Budapest’s best pools and lidos

What is it? There is something essentially Budapest about the Palatinus: both a tourist magnet and a real local favourite, for a three-generational family day out or fun romantic rendezvous.

Located near the Buda bank of Margaret Island, the Palatinus baths feature four indoor and 11 outdoor pools, including a wave pool, children's pools, a thermal pool, a swimming pool, an adventure pool and a slide park. If you're not just coming for a quick splash, you can easily spend an entire day here: there's enough green space and a beach bar to easily turn a morning sunbathing session into an early-evening departure.

Why we love it Palatinus combines the retro atmosphere of old Budapest lidos with the comfort of a large, well-equipped city spa. The wave pool is a classic, and the thermal pools are also useful when the sun is already setting and the evenings on Margaret Island are starting to get cooler.

Time Out tip: Most people camp near the main entrance, but the far side of the lido, facing the Danube, is much quieter; the wave pool usually fills by the afternoon, but is much more enjoyable in the morning.

Address: Margitsziget, Soó Rezső sétány 1, 1007 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 9am-7pm

Expect to pay: Ft 6,000-6,500 (€17-18.30); reduced Ft 4,500-5,000 (€12.75-14)

What is it? ‘High Tide’ is a large, practical, easy-to-love urban lido, where sporty swimming, family paddling and thermal water relaxation dovetail in one easy-to-reach complex in north Pest.

Located by the Duna Aréna, whose construction for the 2017 World Aquatics Championships reconfigured this age-old complex, the Dagály still offers a fully fledged lido experience in summer, the spa more like a swimming pool in the public imagination. A total of 12 pools await bathers, swimming, thermal, adventure, lido, training and children's pools. Thanks to the large grassy areas, you don't necessarily have to sunbathe beside a stranger, even when it's hard to find free towel space at other classic Budapest lidos.

Why we love it This is a particularly rewarding choice if you're looking for comfort and atmosphere. It’s well-organised, family-friendly, has a variety of pools and at the same time, retains some of that old Budapest lido feeling, which means it doesn't need bells and whistles: just bring your cossie, towel, sunglasses, and you’re good for sunbathing, splashing and lido-style snacks. It’s a particularly good option for small children, but it also works if you care to swim in the morning and relax in the sun for a few more hours.

Time Out tip: if you’re planning a more sporty lido day, arrive early – you can swim much better in the morning and the sun is less merciless. Bear in mind that competitions held at the Duna Arena may temporarily affect the opening hours and the use of lanes in certain pools.

Address: Népfürdő utca 36, 1138 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 6am-8pm

Expect to pay: Ft 4,500-4,900 (€12.70-13.80); reduced Ft 2,950-3,800 (€8.30-10.75)

What is it? If the Palatinus is the Budapest classic, then Csillaghegy is its calmer, woodier, slightly more touristy relative. The baths, located at the foot of a Buda hillside, dictate a completely different pace than the city's noisier lidos. There is more greenery, the spaces are airier, and it is easier to find a corner in the shade where you can really switch off.

The indoor sports zone has a 25-metre swimming pool and a training pool, while outside there’s a lido pool, an outdoor one and one for children. The spa area, the slides and the large, paved lido area invite you to relax all day.

Why we love it Because you can really laze at Csillaghegy. With 90,000 square metres of landscaped area, you don't have the feeling that everyone is trying to spread out their towel on the same patch as you in welcome shade from the heat. Plus it's great for families because of the slides and child-friendly areas, but also with lane pools for more sporty types.

Time Out tip: It's worth exploring the higher, quieter parts of the baths, revealing Csillaghegy’s park-like, hillside ambience.

Address: Pusztakúti út 2-6, 1038 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon, Tue, Thur-Sun 6am-8pm, Wed 6am-10pm

Expect to pay: Ft 4,500-5,000 (€12.70-14); complex Ft 6,200-6,600 (€17.50-18.60); reduced Ft 3,300-3,700 (€9.30-10.45)

What is it? Few locals wish to recommend Pünkösdfürdő lido, at least not too loudly, lest too many people discover it. It's hidden in north Buda, near the Danube, full of trees, vast grassy areas and that rare, calm atmosphere that is not always easy to find at city lidos. It is not the most spectacular example in this listing, nor does it seek to be. There’s a 50-metre swimming pool, an adventure pool, a shaded children’s pool and a dry sauna – in other words, everything you need for a peaceful summer’s day out.

Why we love it Pünkösdfürdő is simply a well-functioning, revered lido in Óbuda, surrounded by greenery, where the main activity is sunbathing, swimming, reading and slow idleness. The large grassy areas make it a particularly good choice if you don’t want to run from pool to pool, but rather spread out a blanket and leave the city behind you for a few hours.

Time Out tip: The back of the lido feels almost like a picnic park in the afternoon, so if you want to read, sunbathe or relax, settle down there. Locals often arrive with their own blankets and coolers for the whole day, which seems a completely natural thing to do here.

