Dress Code in Szechenyi Baths, Budapest

What is the dress code of Szechenyi Baths? What should men wear at the baths, and what are women expected to wear? One of the most frequently asked questions about Szechenyi Baths Budapest is what to wear.

Some of the first time visitors have no idea what they should wear, if anything, at Szechenyi Spa Baths: can you be nude? Should you be naked in the pools of Szechenyi Baths? Can you wear speedos or swim trunks at the spa facilities? Is a bikini OK, or should you wear a more complete one piece swim suit? What about massage therapies at Szechenyi Baths, do you need to be nude for the massage?

Let’s see the dress code of Szechenyi Baths:

Cover your Essentials, please

As Szechenyi Baths is a mixed thermal spa complex, visitors are expected to cover the most important essentials at all times, regardless of gender identification. All the pools, all the baths, all the saunas, etc. are completely co-educational at Szechenyi Baths on every day (from Monday to Sunday, during the opening hours). There are no exceptions.

The dress code is pretty simple about nudity: you cannot be naked at the public areas of Szechenyi Baths and Pool. The only place where you are allowed to wear nothing is the showers, the gender separated changing rooms at the lockers, the cabins (private changing rooms). In contrast, on the corridors, outside, in the pools, in the saunas and steam rooms, visitors are required to wear acceptable swim wear (please see the pictogram for visual guidance).
Please also note that bath flip flops /slippers are required to be worn in the whole area of the bath. If you do not have your own, you can buy a pair in the entrance hall shop.

Women’s Swimwear at Szechenyi Baths

Women are kindly asked to wear decent swim wears. The bare minimum is the proper bikini style swim wear, but you can don a sporty tankini (swimsuit style),  or a one piece ladies swimsuit too, if you prefer more coverage, or you are planning to do some laps in the open air swimming pool (swim caps are mandatory in the swimming pool, but not in the other 17 pools).

Please kindly note that swimming suits covering the full body (e.g. burkini), or surfing suits are unfortunately not accepted in Szechenyi Baths due to government health regulations, which the baths need to observe. Thank you for your understanding and kind cooperation. Non-binary genders are kindly asked to follow men or women dress code to their liking.

Men’s Swimwear at Szechenyi Baths

Men are kindly asked to wear traditional western swim wears, i.e trunks or shorts. The bare minimum is the speedo style swim wear, but you can don a sporty pair of swim trunks, or shorts. It is not unusual to see men with hairy chests and backs at Szechenyi Baths, where daily more than 2000 guests visit the 17 pools from all over the world. Usually it is not an issue, please do not worry as humans and human skin come in all sizes and shapes. Swim caps are mandatory in the swimming pool only, but not in the other 17 pools of Szechenyi. Non-binary genders are kindly asked to follow men or women dress code to their liking.

Children’s Swimwear at Szechenyi Baths

As Szechenyi Baths is more geared towards adults than children (please see our guide here: Can Children Go to Szechenyi Baths?), we should rather talk about teens than children (kids can use the pools if they are over 14 years old). What teens like wearing these days, your adolescent daughter or son will know. But in general, girls wear the same as women (the dress code is the same for both), while boys wear the same as men (again, the dress code is identical). Non-binary genders are kindly asked to follow men or women dress code to their liking.

Tips for your Swimwear at Szechenyi Baths

Wear a hat on sunny days

Some local regulars who spend several hours in the outdoor pools (killing time with playing chess, or just fooling around in the wave pool, or chatting around), usually wear a light colored baseball cap or some kind of sun hat to protect the top of their heads from the beating sunshine on warm, shiny summer days. If you are sensitive to the sun in general or are planning to soak longer in the water and the weather is nice, it might be a good idea to take a hat with you. Especially for children / teens.

Sun-tan cream: protect your skin

Another thing that you will need from June to September at the outdoor pools of Szechenyi Baths is sun tan lotion,  sun protection. All three baths are in the open air and fully in the sun, no shades.

Talk to Your Massage Therapist

If you prefer to be naked or covered in a swim wear can be a crucial aspect of a massage therapy. In Szechenyi Baths the massage therapies are always in a swim wear, but ladies can release the bikini strings if they wish. In general, we suggest talking to your masseuse in advance about your dressing preferences.

RENTAL SERVICES NOT AVAILABLE – PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN TOWEL / SWIMWEAR/ SLIPPERS OR PURCHASE A TOWEL ON THE SPOT

Please wear your swimwear for your massage. Book your massage in advance to avoid having to wait hours for the popular massage therapies in our world famous thermal bath.

Related Info about Budapest Thermal Baths:
Gellert Spa Dress Code