Palatinus: The most popular beach in town
There’s a secluded spot in the very heart of Budapest. Margit-sziget is known as an immediate getaway by locals: with no traffic allowed, this island (or ‘sziget’ in Hungarian) is the top choice if you want to take a break from your sightseeing tour. But did you know that Margit-sziget is also home to one of the biggest beaches in the Hungarian capital?
Fun fact:
Palatinus is home to the country’s only wave pool. Starting from 8:40 a.m., large waves are generated every hour!
A historical recap
Compared to other beaches and baths, Palatinus doesn’t have a long and decorated history as it was built a little over a century ago in 1919. Margit-sziget (Margaret Island) itself was mostly inaccessible for citizens been as there were no bridges linking it with the city, but this changed in the early 20th century when Margaret Bridge was constructed. This made the island open to the greater public, and as it became a public property, the municipality soon set out to lay the foundations of Palatinus beach. Today, you’ll find open-air beaches in Budapest like Rómaifürdő or Pünkösdfürdő, but at the time, Palatinus was the first beach to boast outdoor pools. After several expansions and renovations, Palatinus once again opened its doors to the public in 2017. Stretching across a vast green space of over 25 000 square meters, the beach is one of the biggest and the most popular ones in the entire capital.
Meet the beach
Palatinus has been a go-to choice for locals ever since its opening. No wonder that over the decades, it has been constantly expanded, and as of today, the property has 15 different pools! Dotted with slides, a wave pool, kiosks, and a vast green space, Palatinus makes you feel spoilt for choice.
Pools
If you’re squinting at the pools while sunbathing, you might actually feel that the whole outdoor area is a single, vast pool. With every pool close to one another, adults can chill in the calming water of the thermal pool while the kids are having fun in pools filled with toys, slides, and even a playground. And if you’re looking for more relaxation and quiet, you can still try one of the thermal pools indoors. Palatinus boasts a grand total of 15 pools, so even if you visit more than once, you’ll always have stuff left to explore!
Services
Like all proper thermal baths, Palatinus offers a wide range of medical and wellness services. Pick one of the many massages, relax in a Finnish or aroma sauna, or just bathe in carbonated water: with Palatinus’ services, your stay at the beach will truly be elevated. And to complete your experience, the beach also has a separate kiosk that lets you try some of the local specialities (lángos, anyone?) as well as serve you with cooling drinks on a hot summer day.
Fun fact:
Expanded in 1937, Palatinus’s main building bears the characteristics of bauhaus architecture. If you’re a fan of simple yet modern-looking buildings, Budapest has a lot more to offer: just check out this map with all the contemporaries of Palatinus here.
Prices
Compared to other baths, Palatinus is definitely a lower tier beach in terms of prices. You can get in for as low as 2600 HUF (€8) during weekdays (3100 HUF or 10€ during weekends), and you can get a 2-hour pass with an even lower price tag. If you’re travelling with your family, be sure to check other ticket prices as it might save you some money.
Getting there
You can either get on bus line 26 and drop off right at the entrance, or take tram line 4/6, get off at Margit-sziget, and take a longer walk to Palatinus. Remember, traffic is restricted on the island, so you can’t enter with a car (or a taxi, for that matter). You can always go green and choose a popular alternative like a bike or a scooter, though.
The flipside
Palatinus, as you might’ve guessed, is one of the most popular beaches in Budapest. For this reason, it might get a little crowded during summer, especially at the weekends, so we recommend that you try and visit during weekdays. Just rise early to secure a sweet spot and enjoy the calming shades of Palatinus before the crowd would arrive!
Q & A
- Where is Palatinus beach?
- Palatinus beach is located on Margit-sziget, just a few minutes from downtown Budapest.
- Is Palatinus a beach?
- Palatinus has many open-air pools, but it doesn’t have an actual beach side by the Danube.
- Is Palatinus crowded?
- Palatinus can get crowded at weekend especially during the summer, so it’s best if you visit on weekdays.
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