Address: Királyok útja 272, 1039 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 9am-7pm

Expect to pay: Ft 3,100-3,300 (€8.75-9.30); reduced Ft 2,300-2,500 (€6.50-7)

What is it? Aquaworld floats halfway between Budapest and an all-inclusive holiday resort: palm trees, giant slides and warm pools await on the edge of Újpest. This is not the classic lido experience of lying on a towel, but more like a large water park where you can have a family day out even if it's raining outside.

The indoor water park has 15 pools and 11 slides, almost a kilometre’s worth, so if you've ever dreamed of spending a whole day rediscovering your inner child by zooming into the water and bobbing in wave pools, all in an artificially tropical atmosphere, Aquaworld offers exactly that.

Why we love it Because Aquaworld is weather-proof, which is not the least of considerations in the burning heat of a Budapest summer. You don't have to watch the sky for a storm here: there’s an indoor adventure pool, wave pool, jacuzzi, children’s pool, sauna world and outdoor lido area, and the slides are surprisingly fun even for adults. It's not the quietest swimming spot in the city, but if you're looking for an active, family-friendly, all-day adventure, Aquaworld is hard to beat.

Time Out tip: Most come at weekends, but the whole place is much more convivial on weekday mornings, especially if you don't want to slide with the crowd. Admission includes use of Sauna World, but extra services in the swimming area – a water ball or diving – must be be paid for separately.

Address: Íves út 16, 1044 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 7am-9pm. Pool area closes at 8.30pm. Adventure facilities open from 10am

Expect to pay: Ft 8,500-11,500 (€24-32.50); reduced Ft 6,800-9,200 (€19-26); child Ft 4,300-5,800 (€12-16.40)

What is it? Open from June 14, Római Strandfürdő offers exactly what you want from a typical Budapest summer’s day out: plenty of trees, classic pools, aromas from the lángos stand and an atmosphere of timeless relaxation. This is not a contemporary lido at all, but that is what makes it so special. The bathing area has three pools for those who want to splash about: a 33-metre one for swimming, an adventure pool and one for kids.

Why we love it Római is laid out on a human scale, friendly and much less noisy than Budapest’s larger lidos. It's the perfect choice for a lazier weekday afternoon when you are not necessarily looking for a big adventure park, just shade in which to lie down and a pool to swim a few lengths.

Time Out tip: There’s free parking on the grassy area alongside, which in Budapest is almost as much of a luxury as the pool itself. If you can, don't rush home after closing time: your day at the lido can be perfectly combined with an evening spritzer, fish supper or a stroll by the Danube along the Római embankment, where Roman centurions once bathed.

Address: Rozgonyi Piroska utca 2, 1031 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 9am-7pm

Expect to pay: Ft 4,000-4,500 (€11.30-12.70); reduced Ft 3,500-3,800 (€9.90-10.75)

What is it? Weekend-only Flava Beach in the heart of BudaPart, in the shadow of the MOL Tower, is not a Budapest lido in the classic sense: it is more of an urban waterfront haven where beach fun, a bar, beach food and sunset relaxation by the Danube meet.

It opened in 2024 on the site of the former SHO Beach, on the shores of Lágymányosi Bay, and has since become one of the most popular summer spots around Kopaszi-gát, a large area of public recreation, where sandy and grassy areas, cocktails, sport and sun loungers await.

Why we love it Flava offers a completely different beach atmosphere to the main lidos and pools. Here, the focus isn’t the water park or thermal soaking, but the waterfront, the sunset and socialising, and the fact that it is easy to head down here on a Friday evening after work for a quick splash. There are also restaurants, cafés and terraces in the area, so a beach break can easily turn into dinner, a walk or an entire afternoon. And it’s free!

Time Out tip: See who’s playing at Dürer Kert, a main live venue a short walk away, with outdoor shows in summer.

Address: Vízpart utca 3, 1117 Budapest

Opening hours: Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm. Closed Mon-Thur. Swimming is seasonal, so check before you go

Expect to pay: FREE! Charges apply for hourly rental of pedalos (Ft 4,500/€12.70) and SUPs (Ft 3,800/€10.75)

What is it? Paskál has long been one of Budapest’s best-kept secrets, and even now it is less touristy than the classic spots previously mentioned. This is a quieter, greener urban refuge – think trees, thermal water, a swimming pool, a lido vibe and that rare summer luxury of not necessarily having to fight for a spot in the shade.

The range of options is surprisingly diverse: there’s a 33-metre swimming pool, a lido pool, a relaxation pool, an adventure pool, a children's pool, a training pool, a baby pool, a medicinal pool and even a plunge pool with medicinal water.

Why we love it There’s no unnecessary fuss at Paskál, just decent pools, lots of greenery, an affordable spa and a much calmer pace than what you might have experienced at more popular lidos in Budapest. It's a good choice if you like swimming, if you’re with the kids, or if you simply want to lie down under a tree and occasionally dip in the water.

Time Out tip: If you’re with the car, there’s free parking.

