Balaton is a huge area of water. The most popular attraction of Hungary is located in the heart of the country and is called the Hungarian sea, it offers not only beautiful beaches and resorts. On its shores, from northern health resorts to southern resorts, a variety of attractions await tourists. Surrounded by charming resorts, the area around Lake Balaton is an ideal place for a holiday.
How to get to Lake Balaton ?
There are frequent, fast, and direct trains from Budapest, serving both shores of Lake Balaton (be sure to check in advance which side of the lake you want to go to and choose the right train).
In Budapest the trains depart from Deli station, you can easily reach it by metro as it’s the last stop on the red line 2. They also stop at Kelenföld station (at the end of green line 4 of the metro) but I recommend taking the train from Deli.
Location
Lake Balaton, largest lake of central Europe, located in central Hungary about 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Budapest. It has an area of 231 square miles (598 square km) and extends for 48 miles (77 km) along the southern foothills of the Bakony Mountains of Hungary.
Worth seeing ?
- Siófok is a spa town on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, and also the largest resort on the lake with the famous Nagy Strand beach.
Attractions:
Relaxing on the beaches, gelling and swimming in Lake Balaton. Among the largest and most famous beaches in Siofok are Nagy Strand (Great Beach), east of the Sio Canal, next to the marina, where the Petofi promenade and a colorful holiday market stretch along. At Aranypart (Golden Beach), the beaches are more crowded and large hotels are built around them. A quieter place is Ezustpart (Silver Shore).
- Balatonfüred is a town and summer Spa that offers thermal springs, surrounding vineyards and a soothing climate. This is definitely one of the most beautiful towns on Lake Balaton, located on its northern shore.
Attractions:
Beautifully renovated villas of former celebrities look out from behind the plants that line the streets, and pubs, clubs and restaurants tempt walkers with a rich menu – both gastronomic and entertainment. Balatonfüred also has thermal springs, surrounding vineyards and a soothing climate. The Tagore Sétány promenade is an ideal place for a walk, during which you can also admire the beautiful sculptures placed along it. Another interesting local attraction is the Lóczy Cave – you can see fantastic rock formations.
- Balatonalmádi is a popular resort on the northeastern coast of Lake Balaton in Hungary. It is located approximately 120 km from the city of Keszthely and 120 km from Budapest.
Attractions:
The town owes its popularity mainly to its mild microclimate and picturesque grassy beaches. Holidaymakers can enjoy three well-developed beaches (Wesselényi Strand, Budatava Strand, Káptalan Strand), a marina, a sports airport and numerous windsurfing schools. There are also several historic temples preserved in Balatonalmádi. The most interesting of them include: a 13th-century fortified church (Erőditett templom) surrounded by a wall, an 18th-century Jesuit monastery (now the Kolostor hotel), the Art Nouveau church of St. Emeryk (Szent Imre templom) with the famous chapel of the Right of St. Stephen and the Baroque Catholic church.
- Hévíz city and lake – is the largest biologically active thermal lake that heals both soul and body at the same time.
Attractions:
The city presents buildings typical of spa towns. Wide promenades, neat villas, small parks – all this encourages you to walk. One of the most interesting buildings is the Church of the Holy Spirit, whose facade is made up of interconnected towers. Right next to it we can see a small fountain with a sculpture of a naked, sensual nymph – this is also one of the symbols of Hévíz.
- Fonyod is a popular resort with a beautiful beach and many tourist attractions.
Attractions:
Fonyód and the surrounding area are a great place to relax on the Hungarian Lake Balaton. Well-kept and long beaches, beautiful views and restaurants serving local food. The most frequently visited place in Fonyod is its port and the 464-meter long pier (the longest on the Balaton coast). In my opinion, this place offers one of the most beautiful views of a Hungarian lake. Fonyód is a popular modern summer resort in Hungary, located on the southern shore of Lake Balaton.
For vacationers, there is a sandy beach, a marina and a campsite with a recreation complex. Two small mountains rise near the shore – Várhegy (232 meters above sea level) and Sipos (107 meters above sea level). Both have viewpoints offering a beautiful panorama of the northern shore of Lake Balaton and the majestic Badacsony Mountain surrounded by a group of volcanic cones. Moreover, on August 20, the grape harvest festival and triathlon competitions (Balaton Triatlon Nagydij) take place here.
- Tapolca – a spa town in western Hungary, north of Lake Balaton, in the Bakonian Forest.
Attractions:
Tapolca: surrounded by the green hills of the Bacon Forest, is an excellent choice for a relaxing stay. The location in the heart of a region famous for vineyards, rich culture and history – will provide many attractions and interesting activities. However, the greatest treasure of Tapolca are the extraordinary hot springs that will guarantee health-beneficial relaxation. The temperature of the local thermal waters reaches 28-34 degrees C. It is also worth seeing the lake in Heviz, the SUMEK castle, the “Panonchalma” abbey, of course Lake Balaton and the baroque Festetics palace in Keszthely.
