After a major overhaul, Budapest’s biggest water-sports facility is now open to the public. Created to host the 2017 FINA World Championships, the Duna Aréna has been closed since last summer’s event as the building was being redesigned for communal use. The pool complex has just reopened for anyone over the age of five to make a splash. For the time being, working hours are limited, with admission from 10am to 3pm Mondays to Saturdays. The surrounding Dagály Baths, the former family-friendly lido upon which the Duna Aréna was constructed, are also due to reopen in the near future.
Major FINA 2017 venue for the swimming and diving competitions, the Duna Aréna has opened to the general public with redesigned attractions. A full-price ticket costs 800 forints and grants you access to the warm-up pool, 1.2-2.2 metres deep.
The same pass allows you to submerge in the jacuzzi, where water temperatures are kept at 34-36°C. A training pool for children also features. The Duna Aréna ticket counter opens at 9:30am and the day’s last passes are allocated at 2:15pm. There are also plans for the imminent opening of the renovated Dagály Baths, complete with new outdoor pools and a spa centre.
Architect Marcel Ferencz was the main creative force behind the Duna Aréna, transforming the Dagály Baths into a contemporary venue worthy of staging the world’s biggest aquatic attraction in Budapest last year. Design of the new pool complex features an exterior that mirrors and blends in with the Danube. Thanks to its renovation, the largest lido in Pest should be a spectacular spa and water complex for families wishing to swim, and for athletes looking to win medals.
