Lake Balaton Photo: Zgphotography/Shutterstock.Com Hungary Has No Marine Coastline Nowadays, but It Does Have the Hungarian Sea, Otherwise Known As Lake Balaton
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Lake Balaton Photo: ZGPhotography/Shutterstock.com Hungary has no marine coastline nowadays, but it does have the Hungarian Sea, otherwise known as Lake Balaton. The lake has been popular since the Magyar tribes first galloped into the Carpathian Basin in 896 and shows no signs of losing it's appeal. A collection of resort towns and an interesting bicycle route ring the 77 kilometers long lake. Hévíz-Balaton Airport is 20 kilometers 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. Botond Horvath/Shutterstock.com Top 5 Tapolca Cave Lake (Tavasba... This is a romantic cave lake. Here visitors can row little boats along a par... Festetics Castle, Keszthely The Festetics Castle was built by György Festetics in 1745 in Keszthely and ... Balaton Museum, Keszthely Florian Augustin/Shutterstock.com The Balaton Museum concentrates on the lake and its flora and fauna. Here yo... Buffalo Reserve (Bivalyrez... The Buffalo Reserve is located 30 kilometers south of Keszthely, and is home... Sailing on The ‘Hungarian Sea’ For sailors without the necessary sailing skills or paperwork, courses are a... ZGPhotography/Shutterstock.com Updated 22 January 2019 Destination: Lake Balaton Publishing date: 2019-01-22 THE LAKE 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 andras_csontos/Shutterstock.com restaurants has used local ingredients and new Lake Balaton oers a long shoreline dotted with method to prepare the dishes. The bistros and family resorts on the southern side and Fröccsterrace have been appeared in the small welcoming vineyards to the north. With its green villages as in the 3 big towns as well, where you and silky water, the lake is Hungary’s favorite can taste beach food also, such as waterdog or summer retreat. Balcsi Bagel. However, there is much more to do all year Balaton Wine Regions around than just lounge around at the lakeside. Badacsony Wine Region: Each waterfront town has its own unique The volcanic hills on the character, from the cultural center of Keszthely northern shore, the most at the western tip to the elegant spa resort of eye-catching being the Balatonfüred. Situated a little over 120 table-shaped Badacsony, kilometers southwest of Budapest, Lake Balaton are famous for their stretches out diagonally from the capital as a refreshing white wines and breathtaking views. kind of lumpy oblong for 77 kilometers. The rich, volcanic soil is perfect for growing wine. The most interesting statistic of the lake is its depth, or rather lack of it as the average depth is Balatonboglár Wine Region: just 3.3 meters. Especially along the The whites and champagne dominate in this southeastern shore, you have to wade out a long, region, the red grapes popularity has been long way before the water comes up to your increasing recently, especially Merlot, Cabernet knees. For this reason, the lake is extremely Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. popular with families with young children. Balatonfüred-Csopak Wine Region: Lake Balaton also oers a surprising range of The area around Balatonfüred and the nearby entertainment possibilities. While Siófok on the village of Csopak, is famed for crisp and dry southern coast attracts the young, party-loving white wines, but this wine region produces disco crowd, it also oers all around family fun quality red wines, such as Merlot and Cabernet as well. The north bank around Balatonfüred is a as well. little more sedate and populated with artist Destination: Lake Balaton Publishing date: 2019-01-22 It is worth visiting the wine regions during the Tihany Tourinform: harvest season. Almost every settlements celebrate the harvest and organise programs, Photo: Ales Liska/Shutterstock.com Address: Tihany Peninsula, Kossuth Lajos u. 20 the most popular event in this period is the Public Transport: Take a bus from Balatonfüred to Tihany Badacsony Harvest, which is held in every Phone: +36 87 448 804 September. Internet: www.tihany.hu Email: [email protected] Photo: Antonshutterstock/Shutterstock.com Hévíz Balatonfüred Situated on the southern Balatonfüred has many tip of Lake Balaton, 5 marinas, three lidos, a kilometres inland from string of carbonated Keszthely, the lake mineral water springs (Gyógy-tó) dates back to a and beautiful listed very early geological buildings from the 18th period. As a biologically active thermal bath its and 19th centuries. You will also nd many ne water is very special and signicant. This restaurants and cafes here. The largest settlement is good choise to take part in active Aquapark in this region is situated in tourism as cycling and nord walking. Hévíz is at Balatonfüred. its best in winter: you can immerse yourself