Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton, Hungary

Hungary has no marine coastline, but it does have the largest freshwater body in Central Europe, Lake Balaton. The lake has been popular since the Magyar tribes first galloped into the Carpathian Basin in 896, and it shows no signs of losing its appeal. A collection of resort towns and an interesting bicycle route ring the 77 kilometres long lake.

Hévíz-Balaton Airport is 20 kilometres from Keszthely at the southern end of the lake. From there, you can hire a car or take a bus and explore some of the resorts.

Population:

Keszthely: 22,000
Siófok: 24,000
Balatonfüred: 13,300

Currency:

Hungarian Forint (Ft or HUF) = 100 fillér

Emergency Numbers:

European Emergency Line: 112
Ambulance: 104
Fire Brigade: 105
Police: 107

Opening Hours:

Shops around Lake Balaton are normally open between 10am–6pm during the week and from 9am–1pm on Saturdays.
Museums in Hungary are closed on Mondays. Most shops are closed on Sundays, though you may find a few smaller food stores and shops open.

Newspapers:

Népszabadság
Magyar Hírlap
HVG (Havi Vilaggazdaság)
The Budapest Times

The Lake

Lake Balaton offers a long shoreline dotted with family resorts on the southern side and welcoming vineyards to the north. With its green and silky water, the lake is Hungary’s favorite summer retreat.

However, there is much more to do all year around than just lounge around at the lakeside. Each waterfront town has its own unique character, from the cultural center of Keszthely at the western tip to the elegant spa resort of Balatonfüred. Situated a little over 120 kilometers southwest of Budapest, Lake Balaton stretches out diagonally from the capital as a kind of lumpy oblong for 77 kilometers.

The most interesting statistic of the lake is its depth, or rather lack of it as the average depth is just 3.3 meters. Especially along the southeastern shore, you have to wade out a long, long way before the water comes up to your knees. For this reason, the lake is extremely popular with families with young children.

Lake Balaton also offers a surprising range of entertainment possibilities. While Siófok on the southern coast attracts the young, party-loving disco crowd, it also offers all around family fun as well. The north bank around Balatonfüred is a little more sedate and populated with artist colonies, but it is also a perfect choice for families. The most family-friendly beach around the Lake is situated in Balatonfüred, the Eszterházy Strand. The craggy outcrops of Badacsony are covered with vineyards and the healing waters are good both for drinking (Kékkuti) and bathing (Hévíz).

The gastronomy around the Balaton has being improved in the region. Recently more and more restaurants has used local ingredients and new method to prepare the dishes. The bistros and Fröccsterrace have been appeared in the small villages as in the 3 big towns as well, where you can taste beach food also, such as waterdog or Balcsi Bagel.

Do & See

Lake Balaton is a real Hungarian treasure, offering a long shoreline dotted with family resorts on the southern side and welcoming vineyards to the north. With its green and silky water, the lake is Hungary’s favorite summer retreat.

However, there is much more to do all year around than just lounge around at the lakeside. Each waterfront town has its own unique character, from the cultural center of Keszthely at the western tip to the elegant spa resort of Balatonfüred. Situated a little over 120 kilometers southwest of Budapest, Lake Balaton stretches out diagonally from the capital as a kind of lumpy oblong for 77 kilometers.

The most interesting statistic of the lake is its depth, or rather lack of it as the average depth is just 3.3 meters. Especially along the southeastern shore, you have to wade out a long, long way before the water comes up to your knees. For this reason, the lake is extremely popular with families with young children.

Lake Balaton also offers a surprising range of entertainment possibilities. While Siófok on the southern coast attracts the young, party-loving disco crowd, it also offers all around family fun at the annual Coca Cola Beach House. The north bank around Balatonfüred is a little more sedate and populated with artist colonies. The craggy outcrops of Badacsony are covered with vineyards and the healing waters are good both for drinking (Kékkuti) and bathing (Hévíz).

Dining

Lake Balaton is a gourmet’s heaven. The lake is surrounded by resorts devoted entirely to entertainment and leisure. Resorts such as Balatonfüred, Keszthely, and Siófok are crammed with restaurants, bars, cafes, and nightclubs offering mostly sturdy, meaty Hungarian cuisine, although Italian restaurants are extremely popular, too. The lake is home to 40 different kinds of fish and many of these make their way onto the table. The volcanic soil around Badacsony produces some of the best white grapes in the country, and the wine makes a superb accompaniment to fish suppers.

Cafes

The entire circumference of Lake Balaton is filled with resort towns, which makes for a plethora of bars, cafés, and places to taste the delicious wines and life-enhancing mineral waters from the region.