it turns out where it is cheapest and most expensive to splash
The beach season has started in full swing, with the exception of the Király and Rác baths, which are awaiting renovation all capital city beaches and spas, a total of 11 complexes are open, with extended opening hours until eight in the evening due to the heat alarm – informed VG Ildiko Szűts, Budapest Gyógyfürdői és Hévizei Zrt. CEO.
Even on weekdays, more people visit the beaches than on weekends, specifically, instead of the usual 10-11 thousand, more than 18 thousand visitors were now welcomed to the Budapest spas on Wednesday, for example.
Before going to the beach, it is worth checking whether the selected bath is full, because the number of visitors that can be received at the same time is maximized everywhere. It may happen that the Palatinus and the Paskál, which are popular with children especially, cannot receive more guests, or that the Rómain, Csillaghegy, or the Pünkösdfürdő only received a 50 percent discount, said the head of the spa operating company of the capital municipality.
Open all year round for Geller
It’s good news that the Gellért bath is not closed, because the renovation of the hotel is delayed, in fact, it will remain open even until the end of the year, if it is possible to coordinate the operation and the expected works in the neighboring hotel – said Ildikó Szűts. He added that in Gellért, which is awaiting renovation, all the necessary maintenance and repairs were examined to make the extended operation safe.
The Gellért will certainly close next year, but the Rác bathhouse may open, the inspection of which has just been completed by the original designers, who have the exclusive copyright to modify the plans – we learned. The good news is that the building, which has been closed for a decade, is in good static condition, but in the old part, the walls and the entire electrical network, pumps and machinery are unusable and need to be replaced in order for the spa to be licensed according to the new standards.
Previously, the management of BGYH planned HUF 2.5 billion for the necessary renovations in the Rác spa, but the exact amount will only be revealed during the public procurement process, which is expected to be published in the fall.
The Király bath will remain closed, even for an indefinite period of time, because for the time being Gellért and Rác will take the available funds.
Discounted tickets and passes
From the first of June, the entrance tickets for the beaches visited by Hungarians went up by around 9 historical cents, in the spas by about 20, the price of large passes increased by 10-14 cents. However, the real effect of the price increase in the historic spas, which are considered a must-see attraction among foreign tourists, is not the weakening of the forint, with the last price increase in 2019, 316 forints are now around 400 forints, which means that tourists can buy tickets cheaply, Budapest is very cheap.
Domestic guests can bathe cheaper with the various pass plans and the Zsigmondy Club Card, which is increasingly popular and has remained unchanged since 2018.
THE Zsigmondy Club card by redeeming it, which is a one-time sum of HUF 5,000, the owner gets a significant discount for one year in the Széchenyi, Gellért and Rudas spas. Club members can enjoy the subsidies provided by the spas once a day for up to four hours, for HUF 3,500 each time from July 4.
From June 1, 2021, the BGYH renewed the traditional pass structure by increasing the number of occasions and in the name of greater interoperability, so that their guests can choose according to their preferences and choice of spa visit in the renewed system.
The NEAK reimbursement fees have not changed since 2012, depending on the range of services, they were increased by 5-20 percent from July 1. The largest increase can be experienced in the case of complex treatment, if there is also an increase in the price of several services, but there are services that only cost HUF 100 more.
The price depends on the time of day and age
Those who want and are able to go to the beach during off-peak hours can take advantage of the discounts offered at different prices and levels. Different discount tickets are available in each spa.
A 5 percent discount applies to online ticket purchases, excluding the Széchenyi, Gellért and Rudas baths.
THE in Széchenyi however, there is an afternoon ticket, which is HUF 300 cheaper than the day ticket.
THE Ricochett and a Rude also rewards regular guests, it is worth finding out about the prices separately.
Lukács and the Brigade bathin Paskál, in addition to the family ticket for 3 and 4 people, the children’s ticket is discounted and the afternoon splash is also cheaper.
Palatinus offers discounts similar to Paskál.
Child, student, pensioner and family tickets are also traditionally available on other Budapest beaches, such as Pünkösdfürdői, Római, Pesterzsébet and Csillaghegyi spain these.
In order to provide faster service, ticket machines were installed in Széchenyi and Palatinus.
District collaborations
The I., the II. and III. pensioners in the district can go to Lukács on days at a discounted price.
The pensioners of the I. district on Wednesday, the II. and III. district pensioners can enter the Lukács spa every Thursday for HUF 1,000 by presenting their address card and pensioner’s ID card.
The III. District pensioners must also request a voucher for the discount. waiting for the III. District residents also have discounts at Csillaghegy, Római and Pünkösdfürdő.
With the Pesterzsébet card, residents of Pesterzsébet get a 15 percent discount on the entry price of the adult basic zone in the spa operating in the district, and the residents of Zugló get a 10 percent discount on the full-price admission in Paskál with the Zugló card.
The company’s goal is to continue to offer discounted rates to its domestic guests, which is why they have created various special settings.
The cheapest and most expensive beaches
Cheapest to go to the beach Pünkösdfürdő where a family ticket for four costs HUF 5,800 on weekdays and HUF 6,100 on weekends, at the same time In a Roman bath You have to pay HUF 7,700 and HUF 8,600 for family tickets. The third cheapest is the Czillaghegy beach, where this year’s price is HUF 8,200-9,100 in the category of this special ticket type. In Pesterzsébet and the On Easter a weekday family ticket for four is HUF 9,200, then HUF 10,100.
The most for a family ticket On the Palatine must be paid, where four people can enter for HUF 10,100 on weekdays and HUF 11,300 on weekends.
On the plus side, you can get family tickets for three people everywhere, which allows two adults and one child to enter at a discounted price.
There is also a large variance between full-price tickets.
The cheapest way to go to the beach is at Pünkösdfürdő, where adult admission is HUF 2,700-3,000 on weekdays and weekends. At the top of the list are the historic baths, the trio of Széchenyi, Gellért, Rudas, on weekdays Rudas costs HUF 650, the other two baths cost HUF 7,100, and can be visited on weekends Rudas takes the lead with an entry price of HUF 8,500, which is almost HUF 7,600 less at Gellért and Széchenyi. If you want to visit the historical baths, it is recommended to use the Zsigmondy card.
The inevitable is fiery
Beach buffets and restaurants are leased for operation by BGYH Zrt. The tenants are free to set their prices, but the CEO separately and personally asked the managers of the businesses to set their prices moderately.
In the heat, it is safer to consume locally prepared food and drinks that have been cooled to the right temperature throughout, and it is worth spending extra money on this, advises the company’s manager.
The price of raw materials is well-known, and officials in the sector have officially and nationwide stated that there are 15-30 percent differences between last year’s and this year’s restaurant prices. Due to tax increases and changes in the price of raw materials, even those preparing for the beach can expect price increases of this magnitude.
Summer programs on the beaches
In addition to the well-known Sparty program, the Széchenyi was launched every Friday from June Colorful bath relaxing, light-painting and laser evenings, the Festival Academy will also visit Széchenyi, one of the venues of the Legends festival series will be the Pesterzsébet spa. Three times in July (12th, 19th and 26th) movie night will be in Széchenyi. The night bathing (Night edition) continues in the Pesterzsébet spa. During the summer, Eleven park moves to a beach for 10 weeks.
The Sziget festival will be a collaboration again this year, and of course they are preparing for the night of the beaches on July 30 – we learned.