Top 8 beaches in Budapest

1. Római beach

Picture yourself getting a tan at the poolside or just relaxing in Római’s lush park and consider this: you’re doing exactly what citizens have been doing for over 2,000 years. That’s right, Római (which, unsurprisingly, means Roman in Hungarian) has been famous for its bath and beach ever since the Romans founded Aquincum around 200 AD.

So why do locals love Római? Apart from a beach spanning across a vast green location with multiple pools for adults and children alike, recent improvements have made the beach an even sweeter spot during summer. Slides, sauna, steam cabins, outdoor fitness equipment – Római really has it all.

Getting there: Just take HÉV 5 (the purple one) on Batthyány tér or get on bus line 34 or 106. If you have your own ride, we’ve got good news: parking is free everywhere around the beach.

2. Lupa beach

Palm trees, turquoise water, sandy beach – no, you don’t have to go as far as the Bahamas to have a postcard beach experience. Lake Lupa, located just outside the northern border of Budapest, was recently pimped to become one of the hottest beaches of the capital.

The beach is divided in two halves: you can either enjoy a more ubiquitous experience at Lupa Strand or dig a little deeper in your pockets and blow off some steam at Lupa Prémium Beach.

Getting there: HÉV 5 (the purple one), car (be prepared to pay for parking), bicycle, or the beach’s own bus service.

3. Csillaghegy open-air baths

Not as fancy as Lupa, and certainly not as big as Római, Csillaghegy is a modest yet beautiful entry on our list of top Budapest beaches. Its open-air pool is filled with healing mineral water, and its enveloped by a gorgeous park, offering the perfect scenery for a peaceful afternoon.

Csillaghegy has recently gone through some expansion: with three pools with varied temperature levels of water and several massage rooms, it’s keeping up with the major players (like Széchenyi or Gellért) of the capital.

Getting there: HÉV 5 (the purple one), bus lines 160, 134, 234, car (free parking).

Opening hours:

Swimming pool: 7:00 – 19:00

Beach: 9:00 – 19:00

Wellness, children zone and sauna world: 11:00-19:00 (from 1st of August: 9:00 – 19:00)

Slides: 11:00-18:00

4. Csepeli strandfürdő

Csepel might not be synonymous with carefree chilling, but its beach is certainly on the right track to change that preconception. With four huge pools (swimming, adventure, kids, and hot water) stretching across a huge green area, Csepel equally offers fun and relaxation for anyone visiting.

The beach itself is situated right along the Soroksár branch of the Danube, completing an already superior scenery. With catering options, sauna and winter open hours, Csepel is one of the newest additions to the capital’s sprawling beach scene.

Getting there: HÉV 7 (the orange one) plus bus line 71 or by car.

5. Paskál bath

If historical origins don’t impress you much, but you’re still looking for something fun and relaxing, go with the youngest kid on the block: Paskál bath. Thermal water, check. Wellness center, check. Worried about overcrowded pools? That’s no problem either: Paskál offers 9 (yes, nine) pools for visitors. Add an outdoor aquabar and a unique geothermal sauna to the mix, and you’ll have an all-around solution for your beach-goer needs!

Getting there: Trolley bus line 77 and 82 or by car.

6. Pünkösdfürdő

What do you get if you mix rose pergolas, a vast, green open space and thermal water? One word: Pünkösdfürdő (Bath of Pentecost). This gorgeous beach yielded thermal water on the day of Pentecost almost a century ago and has ever since provided a quiet spot for those looking for recreation. Ever since its renovation back in 2002, visitors can enjoy new pools, slides, and a large sauna as well, earning Pünkösdfürdő a spot on our list of top beaches in Budapest.

Getting there: Bus line 34 or by car.

7. Aquarena Mogyoród

Not a classic beach for sure, but possibly the most grandiose entry on our list. Occupying a whopping 11,5-ha area and boasting a 1,5 km slide system, Aquarena Mogyoród is the largest water park in the whole country.

If you ever get bored at Aquarena, please let us know how you manage to do that: with over 15 different pools and slides, jacuzzi, playgrounds, camping options, and constant events, this beach is undoubtedly the most fun in the pack.

Getting there: Volánbusz line 321 or by car (parking is for free).

8. Palatinus bath

We’ve kept one of the sweetest options for last. Palatinus is located on Margaret island, which is probably the closest remote locations you’ll find in Budapest. The beach itself stretches across an 8-ha land, with hundreds of trees providing shelter during the hottest days of summer.

You’ll have plenty of options to splash as well: the beach offers some of the most popular indoor and outdoor pools in the whole city, and thanks to recent improvements, it has been expanded with aquapark elements as well.

Getting there: Bus line 26, bus service.