Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool – Hillside romance outside, modern wellness inside

Located in the heart of Europe with colorful historical heritage, Budapest is well-suited for becoming a popular destination for all kinds of tourists. Besides the paprika-flavored culinary delights, and the vibrant ruin pub and party scene, the Hungarian capital has a more relaxing side, featuring more than a dozen thermal baths – some of which offer spa parties for those wanting to mix relaxation with nightlife. You may already be able to name a few, starting from Széchenyi Baths, Rudas Baths, and Gellért Baths, but we can assure you the city hides many more of these gems, each of which comes with its unique characteristics. Let’s take Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool, Budapest’s second oldest (and recently modernized) thermal bath. Uniquely built on the Buda hillside, it comes with a 7-storey indoor spa complex and lush parkland with terraced sunbathing and pool areas. Read on and explore what Csillaghegyi Bath has to offer on the relaxation front.

Lush greenery, curious sculptures, and a Roman tomb by the pool

Arriving to the plain-looking entrance of Csillaghegyi Árpád Bath and Swimming Pool, one wouldn’t expect that a modern indoor wellness complex and a huge garden with outside pools hide behind it. And yet, the place unfolds more and more unique characteristics as we venture deeper. Being the second oldest thermal bath in Budapest after Római Bath, Csillaghegyi Bath has a lot to tell since its opening in 1919 when it ranked the most modern and elegant spa of the capital.

Originally it was an open-air bath with two sitting pools, a swimming pool, and unique terraced sunbathing areas and promenades thanks to its uncommon geographical location. Built on the slopes in a forest-like park area that stretches over 90,000 square meters, Csillaghegyi Bath never feels crowded even during the hottest summer days. On the contrary, sheltered by the ancient trees, the terraced design offers a pleasant intimacy for visitors. Yet, if you feel watched while sunbathing by the pool, you may not be wrong. The ones with eagle-eyes can spot some mysterious sculptures peeking through the trees. And there’s even more to the peculiarities of Csillaghegyi Bath. In 2017, an archeological excavation found a Roman Celtic carriage grave and another tomb, the only Roman remnants of the area.

Árpád Spring Bath, the addition of the 21^st century 

Csillaghegyi Bath could reserve its original form for almost a century, but 2018 brought about a major development and expansion project. Complementing the outdoor bath and parkland, a 7-storey spa and wellness complex, Árpád Spring Bath (Árpád Forrásfürdő) was built on the hillside, following a similar terraced design. 

Equipped with all the modern commodities from proxy watch-operated lockers and colorful spaces, the indoor spa includes a total of 12 pools, including a luxurious panorama pool, a huge sauna world, a waterpark for kids, and two giant slides winding by the side of the building. The new wing also allowed Csillaghegyi Bath to offer all-year spa services, as opposed to its open-air area that is only open during the summer season.

Pools and other facilities

The indoor pools and facilities of Csillaghegyi Bath are open all year.

Sport zone 

• Swimming pool (26°C–28°C)
• Education pool (30°C–32°C)
• Infra and Finnish sauna
• Fitness room
• Relax room 

Wellness zone 

• Acoustic pool (34°C)
• Relax pool (36°C)
• Leisure pool with water buzzers and back massagers (36–38°C)

Kids’ world

• Baby pool (34°C–36°C) 
• Adventure pool with slides and a mini drifting corridor for children (36°C–38°C) 

Sauna world

• Panorama Finnish sauna (80°C–90°C)
• Aroma sauna (55°C–60°C)
• Infrasauna (40°C–60°C)
• Steam chamber (45°C–50°C)
• Salt bath
• Immersion pools (22°C, 42°C)
• Sitting pool (36°C)
• Panorama pool and terrace with an open-air hot tube (36°C–38°C)

Slides

• Anaconda slide
• UFO slide

Open-air bath area

• 55-meter-long, gradually deepening bath pool (22–23°C)
• 33-meter-long swimming pool (22–23°C)
• Kids’ pool (22–23°C)
• Fitness park and playground
• Sunbathers with deck chairs
• VIP private sunbathing boxes with 2 deck chairs and an umbrella (not included in the all-in entrance ticket)

The outdoor pools of Csillaghegyi Bath are only open during the summer season.

You can find more information about Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool here.

Csillaghegyi Bath tickets

You can find the full price list here.

How to get there

Csillaghegyi Bath is located in the 3^rd district of Budapest called Óbuda. Although it’s a bit further from the downtown area, it’s worth the ride – especially for its beautiful garden area where even the summer heatwave feels pleasant. You can get there by taking suburban train H5 or buses Nr. 160, 134 or 234. 

If you’re planning to visit Csillaghegyi Bath by car, you may want to consider renting a car for your stay in Budapest.

Some other places you might like

If you feel like exploring other lesser known thermal spas in Budapest, we recommend Veli Bej, the tiniest, Paskál Bath, the youngest, Király Bath or Pesterzsébet Bath, the recently reopened one with unique iodine-salt thermal waters. And if all you need is a good swimming pool, check out the top pools in Budapest.

Q & A

What is Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool famous for?

Built on the Buda hillside with a terrace design, Csillaghegyi Bath perfectly combines classical and contemporary spa elements in its 7-storey indoor wellness complex and outdoor pools surrounded by beautiful parkland. Although the outdoor area is only open during the summer, the wellness complex offers different services on each floor, including a diverse sauna world, slides and leisure pools, and a panorama terrace on the top floor.

Where is Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool located in Budapest?

Csillaghegyi Bath is located in the 3rd district of Budapest called Óbuda, at the foot of the Buda hillside. Coming from the inner city, you can get there by taking suburban train H5 or buses Nr. 160, 134 or 234. Although it’s a bit further from the downtown area of Budapest, it’s worth the ride – especially its beautiful garden area where even the summer heatwave feels pleasant.

What are the entrance fees of Csillaghegyi Bath and Swimming Pool?

The all-in ticket for Csillaghegyi Bath is 4,100 HUF (approx. 11 euros), but you can also choose a 2-hour ticket for 1,900 HUF during weekdays and for 2,000 HUF at the weekends (approx. 6 euros). Alternatively, you can pick and choose the facilities you would like to use, e.g. the sports zone or the sauna world separately.