Nestled in the Hungarian countryside lies the small town of Hajdúszoboszló, a place abundant with churches and a museum depicting culture and daily life. It would have remained a hidden gem if not for one significant aspect: it boasts the largest aqua complex in Europe and a sizable balneological resort. Get ready for a comprehensive guide to this destination – from transportation without a car to the cost of visiting the thermal baths. You’ll find tips and hacks to navigate the intricacies of Hungarian spas.
Hajdúszoboszló: Getting There and Overview
Hajdúszoboszló, a Hungarian town, sits 19 kilometers away from the country’s second-largest city, Debrecen. Without its aqua park, this town might have been unknown to many.
- The population of Hajdúszoboszló is around 23,000 people.
- The town’s history lacks notable events, save for its abandonment during the Ottoman occupation in the 15th century when its population dwindled to zero.
- There are few landmarks here: a market, two large supermarkets (Tesco and Spar), numerous churches, and several regionally focused museums.
One downside: Hajdúszoboszló lacks a railway. If you’re traveling through Hungary without a car, reaching here is only feasible by bus.
- For travelers without a car, the most convenient route is from Debrecen, offering more frequent services compared to Budapest.
- Debrecen is easily accessible from the capital by train, with over 50 daily trips. You’ll find extensive information about Debrecen’s attractions, how to get there from Budapest, pricing, and schedules. Additionally, you’ll discover information about the thermal complex in Debrecen, which might divert your plans from Hajdúszoboszló.
- From Debrecen to Hajdúszoboszló, take bus No. 4445 operated by Volanbusz. Tickets cost approximately 2 euros.
- Here’s a link to the schedule of this specific bus. If the link doesn’t open for any reason, click here for a list of all the carrier’s routes, and find 4445 Debrecen-Hajdúszoboszló among the hundreds of trips.
- Buses run frequently, nearly every hour from 5 AM.
- Tickets can be easily purchased at the bus station’s ticket office before departure; it’s a suburban route, so no advance purchases are necessary.
Hungarospa Hajdúszoboszló: Europe’s Largest Aqua Park
The main attraction in Hajdúszoboszló for tourists is the aqua-thermal complex, known as Hungarospa.
Interesting to note:
Hungarospa advertises itself as Europe’s largest aqua complex, primarily due to its vast water surface area, not sheer size, number of slides, or thermal pools. A notable feature is a large lake within the complex, surrounded by hundreds of loungers. However, swimming in the lake is prohibited, as regular pools are available nearby. Additionally, the outdoor area operates for only 4-5 months annually, from May to September.
- Coordinates of the aqua park on the map: 47.452013644597436, 21.400076628498375
- If you plan to visit only the thermal baths (without the aqua park), the entrance is more convenient: 47.450621083105084, 21.401294509937788
- Official website: https://www.hungarospa.hu/en/
Operating Hours and Aqua Park Zones
Starting with the operational hours: the aqua park is open year-round. However, the Open Air zone, often referred to as the Beach, typically operates from May 1st to September 30th, with annual dates subject to weather changes. Always check the official website for updated information if this is crucial for your visit.
- Information on Hungary’s weather by months, the peak season, and the best times to visit.
The thermal complex opens first every day at 7 AM. Even in January, you can enjoy a hot bath outdoors at this early hour. Closing times vary from 7 PM to 8 PM depending on the month. The aqua park and Open Air zones start operations at 9 AM or 10 AM.
Let’s explore the zones within the aqua park:
It’s crucial to understand:
Ticket prices depend on the zones you wish to access. There are no time-bound tickets. Even if you arrive at Hungarospa an hour before closing, you’ll purchase a full-day ticket (with a few exceptions).
Hungarospa’s aqua park comprises three zones along with a 50-meter swimming pool for training purposes. Access to the pool is included with any ticket purchase, but I won’t delve into it further as it’s generally less interesting for tourists, though worth noting it exists.
- Zone #1: Open Air or Beach covers 30 hectares of open area with numerous amusements, fast-food spots, pools, and loungers. It includes 13 open-air pools, 10 of which are for children, along with a wave pool, whirlpool, and jacuzzi. There are also courts for volleyball, football, and tennis. Visitors can even paddle boats on the lake. Additionally, there’s a separate area with slides called Aquapark, which requires an additional fee.
- As mentioned earlier, it’s open from May to September, suitable for both children and adults.
- Additionally, there is an Aquapark zone: 15 slides, many of them extreme. The height of some is 12 meters, and the total length of all slides is 1 km. An additional ticket is required here. There are slides for both adults and children.
