Visit Hungary > Balaton Lake

Lake Balaton, the largest fresh-water lake in Central Europe, is understandably the most popular summer resort area in Hungary. Since the lake is shallow, its water gets warm very easily and its beaches are open from May till September.

Nobody quite knows who first declared their love for Lake Balaton. Perhaps a poet, or a traveler, but it's a fact that from the early 19th century onwards, more and more professions of admiration for the lake were recorded. First in beautiful prose, then in newspaper articles, nowadays in virtually everyday speech. For those who haven't been yet it is hard to understand the attraction of Lake Balaton. For those who are curious, we can provide an answer for every question. 

Painters and photographers rightfully believe Hungary's best panoramas are the hills that rise from the lake. Wine lovers sing the praises of the Kéknyelu from Badacsony, or the Italian Riesling of Boglár, while gastonomes rave about the toothfish delicacies. Fishermen tell of metre-plus long fish, yachtsmen of racing boats bent over in the wind, rheumatics of the healing powers of the Hévíz thermal baths, music lovers of the Tihany organ recitals, and opera fanciers of the Siófok opera galas.

The tour leads us to Balatonfüred, located on the northern shore which is the oldest spa resort by the lake. In the 19th century many prominent people, writers, actors, actresses and singers built holiday homes and villas in the city, like the summer residence of actress Blaha Lujza and writer Jókai Mór. Beside these holiday homes, there is also the large state heart sanatorium.

We continue and stop in Tihany at the Tihany Peninsula, famous for its breathtaking panorama and the 11th-century abbey, which we visit after a three-course lunch in a typical Hungarian restaurant called "Csárda”.

During your stay, don't miss a boat trip on the lake and visit the most famous porcelain factory in Hungary: Herend.