Address: Egressy út 178F, 1141 Budapest

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8am-10pm

Expect to pay: Ft 4,700-5,700 (€13.25-16); reduced Ft 4,000-4,400 (€11,30-12,40)

What is it? Római Free Beach is one of Budapest's best bargains of the summer: a free lido on the Danube, where instead of pools and slides, there is a pebble beach, natural water, sunsets and a lazy, relaxed Római atmosphere.

All you need is a towel, flip-flops and a little bit of summer fun to escape the city for a few hours. What's more, the popular kiosks, terraces and modest eateries of the Római embankment are nearby, so it's easy to combine a dip with lángos, pancakes, a spritzer or a fish supper.

Why we love it It's rare in Budapest to bathe legally in the Danube on a designated stretch of beach, with controlled water quality, and without an entrance fee. Everything at Római is a little more basic and more summery, and this natural feel is what gives it its charm: gravel crunches underfoot, bicycles lean against trees, someone sets off on a SUP across the water while others sit on the shore and watch the sun slowly sink.

Time Out tip: The best atmosphere is in the evening, when splashing slowly shifts to gazing aimlessly from the shore. Note that swimming is only safe within the designated section, during opening hours and with adequate water quality.

Address: Kossuth Lajos údülőpart 15-17, 1039 Budapest

Opening hours: Seasonal, usually from late June to August 20 – check the Facebook page before you set off

What is it? Just outside Budapest, Lupa Beach at Budakalász is the place where a classic lido visit turns into a Mediterranean beach club: white sand, turquoise water, sun loungers, bars, SUPs, water sports and the strange feeling that you’re only half-an-hour from the city. It’s not cheap, and it’s certainly not the most relaxing option on the list, but if you only want to spend a day on holiday within easy reach of Budapest, Lupa is hard to beat.

Why we love it Lupa is in a special category of its own. Here, you can not only lie on a towel and splash around: you can SUP, kayak, play beach volleyball, wakeboard or try out the water adventure park, and there’s even a diving centre. Lupa is specifically geared towards active recreation, and divers can rent equipment and choose from various underwater exercises.

Time Out tip: Lupa Beach and the more relaxed Lupa Bay are not one and the same. The Beach is more of a lido, sandy, palm-lined and full of activities, while the Bay is the more natural, family-friendly option. Prepare yourself for the fact that in addition to admission, you’ll have to pay extra for various services, and the place is cashless.

Address: Tó utca 1, 2011 Budakalász

Opening hours: Daily 9am-7pm

Expect to pay: Ft 6,400 (€18); sunset ticket after 4pm Ft 4,500 (€12.70)

What is it? Dandár is a compact, quiet, more affordable lido in District IX. It works best if you’re not looking for a full-day bathing experience, but a short, refreshing stop after work or exercise, even in the middle of a busy week. In addition to the indoor thermal pools, there are outdoor pools and a mini sauna world with a Finnish sauna, aroma steam cabin, plunge pool and relaxation area.

Why we love it Dandár is not a summer lido in the classic sense – this a good place to drop in for a swim after work without the hordes of Budapest’s spa tourists. It’s small, quiet and with friendlier prices, as well as lashings of loveable Budapest charm.

You don’t have to prepare for half a day, you don’t have to walk for miles between two pools, and there’s no all-day festival atmosphere – this more of an adult, urban mini spa, where it’s worth coming for an hour or two, if you only have that much time. Because of the outdoor area, it has the atmosphere of a lido in summer, but at the same time it remains that quiet, slightly secluded lido that everyone likes to keep as their own secret.

Time Out tip: For refreshments, pay at the various outlets with a card or one topped up by the cashier.

Address: Dandár utca 3, 1095 Budapest

Opening hours: Daily 9am-7pm

Expect to pay: Ft 3,500-4,000 (€9.90-11.30); whole complex with sauna Ft 4,500-5,000 (€12.70-14); discounted Ft 2,400-2,700 (€6.75-7.60)

What is it? Árasztó-part is one of Budapest’s newest Danube bathing spots: not a classic lido, but rather a romantic, slightly nomadic, yet urban spot for a dip in Újbuda. In 2025, you could bathe in the Danube here in a small lane marked with red and white buoys, so this place is not suitable for long swims, but perfect for cooling off in the heat of the city.

Why we love it Because Árasztó-part is exciting precisely because of its simplicity. It's not worth coming here with a whole day’s worth of clutter, but rather with a towel, water shoes, a book and a little sense of adventure. The beach is not overdeveloped, the environment is close to nature, and the atmosphere is much more of a Danube stroll than a classic lido. If Római-part is too far away, or you just want to cool off quickly in south Buda, this is the best free option.

Time Out tip: Prepare more for nomadic conditions: there is no classic beach bar on Árasztó-part, so be sure to bring water and take your rubbish away with you afterwards. The path to the water leads between stones and roots, so water shoes are not only recommended but essential.

Address: Hunyadi János út 2, 1116 Budapest

Opening hours: Usually August daily 10am-6pm but check the Facebook page for details

Expect to pay: FREE!