Dent, Bob: Budapest for Children - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1992)
7. Making a Splash - Pools and Baths
52 MAKING A SPLASH up to negotiate, as also to get to the outdoor section, which makes the whole place a nightmare in terms of wheelchair access. There are huge, hairdresser-type hairdriers [hajszárító] inside. These require a coin. Palatínus Open-Air Baths [Palatínus strandfürdő] Situated halfway along the west side of Margaret Island (6) in a beautiful setting of greenery and tall trees. (Bus no. 26 takes you right there from Nyugati tér.) The whole area is massive and can accommodate thousands of people at a time. The main pool is huge and is as broad as most pools are long! A sight in itself because of its size, it is also relatively safe for children as it’s entered all around by a very gentle slope. In addition there is a separate children’s pool, two thermal pools (both suitable for children) and a pool with a wave machine, which is very shallow at one end like a children’s pool. A further attraction for children are four enormous spiral slides and one long, straight slide going into a separate pool towards the south end. Further south still there is a play area with swings, parallel bars, climbing frames, table-tennis tables and sand-pit. There is another playground at the north end by the thermal pool there. Definitely a place where you can stay all day, with large sunbathing areas, two playgrounds and lots of buffets and food kiosks, but it does get extremely crowded in the high season. From the terrace of one of the buffets there is a good view of the Danube and the Buda Hills. Swimming caps are not necessary. Cabins are available and wheelchair access is not too bad. Once inside, the whole area is flat. Open May-September. Alfréd Hajós Swimming Baths Also on the west side of Margaret Island, though nearer the southern tip, so can easily be reached on foot from Margaret Bridge or again by the no. 26 bus. Open all year, this baths combines indoor and outdoor pools, one of which is covered for the winter. There are two main outdoor pools, one with quite warm water, and children’s pools both inside and out. The grounds are by no means as extensive as at Palatínus and not so
