Hungary is a world leader in thermal baths tourism, and the Pannonian Basin is extremely rich in underground thermal springs. While most of the local spas have a more traditional character, you can also find a number of more modern, family-friendly waterparks. We have selected eight of the best aquaparks in Hungary for you. They include outdoor and indoor areas, as well as large and smaller waterparks in different parts of the country. All you have to do is choose.
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The Best Waterparks in Hungary
1. Aquaworld Resort, Budapest
You can find this large Hungarian aquapark right in the country’s capital, Budapest. It’s located a little outside the city center, in the northeastern part of the city near the Megyeri Bridge. It’s a great place to visit if you are on vacation or a multi-day trip in Budapest and want to enjoy some water fun and relaxation with the whole family.
Aquaworld Resort Budapest was built in 2008 and is a typical modern aquapark, consisting mainly of indoor spaces. The advantage is that most of the complex is open all year round. On an area of approximately 10 hectares, you will find 17 pools with a total water surface of around 3,300 square meters. The heart of the complex is a glass dome with a diameter of 72 meters. Underneath, there are pools and a water world decorated in the style of the jungle city of Angkor in Cambodia. There are palms and magnificent backdrops that create a strongly exotic impression.
Aquaworld also offers many attractions. There are over ten waterslides and you can also enjoy a surf simulator, artificial waves, aquazorbing, a lazy river, and a host of other options and activities. Aquaworld also has an outdoor section with several pools, spacious relaxation areas, and a large children’s playground with climbing frames, a rope park, and other attractions. For children, the aquapark also has a separate indoor children’s pool for the little ones and a fantastic Bongo Kids Club playroom.
Parents, on the other hand, can enjoy a moment of peace in the huge and well-equipped three-floor wellness center with its own pools, saunas, hot tubs, a fitness center and, of course, an extensive range of wellness and spa services and treatments.
Additionally, you can stay directly at the aquapark in the Aquaworld Resort Budapest hotel.
2. Aquaréna Mogyoród
Aquaréna Aquapark is located just a short distance northeast of the Hungarian capital, Budapest. Specifically, it’s near the town of Mogyoród, and you can get here from the center of Budapest in about 30 minutes by car or by public transport (regular bus line 321). It is an outdoor waterpark located in the countryside, away from built-up areas.
This not-so-spacious aquapark covers an area of about 5 hectares (over 11 hectares including the campsite and parking lots) but offers a remarkably pleasant atmosphere. The environment is very nice, even if it doesn’t “smell new.” There is plenty of greenery and grassy areas for relaxing, and the aquapark’s great pride is its truly large and long waterslides and a proper lazy river. In total, there are 28 waterslides with a total length of 1.5 km, which is an impressive number and length.
The aquapark also features hot tubs, plunge pools, and of course, larger pools for fun, relaxation, or even some sports. There are two larger, segmented pools in the lower part of the park and several smaller ones located under the large waterslides. It is a great place primarily for fun with the whole family, but less so for lap swimming.
The advantages of the aquapark are the calm environment and nice slides, as well as the fact that it’s usually not particularly crowded. The disadvantages are the more limited pool areas, some of the equipment shows its age, and the prices are rather high for Hungarian standards. If needed, you can stay at the campsite right next to the aquapark.
3. AquaCity Waterslide and Adventure Park, Zalaegerszeg
Another nice, pleasant, and well-equipped purely outdoor waterpark in the countryside is the AquaCity Waterslide and Adventure Park, located near the city of Zalaegerszeg. This city is in western Hungary, just over 30 km from the shores of Lake Balaton and a similar distance from the Austrian border. The waterpark is located outside the city, about 3 km from the center, and only about 50 meters from the large natural lake Gébárti-tó, which offers more great swimming opportunities and is very popular with tourists. A campsite and other accommodation options are nearby.
The AquaCity aquapark itself covers an area of around 8 hectares but offers truly extensive water surfaces. There are large pools with a total water area of 6,000 square meters, which is quite a lot not only for Hungary but also for European aquaparks in general. In this respect, AquaCity is essentially the opposite of Aquaréna from the previous entry.
In the aquapark, you’ll find several very large pools, a wave pool, a 300 m long lazy river, three hot tubs, a children’s pool, a deep pool with a diving board, and seven waterslides. In addition, there is a climbing wall, sports courts, a children’s playground, and even an outdoor workout park, a water obstacle course, water cannons, and much more. The park can be described as very well-equipped, even if it’s not the newest. It is also exceptionally spacious and enjoys very good reviews. You certainly won’t regret visiting.
4. Hungarospa Aquapark, Hajdúszoboszló
Hungarospa is a gigantic and interesting, though not exactly new, outdoor and indoor thermal aquapark located on the outskirts of the spa town of Hajdúszoboszló, near the city of Debrecen, in the northeastern part of Hungary.
The largest part of the complex (which is over 40 hectares) consists mainly of an outdoor lido spread around a natural reservoir, interwoven with large waterslides and other interesting features. The lido is quite extensive and offers a large number of water surfaces. For example, there is a pool over 100 meters long, which is also decorated with a large ship, a tall lighthouse, a pool bar, and an artificial sandy beach. At other pools, you’ll find impressive artificial rocks with waterfalls, and the children’s pool has a castle backdrop. There is also a lazy river and many other interesting elements.
