Lake Hévíz (Hévízi Tófürdő)

What to expect

Lake Hévíz is a warm, spring-fed lake near the western end of Lake Balaton, in a small spa town built around it. It is roughly round, about 250 m across, and sits in a crater whose spring cave lies 38 m down. Warm water rises from that cave at around 410 litres a second, so the lake turns over completely about every three days. The tourist office calls it the world’s largest peat-bed spa lake; most other sources settle on the largest swimmable thermal lake in Europe.

This is open-water swimming, not a pool. Away from the edge the lake is far too deep to stand, and the bottom is soft peat. Most bathers hire a swim ring and float, often in small groups, chatting while they drift. The water is rich in sulphur and other minerals, water lilies grow around the margins, and a thin white algae film on the surface is a normal part of the lake.

The operator is the Hévíz St. Andrew Hospital for Rheumatology and Medicinal Spa, and the place still feels part spa, part clinic. Plenty of visitors combine the lake with medical treatments booked through the spa.

The central bathhouse closure

For decades the image of Hévíz was a wooden bathhouse on stilts in the middle of the lake, reached by covered walkways. That building, Building A and Terrace B, has been closed since March 18, 2025. An expert report on its structure found that it could no longer safely take guests. The lake itself never closed.

In 2026 you bathe outdoors only. You get into the water from the shoreline areas between the main entrance and the Festetics Bathhouse, and use the summer building, the covered rest areas (buildings C and D), the wellness area and the Vital Bar. A long-term rebuild is planned, and a temporary floating “Island Bath” has been proposed, but neither had replaced the old building by October 2026.

Water temperature

The temperature follows the seasons more than people expect:

• Summer: 95-100°F35-38°C at the surface, warm enough that a long float is tiring.
• Winter: the operator says it does not fall below 72°F22°C; the tourist office says about 75°F24°C on the coldest days.
• Spring water: about 104°F40°C where it rises in the cave.

Winter is the dramatic time to come. Steam lies over the lake, the air may be below freezing, and the water feels warm in contrast. It is cooler than many people imagine, though, so do not expect hot-tub heat.

Getting there

Hévíz is in Zala County, about 4.5 km (3 miles) northwest of Keszthely as the crow flies. From Budapest, take the M7 motorway toward Lake Balaton and follow signs for Keszthely and Hévíz. Hévíz-Balaton Airport at Sármellék is about 12 km (7 miles) south.

There is no railway station in Hévíz. Trains run to Keszthely, and local buses link Keszthely with Hévíz. The lake bath’s main entrance is on Dr. Schulhof Vilmos sétány. A second entrance on Deák Square opens only in high summer.

When to go

The bath is open all year, with hours that change through the season:

• October 5 to 24, 2026: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., main entrance open.
• October 25 to November 1, 2026: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., main entrance open.
• November 2, 2026 to February 14, 2027: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., entry only through the Festetics Bathhouse.
• February 15 to March 21, 2027: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., entry through the Festetics Bathhouse.
• Summer (June 1 to August 30, 2026): 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On December 24 the bath closes at 2 p.m., on December 31 at 4 p.m., and on January 1 it opens at 11 a.m. The tourist office notes its tables do not all agree on winter closing times, so confirm locally. Summer weekends are the most crowded time.

Prices and booking

Prices valid from March 30, 2026:

• 3-hour ticket: adults HUF 4,500, seniors over 60 and students over 14 HUF 4,000, children 6-14 HUF 2,400.
• Full day: adults HUF 7,500, seniors and students HUF 7,000, children HUF 3,600.
• Evening ticket (last two hours of bathing): HUF 3,600.
• Wellness and sauna supplement: HUF 3,300, ages 12 and up. Entry tickets do not include the saunas.
• 10-hour pass valid 20 days: HUF 13,000 plus a HUF 2,000 deposit.
• Swim ring hire: HUF 700 a day plus a HUF 2,000 deposit. Return it before bathing ends or you lose the deposit.
• Changing cabin (summer building, seasonal): HUF 1,800. Safe boxes are free with a HUF 2,000 deposit.

Children under 6 go free. Staying past your ticket costs HUF 1,000 per 30 minutes. You can pay in cash (forints), by card or with a SZÉP card. Tickets are non-refundable and valid only on the day you buy them.

Bathing culture

Hévíz is a cure resort first. Many bathers are older people on doctor-prescribed courses, and the tone is quiet. Swimsuits are the norm. Eating in the water is not allowed, smoking is limited to marked areas, and you should be careful about photographing other bathers. The operator suggests 20 to 30 minute sessions with breaks, and no more than 1 to 1.5 hours a day in the water.

Children are allowed, but the house rules do not recommend lake bathing for under-12s and require adult supervision if they go in. For a young family, a pool-based bath such as Kehida Termál in Kehidakustány, a short drive north, is more practical.

Where to stay nearby

Hévíz is full of spa hotels, guesthouses and apartments, most within walking distance of the lake. Keszthely, on the Balaton shore, has more choice and a lakeside promenade. There is no lodging inside the lake bath itself.

Safety notes

• Deep water: The lake is up to 38 m deep and you cannot touch the bottom away from the edge. Weak swimmers should use a swim ring.
• Medical advice: The operator does not recommend the lake for people with cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, fever or infection, or for pregnant women. Talk to a doctor first if any of that applies.
• Heat in summer: At 95-100°F35-38°C, long floats raise your body temperature. Take breaks and drink water.
• Slippery steps: Wet steps and ladders into the lake can be slippery. Go in slowly.