"At the thermal water outlet, local non-profit VALYO created a small circular jacuzzi-style pool from the stones along the Danube embankment. It’s a classic case of one man’s trash is another man’s treasure: the pool is fed by the drainpipe carrying out the used thermal water from the fancy pools of the nearby Gellért Baths. The water stays fairly hot, around 32°C, which makes it feel like a hidden hot tub.

Anyone can end up here - sometimes out of necessity, like homeless people who don’t have access to bathing facilities, and sometimes for fun, like students of the nearby Budapest Tech celebrating after finishing their exams. The area also has plenty of driftwood, so it’s not uncommon to see campfires or even small barbecues right next to the pool. Several fire pits have been built from the same stones that form the pool itself.

It’s worth noting that the hot tub is only accessible when the Danube’s water level is low enough to expose the drain outlet. And technically, bathing here is forbidden - fines are given if you’re caught. Still, it’s one of those quirky, offbeat Budapest spots that locals whisper about."

Bela Gergely

"Best of Budapest. The Kifolyó (“Outlet”) began as a spontaneous “jacuzzi” formed by thermal water flowing from the Szent Gellért Bath into the Danube. People piled stones around it to create a makeshift pool .

In 2016, around 50 architecture students from the BME (Budapest University of Technology)—as part of the “BETON” workshop—formalized this spot into a semi-permanent community space: concrete benches, steps leading down to the water, dog bowls, stepping stones, and an info board .

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🎓 Purpose and Organization

Organized via BME’s BETON concrete design course, in collaboration with S39 Hybrid Design Manufaktúra and Valyo, a civic organization focused on the city’s riverside areas .

Supported by BME and the Visegrad Fund, with help from partners like Doka, Bosch, and Fischer .

The aim is to activate underused riverfront space by creating a flood-resistant, open-air gathering spot at the edge of the Danube .

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🎉 Community Impact

The area now hosts informal meetups, barbecues, and small public events, with university students adding smart design elements and creative touches annually .

This “urban laboratory” has transformed a formerly neglected riverside into a vibrant public space, fostering grassroots community engagement .

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🌟 Ongoing Developments

Since its inception in 2011, the BETON course continually refines and expands Kifolyó. In 2017, a mini-conference at the KÉK Contemporary Architecture Centre showcased workshops, concrete demonstrations, and river‑front barbeques .

Designs include hemp‑concrete experiments, concrete-casting with rubber ducks, public seating, and playful art installations .

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✅ Summary

Kifolyó is a free, grassroots, thermal‑water gathering spot at Gellért tér, the product of student creativity, civic action, and architectural experimentation. It turns hot spring overflow into a social, public hub on Budapest’s riverside—fully free to use, flood-safe, and constantly evolving under community stewardship."

Jesus On Molly World Tour

"I hadn't realised this was a known place where people came to visit when l stumbled upon it one early evening and observed some locals bathing here. Good idea- cheapest spa and open to all."

Vanessa Browning