New free Danube beaches in Budapest may open this summer!
Budapest is set to welcome four new free beaches on the Danube this summer, expanding the options for locals and tourists to enjoy open-water swimming in the capital. Currently, the only officially designated free Danube beach in Budapest is at Római-part, where the Plázs area has recently opened to bathers.
The city council, together with BGYH Zrt., the company managing the city’s beaches, is working on establishing four additional sites equipped with essential facilities such as toilets, drinking water, showers, and medical services.
According to Blikk, the proposed new free beach locations include the Árasztó-part near Albertfalva in South Buda, a stretch near Hosszúréti creek in the 22nd district, Pünkösdfürdő in Óbuda, and the closest site to downtown on Margaret Island, beside the Palatinus thermal bath.
These locations were carefully assessed by city officials and the beach operator, taking into account factors such as riverbed depth, water quality, and the feasibility of safely marking swimming areas with buoys.
The introduction of these free beaches will provide significant competition to Budapest’s paid swimming facilities. However, due to the strong currents of the Danube, swimmers are advised to be cautious and to wear water shoes because of the rocky riverbed. At Római-part, the designated swimming zone is secured with plastic water barriers, enhancing safety for bathers.
Beyond Budapest, there are numerous Danube beaches that offer pleasant swimming opportunities in towns such as Szentendre, Dunakeszi, Horány, Verőce, Dunabogdány, Nagymaros, Ráckeve, and Szigetcsép.
These spots vary in characteristics, featuring sandy, pebbly, or grassy shores, shaded areas, snack bars, changing rooms, and playgrounds. Water depth and quality differ, but all provide a natural setting for refreshing outdoor bathing.
The opening of free Danube beaches in Budapest will invigorate the city’s summer bathing culture, making riverside swimming more accessible to everyone while allowing residents and visitors alike to enjoy the natural beauty and refreshing waters of the Danube.
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