in steamy, hot water, utterly impervious to any Photo: Halfpoint/Shutterstock.com snow or rain that might fall. Address: Balatonfüred, Blaha Lujza u. 5 Public Transport: Take a bus or train from Budapest to Photo: Gabor Tokodi/Shutterstock.com Balatonfüred Address: Hévíz, Rákóczi u. 2 Phone: +36 87 580 480 Public Transport: Take a bus from Budapest to Hévíz Internet: www.balatonfured.info.hu/index Phone: +36 83 540 131 Internet: www.heviz.hu/en Tihany Peninsula Email: [email protected] The ‘Pearl of the Balaton’ is just 10 kilometres Siófok across the gulf from The atter southern Balatonfüred. The shore is famous for its Benedictine abbey summer party capital dominates the skyline and Siófok. The 17 the Tihany peninsula was declared Hungary’s kilometer-long beach rst national park in 1952. To escape the hosts a summer-long crowds, walk inland to the Belsõ-tó (Inner Lake) water festival. In winter there is still plenty to a volcanic crater lled with calm fresh water and do, from walking to yachting to enjoying the surrounded by grasslands, vineyards, orchards endless nightlife possibilities. This place is also and fragrant lavender elds. packed with nightclubs, discos and bars. Photo: Gabor Tokodi/Shutterstock.com Destination: Lake Balaton Publishing date: 2019-01-22 Address: Siófok, Fő tér 11 Szigliget Castle Public Transport: Take a bus or train from Budapest to Siófok Castle of Szigliget is Phone: +36 84 696 236 situated on the northern Internet: www.hellosiofok.hu Email: [email protected] shore of Lake Balaton and open to the public Kis-Balaton (Little Balaton) throughout the year. The Kis-Balaton, meaning Castle was founded in "Little-Balaton" is part of 1260-1262 and is still standing proud with its the Balaton Uplands rich history. National Park. It is also one of Europe’s top Tourist Information Center in Szigliget operates wetland nature reserves in summers. and a favorite spot for birdwatchers. All the information about it below: Photo: 2199_de/Shutterstock.com Photo: tkarpati/Shutterstock.com Address: Kis-Balaton Address: Szigliget, Kossuth u. 17 Public Transport: The largest railway station nearby is in Public Transport: It has a common railway station with Zalakomár Badacsonytördemic Internet: www.kisbalaton.hu Phone: +36 70 371 53 46 Email: [email protected] Balatonboglár Balatonboglár is situated Balatonalmádi on the south shore of Balatonalmádi is located Lake Balaton. This region on the northern shore of is famous for its wine and Lake Balaton. In every champagne. The most summer the Weinfestival dominant grape of the is organised in the city in region is Olaszrizling, Chardonnay and front of the entrance of Sárgamuskotály. In the end of the 20th century the Wesselényi beach, which lasts more then two the red grapes appeared in the region and it has weeks. became more and more popular. Photo: SueTot/Shutterstock.com Address: Balatonalmádi, Városház tér 4 Visit the sorrundings: Public Transport: Take a bus or train from Budapest to www.balatonboglar.hu/Galeria/3d-panorama Balatonalmádi Internet: www.balaton-almadi.hu Photo: pgaborphotos/Shutterstock.com Address: Balatonboglár, Erzsébet u. 11 Public Transport: Take a bus or train from Budapest to Balatonboglár Phone: +36 85 550 333 Internet: www.balatonboglar.hu Email: [email protected] Destination: Lake Balaton Publishing date: 2019-01-22 Zamárdi area of which covers partly the National Park – Zamárdi is located on the sets the aim of interpreting the geological, southern shore of Lake natural and cultural values and awakening the Balaton. It provides a consciousness of their social signicance. The wide range of programs Bakony–Balaton Geopark became member of the for everyone. You can European Geoparks Network and the Global choose from outdoor Geoparks Network – assisted by UNESCO in cinema, a unique Military Park, Adventure Park 2012. and at the height of Summer, enjoy the Balaton Sound Festival. Photo: hbpro/Shutterstock.com Address: Budapest, Raoul Wallenberg u. 6 Photo: Kokau Zsoa/Shutterstock.com Public Transport: Take a train from Budapest to Balaton Address: Zamárdi, Kossuth Lajos u. 16 Uplands Public Transport: Take a bus or train from Budapest to Phone: +36 87 555 260 Zamárdi Internet: www.bfnp.hu Phone: +36 84 345 290 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.zamardi.hu Email: [email protected] DO & SEE Balaton Uplands National Park The area of 56 997 hectares of the Balaton Uplands National Park mainly consists of these six landscape protection areas: Kis-Balaton, Keszthely Hills, Tapolca Basin, Káli Basin, pgaborphotos/Shutterstock.com Pécsely Basin and Tihany Peninsula. Lake Balaton is a real Hungarian treasure, Among its regions Kis-Balaton is also protected oering a long shoreline dotted with family by the international Ramsar Convention, serving resorts on the southern side and welcoming the protection of wetland habitats.