The indoor section, called AquaPalace, operates year-round and has its own 20 smaller pools, waterslides, and an interesting environment, including an artificial cave and other facilities. Of course, there is an exceptionally large and extensive wellness center with various spas, thermal pools, and saunas.
As a result, this waterpark feels quite opulent, but on the other hand, it also seems a bit run-down. However, if you really like very large lidos and aquaparks, you should definitely visit this place. The entrance fee is higher, comparable to much more modern European aquaparks. On the other hand, it really has everything and a lot of it, so you probably won’t feel like you’ve invested your money poorly.
You can stay directly at the aquapark in the well-rated Hungarospa Thermal Hotel or in mobile homes.
5. Annagora Aquapark, Balatonfüred
This aquapark is located right next to Lake Balaton, less than half a kilometer from its shores near the town of Balatonfüred in a popular tourist area with a number of campsites and other accommodation options. This indoor and outdoor lido is not extremely large (approx. 4 hectares of area), but the environment is truly very nice. You are surrounded by lush greenery and plenty of shade thanks to the tall, beautiful, and ever-present trees.
The lido feels segmented with many backdrops and decorative elements, including walkways and bridges, gazebos, shelters, and walls. There are also a number of waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and beaches with umbrellas like by the sea.
The small indoor areas primarily house the wellness facilities. There is a hot tub and two massage pools, several saunas and steam cabins, an ice cave, a tepidarium, and other equipment. However, the basic full-day entrance fee (including access to the waterslides) is not exactly cheap by Hungarian standards (9,000 Ft).
Leaving aside the somewhat higher prices, this aquapark is a really nice place for a full day of family fun and relaxation. It can also be said that some elements could use renovation. Nevertheless, Annagora is one of the nicer, well-maintained older Hungarian aquaparks.
Balaton is also a beautiful holiday destination, so you can combine a visit to the aquapark with exploring the lake. You can find cheap accommodation offers here.
6. Gyulai Várfürdő
The city of Gyula is located on the southeastern border of Hungary and attracts tourists with its thermal spas and breathtaking monuments. The city’s dominant features are its castle and fortress, surrounded by beautiful parks. Right next to these landmarks is the aquapark Gyulai Várfürdő, also known as Gyula Castle Spa.
It is another thermal lido with both outdoor and indoor sections. In total, on an area of around 7 hectares, you will find 23 pools with a water surface of about 5,500 square meters. There is more than enough space for all kinds of water activities—from relaxation and fun to sports.
The outdoor section offers a large swimming pool and a children’s pool with an extensive water climbing castle with waterslides and other fun elements. The indoor part (AquaPalace) has been open since 2013 and can be said to be the main and more interesting part of this aquapark. Most of the attractions are concentrated here. The environment is also very attractive, with high ceilings, large columns, artificial rocks, winding waterslides, artificial caves and rivers, and a well-equipped wellness center.
Gyulai Várfürdő is a highly-rated spa and aquapark, whose benefit is its highly concentrated thermal healing water. The environment and options will please children, parents, and grandparents alike. In short, it’s a nice place for everyone.
7. Sunshine Aquapolis Szeged
The city of Szeged, which lies in the very south of Hungary near the Serbian border, is home not only to beautiful monuments and a bastion of Hungarian gastronomy, but also to the nice spa and aquapark Sunshine Aquapolis.
It is a large outdoor and indoor complex that houses many pools and attractions. Overall, the lido offers 4,400 square meters of water surface. The complex’s pride is its truly huge waterslides, which are 223 and 272 meters long. This puts them among the longest waterslides in Europe and can offer an amazing and intense experience for children and adults, especially since the descent starts from a 30-meter-high tower.
In addition, there are a number of other waterslides with a total length of more than 1,000 meters. There are children’s pools and pools for relaxation or swimming. The wellness area is also excellent, with a 25-meter swimming pool, hot tubs, a Finnish, salt, steam, or aroma sauna, and an outdoor log cabin sauna.
You can visit the aquapark at any time of the year, and even in winter, when the outdoor part is closed, it still offers more than enough to do. When visiting Szeged or the surrounding area, it is an ideal place to cool off and have some water fun.
8. Aqua Island Esztergom
The Hungarian city of Esztergom is located directly on the border with Slovakia. On the opposite bank of the Danube, which borders the city, is the Slovak spa town of Štúrovo. The dominant feature of this historically very important city, full of monuments, is a rocky promontory with the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Only about 300 meters from this magnificent landmark is the Aqua Island aquapark, from which you can get a beautiful view of the basilica.
The aquapark also has outdoor pools, but the main part is indoors. The quality, size, and condition of this waterpark can be roughly compared to medium-sized, older Czech aquaparks. In other words, it is probably not a reason to travel a long distance on its own, but if you are in or near Esztergom, you can enjoy water fun, go for a swim, and indulge in wellness services, etc.
Inside and out, there are several pools, a lazy river, and a number of waterslides, which are not particularly numerous, but are sufficient for less demanding visitors. Moreover, this aquapark is a good value for the price—a large family of five can enjoy a day here for the equivalent of approximately 40 euro, which is truly excellent.
