath and Gellert Bath (due to the lack of child friendly pool architecture and fun elements) are not geared towards families with younger children, hence the minimum recommended age of 14.

For a relaxing and enjoyable experience, we recommend following these guidelines and ensuring that parental supervision is provided at all times when children are inside or outside the water.

Baths for Families

Families with children visiting Budapest during spring, summer or early autumn (May to September) are best to visit one of the open air lidos of Budapest, especially Palatinus Pools on Margaret Island, Dagaly Lido close to Arpad Bridge and Csillaghegyi Bath and Lido in northern Budapest, where fun bath elements await children to have fun and burn off energy on chutes, slides, (in some cases on trampolines, and playgrounds) etc.

Palatinus and Dagaly are family centred Budapest water parks (lidos), relatively close to the city centre, easily accessible by public transport (metro or tram, bus, trolley etc.) which go frequently (normally 5-15 min). These thermal bath complexes have lots of fun pools specifically designed for kids of all ages (including toddlers with cooled down pools and very shallow waters!), plus there are various baths with thermal water for parents too.

Palatinus, Dagaly and Csillaghegyi are much loved by locals as the pools are surrounded by grassy, bushy green areas, shaded by old trees. All of these baths often offer summer camps / swimming clubs for children via partner companies (not every club is suitable for English speaking children, so do inquire about available options before booking a summer swim and play club)

Please keep in mind that in the classic Thermal Baths in Budapest, such as Szechenyi Bath, Gellert Spa, Rudas Bath or Lukacs Baths the pools, saunas, and steam chambers have been primarily designed for adults and for grown ups who have been prescribed aqua therapy, balneotherapy, etc.

We are sorry about the inconvenience and would encourage you and the children to find out about more child friendly bathing options in Budapest, including Palatinus Bath, Csillaghegyi Bath or AquaWorld water theme park offering family bathing / spa experience for younger children and parents in the city of Budapest.