Flavius Theodosius, the emperor who was a sickly child, or the best-known legend of the origin of Lake Hévíz
According to the ancient legend about the birth of the lake and its healing powers, Flavius, a Roman boy, was brought up by a Christian nurse here in Pannonia. The boy was weak and of poor health but his father was a great military leader so the nurse prayed to Virgin Mary to help him. The Holy Virgin, hearing her prayer, caused a spring to gush forth, in the healing water of which the child was bathed every day. The hot water of the spring and the steaming mud made the child's body grow stronger and stronger. Later, the boy became the Emperor of Eastern Rome, Flavius Theodosius, who made Christianity the state religion of his empire in 391. Since then, the water of the spring has been feeding Lake Hévíz and has brought healing to many.
When it comes to Hévíz and the Romans, there is no doubt that there were several places in the settlement and the surrounding area where people lived in Roman times. Local excavations show that there was a significant settlement in the period of the Roman empire in the present-day Egregy district. Several finds of the Villa Rustica - or villa farm - show that the settlement was inhabited from the 1st century until the 5th century. Roman artefacts were found not only in Egregy but also in other parts of Hévíz: Roman coins, earthenware, and an altar stone of Jupiter were found in the bed of Lake Hévíz.
The formation of Lake Hévíz in reality…
Lake Hévíz was born at the same time as Lake Balaton 20-22 thousand years ago. The origin of Lake Hévíz dates back to the time when the basalt mountains around Lake Balaton and Lake Balaton itself were born. At the end of the Pannonian period, volcanoes broke up the landscape of the Transdanubian region. The first signs of postvolcanic activity were the eruption of hot springs, such as the original Hévíz thermal spring. Archaeological excavations show that people lived here as early as the end of the Stone Age. In addition, many legends are dating back to different periods about the healing properties of the water here. According to Roman remains and finds, Hévíz was already a settlement 2,000 years ago, but even more surprisingly, water samples taken upon the discovery of the spring cave suggest that the cold water from the spring is 8,000 years old, while the hot medicinal water is 12,000 years old.
Are you interested in other things?
From 3 November 2025, Lake Hévíz can be accessed only via the entrance on Ady Street through the Festetics Day Spa.
Bathing is allowed only outdoors.
• Wellness area (the admission ticket includes the wellness usage fee)
• Vital Bar and Medio Buffet
• Covered rest areas in the section between Festetics Bathhouse and Vital Bar / Medio Buffet (“C” and “D” buildings)
• Outdoor shoreline section between the main entrance and the Festetics Day Spa (seasonally)
A limit is introduced on the accessible territories of the Lake Bath, which determines the simultaneous capacity of the facilities. For up‑to‑date information, please contact the information desk:
E‑mail: spaheviz@spaheviz.hu
Mobile: +36 30 959 1002
• Deák Square entrance
• Central Bathhouse (“A” building and “B” terrace)
• Northern water surface (between the “A” building and the Summer building)
Detailed information about the closure of the central Bathhouse (“A” building and “B” terrace) is available on www.spaheviz.hu.
Due to technical preparation work, phased closures on the water surface and shoreline are expected.
• Patient lift: at the outdoor seating pool (Vital Bar terrace, “C” Building )
Our staff provide assistance with the use of the patient lift.
Yearly opening hours |
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| Opening | End of bathing and wellness time | Closing | |
| 2025.10.06. - 2025.10.25. | 9:00 | 17:00 | 17:30 |
| 2025.10.26. - 2026.02.08. | 8:30 | 16:00 | 16:30 |
| 2026.02.09. - 2026.03.29. | 9:00 | 17:00 | 17:30 |
Closing time on 24.12.2025 is at 14:00; on 31.12.2025 at 16:00. Opening time is at 11:00 on 01.01.2026.
Hévíz Lake Bath and Festetics Bathhouse price list
Valid from 03.11.2025 to 31.03.2026
2-hour admission + WELLNESS ACCESS |
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| Valid only on the day of purchase – entitles to a one-time entry. Includes the use of the wellness area. An additional charge will be levied if the allotted time limit is exceeded. Additional time extension cannot be purchased after the time limit has expired. Admission for children under the age of 6 is free of charge. | |
| 2-hour admission | 3 000 HUF |
| 2-hour admission seniors - Available for individuals over the age of 60. Can be purchased upon prior presentation of a valid photo ID. | 2 500 HUF |
| 2-hour admission students - Available for individuals over the age of 14. Can be purchased upon prior presentation of a valid student card. | 2 500 HUF |
| 2-hour admission children - Available for children aged 6 to 14. | 1 500 HUF |
| 2-hour admission groups - Discounted 2-hour admission - available for groups of 20 people or more, if payed in one sum. | 2500 HUF/Person |
Memberships + WELLNESS ACCESS |
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| 10-hour membership - Valid for 20 days (can be used on the day of purchase + 19 calendar days) - the pass grants entry twice per day. Includes the use of the wellness area. The deposit is refundable within 5 calendar days after the expiration date. | 13 000 Ft + 2 000 Ft deposit |
| 20-hour membership - Valid for 30 days (can be used on the day of purchase + 29 calendar days) - the pass grants entry twice per day. Includes the use of the wellness area. The deposit is refundable within 5 calendar days after the expiration date. | 23 000 Ft + 2 000 Ft deposit |
Other rates |
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| + 1 hour extension - Usable for extending the 2-hour admission. Valid once per admission. | 1 500 HUF |
| Additional charge - For exceeding the allotted time limit, payable for every 30 minutes. | 1 000 HUF |
| Cloakroom - Operates seasonally - the fee applies per coat/package. | 300 HUF |
| Safety deposit box - Usage is free of charge. |
2000 HUF deposit |
| Swimring rental - Daily fee. | 700 HUF + 2 000 HUF deposit |
| Sauna towel | 500 HUF |
Online purchased tickets and gift vouchers can be redeemed at the information desk located in the Festetics Day Spa.
Gift vouchers purchased from 1 October 2025, can be redeemed between 1 April 2026 and 31 October 2026.
General information
- The depth of the lake is 2 to 38 m.
• We reserve the right to change prices and opening hours.
• The price of purchased tickets can not be refunded.
• Accepted means of payment: cash (HUF), bank card or SZÉP card.
• By purchasing admission to the lake area, visitors implicitly agree to adhere to the house rules.
• Admission for children under the age of 6 is free.
• Swimring rental is possible only with the purchase of a rental ticket and the payment of a deposit. The Bath refunds the deposit only, if the rented equipment is returned until the end of bathing time, on the day of rental. Payment is possible only in cash (in Hungarian Forint).
• The admission tickets include the use of the wellness area. Wellness and sauna services are available to individuals over 12 years of age only. For reasons of hygiene, one sauna towel is provided for each wellness admission.
• For more information, please contact the information counter at the Festetics Day Spa