- Zone #2: The indoor zone under a large dome, also known as Aqua Palace, houses pools, jacuzzis, small slides, and waterfalls.
- This zone is open year-round and suitable for families. Aqua Palace is more appealing to children with its various zones and amusements. Adults might find it less engaging.
- Zone #3: Thermal Baths, also known as Thermal Bath, operates year-round from 7 AM. The thermal complex comprises four outdoor pools (pictured earlier) and three indoor thermal pools.
- This place isn’t suitable for children under 6 years due to medical reasons. Older children are allowed, but they might find it dull and uninteresting. Visitors come here for relaxation and tranquility; running and roughhousing are discouraged.
Useful information:
In most thermal baths across the country, there are several saunas accessible to visitors. However, in Hajdúszoboszló, there’s only one sauna available for an additional fee, roughly 4 euros. You can purchase it on-site once inside. There’s no separate sauna complex; only hot thermal baths with water temperatures ranging from 36 to 38 degrees Celsius.
Hungarospa Prices
For up-to-date prices, it’s essential to check the website before your visit. The Hungarian forint’s exchange rate is not the most stable, and prices might fluctuate several times a year. Here are the ticket prices converted to euros as of late 2023. Remember, these tickets are valid for the entire day and are not time-restricted.
- Thermal complex only (Zone #3): around 12 euros
- Aqua-Palace, Thermal Bath (Zones #2 and #3): 24 euros
- All-zone access, including 15 slides in the Open Air zone: about 35 euros
- Open Air zone only (without aqua park slides): 12 euros. After 4 PM, there are discounted entry tickets available for 10 euros.
- Access only to the outdoor Aquapark with 15 slides: 15 euros
- Tickets only for Aqua-Palace: 15 euros
- All prices mentioned are for adults; there are family and children’s ticket options available.
Tips for Visiting and Review
The ticket system at water parks across the country can be quite confusing, especially for newcomers. Here are a few tips to help you choose the right package and save money specifically at Hajdúszoboszló:
- If you’re traveling without children:
- During winter, opt for tickets to the Thermal Bath only. Adults might find Aqua-Palace less engaging.
- In summer, it’s best to get the most full ticket granting access to everything. It includes slides, large pools in the Open Air zone, and thermal baths. The Aqua-Palace in this ticket is a bonus; you can’t skip it.
- If you’re traveling with kids, consider: Are you prepared to take turns visiting the thermal baths while the other parent stays with the children? If not, you might skip the thermal baths altogether.
- During winter with kids, the Aqua-Palace is a must.
- In summer, opt for Aqua-Palace and Open Air, including the slides.
Review and Key Advice:
Visiting during a non-summer season when the outdoor section is closed doesn’t truly reflect it as Europe’s largest aqua park. I wouldn’t recommend visiting here with kids during winter; there are fewer indoor entertainment options. It’s better to visit more convenient water parks like Aquaticum in Debrecen or Aquapolis in Szeged. However, for adults without kids, the best time to visit is winter. Even though the summer section is closed, lounging in hot outdoor baths during winter is fantastic. Plus, there are far fewer people during this time.
- For a list of the best thermal complexes in Hungary with hot baths available year-round.
- For a list of the best thermal complexes in Hungary with hot baths available year-round.
- If interested, read about the beautiful city of Szeged. It houses two amazing thermal complexes, one of which is a full-fledged aqua park with baths for the whole family. Here, there are many more entertainment options for children.
In conclusion: Hungarospa in Hajdúszoboszló is open year-round. If you’re driving past the town, be sure to stop by. It’s fantastic for families in summer, with a genuinely enormous aqua park. In winter, I recommend it for those without kids; come for the hot baths and soak in the atmosphere. Remember, Hungary hosts dozens of similar aqua parks; there’s no need to travel across the country. You might find an equally impressive complex close to your location.
IMPORTANT: Below are useful links that will help organize your trip to Hungary and Budapest:
- Flight: Aviasales – compares prices for flights among 30+ airlines flying to Budapest.
- Tours and excursions:
- Viator and GetYourGuide – the best services for finding tours in Budapest and Hungary with the largest database of activities in Hungary. They offer river cruises on the Danube, tickets to baths, and 1000+ tours (available in different languages).
- Accommodation, apartments, hotels, hostels:
- Car rental: DiscoverCars – the leading and largest car rental service in Hungary.
- Travel Insurance: EKTA.
- eSIM – Airalo virtual SIM card in Hungary.
- Taxi and airport transfers: Intui.Travel