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.

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).