Everyone who visits Budapest has to go to one of the baths, and this one seemed to fill the requirement very well. Its quite expensive compared with everything else to do in Budapest but well worth it.

As others have said good idea to look at the map on the way in. It seemed to be a complete maze to get to the bit we were allocated to (shared cubicle) - but the attendants did keep directing us so we didnt stand about lost for long. Once youve got changed you leave your stuff in the cubicle and wait until the attendant locks it for you. He gives you a token with a number on it and he writes this number inside your cubicle. Dont loose the token (ours was on a string) or you're not getting your stuff back!

We spent most of the time outside in one of the three large pools. Roughly the far away pool is the warmest and that's where you see people playing chess in the steam. The middle pool is the largest one for swimming in (although there were no serious swimmers when we were there) and then finally the one closest to the changing room area was the shallowest and had a rapid water area. Very happily poped about watching locals and visitors doing the same! Inside pools not so much fun - really just for wallowing in. Didnt try any of the steam rooms ect but believe there are plenty of them too.

All in all very intersting afternoon and well worth the visit.

Szechenyi is just one of a number of thermal spa baths in Budapest. Each has its own character and some do not allow men and women to bathe at the same time. We selected Szechenyi because it was recommended to us, because it allows mixed bathing, and because it is unusual in having outdoor hot thermal pools. With the April sun shining, soaking outdoors in a hot pool seemed very appealing.

Szechenyi has its own metro stop on the orange line and is set in City Park near the Zoo. Some staff speak a litlle English, but generally not as much as in the shops and restaurants, as they tend to be older. The prices are listed in the ornate foyer in English, French and German, and you pay for your basic entry there after queuing at one of the cash desks. Massages, treatments and towel hire are arranged and paid for after you go in. We paid extra to share a cabin to change in, the attendant assured us it was safe to leave our valuables there and we had no problems. We then paid the equivalent of about £10 each to have 20 minute relaxing aromatherapy massages. Take towel if you can - we didn't have any as we only took hand luggage and had already checked out of out hotel, so we hired the spa's, which were really just sheets of cloth (think old-fashioned hospital bedsheets).

Inside the complex there are steam rooms, plunge pools and thermal baths of varying temperatures, saunas, and plenty of showers to wash off between soaks/sweats. Outside there are several pools with space around the edge if you want to sit and sunbathe. We had a great time in the 34 degree centigrade pool, sitting in the interior jacuzzi section, and swimming with the swirling current.

Although there were a few British, French and American people at the spa, most of the clientele is Hungarian, and all ages were represented from toddlers to the very old. No-one seemed to have any body hang-ups or worry about how they looked, and the atmosphere was relaxed. You can easily stay all afternoon, and if you leave having spent less than 4 hours in the complex, you get a small partial refund.

The spa is not in the greatest of repair, and has something of an institutional feel (the massage therapists in their white outfits and old-school communist hairstyles are more "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" than Champney's) but that all adds to its quirky charm.

Opening times and prices can be found at http://www.spasbudapest.com/furdo.php?idx=14&menu=10.

these baths were recommended to me by an irish person living in budapest. I was expecting something clean, relaxing and "different", and altho the outdoor baths here were clean, it was more like an outdoor heated swimming pool with a whirlpool in the middle!... nothing special. The indoor baths were crowded and filthy, there was grit and dirt floating around in them. The floors between the baths were pretty dirty and the place just seemed old and in need of renovation. I found 1 shower that worked. Study the map of the baths well before you go in... spent ages walking around trying to find what door i came in and couldnt find a shower for ages! The Gellert baths were also recommended to me, wish I went there instead