THINK HUNGARY, MORE THAN EXPECTED LAKE BALATON M7 E71 Balatonvilágos Tourinform-Büro Schisanlegestelle Heilbad Fähre Burg Flugplatz 65 Siófok Balatonkenese N Ságvár 72 Balatonfűzfő Zamárdi O Alsóőrs Szántód Szólád Balatonalmádi Balatonföldvár REGIONAL MAP OF THE Andocs Tihany T Balatonszárszó BALATONCsopak 71 Balatonszemes Karád 67 Balatonfüred Nemesvámos A 7 Somogybabod Balatonlelle Balatonudvari Somogyvár Lengyeltóti Nagyvázsony Balatonakali Balatonboglár L Zánka Kapolcs Fonyód Révfülöp Buzsák Kékkút Szentbékkálla A Balatonfenyves Buzsák- Badacsonytomaj Csisztapuszta B Balatonmáriafürdő Szigliget Tapolca 68 Gyulakeszi Balatongyörök Marcali Tourinform Office Balatonszentgyörgy Vonyarcvashegy Gyenesdiás Port E71 Balatonederics M7 71 Spa Hévíz Ferry Keszthely KIS-BALATON Sármellék Fortress International airport Zalakaros M7 E71 Balatonvilágos Welcome Tourinform-Büro Schisanlegestelle Heilbad Fähre Burg Flugplatz 65 Siófok Balatonkenese N Ságvár AT L AKE BAL ATON 72 Balatonfűzfő Zamárdi text and photos » Hungarian Tourism Ltd. O Alsóőrs Szántód Szólád Balaton is not only a summer holiday resort, it also offers Balatonalmádi Balatonföldvár delightful experiences throughout the year in the form Andocs of active programs, prestigious events, excellent health Tihany T Balatonszárszó Csopak facilities and great wines. 71 Balatonszemes Karád Balaton is more than a lake as ton Sound, one of the most pop- cellars and wine terraces await 67 Balatonfüred a number of family-friendly ular music events in Europe, visitors to Lake Balaton. Every- Nemesvámos A beaches offer carefree summer high-quality art-festivals and in- one can find the most suitable 7 relaxation. In addition to safe timate wine festivals can make accommodation tailored to their Somogybabod Balatonlelle bathing, you may also enjoy sev- your stay at Balaton even more individual needs: campsites, Balatonudvari eral water sports at Lake Bala- colorful. Balaton is more than high-standard private accommo- Somogyvár Lengyeltóti ton. Balaton is more than a beach summer as the region offers a va- dation, apartments, guest-hous- Nagyvázsony Balatonakali Balatonboglár L to have fun on as you are free to riety of therapeutic, beauty and es, three- and four-star urban Zánka choose from program options, wellness treatments throughout hotels and wellness resorts are both at the beach and further the year through the spas and the all available for our guests. For Kapolcs off. You can cycle around the lake harmony provided by the lake further information please visit Fonyód Révfülöp Buzsák and visit sites of natural beauty and surrounding nature. Fine www.gotohungary.com. Kékkút Szentbékkálla A via hiking trails. Events like Bala- wines, all-year-round open wine « Balatonfenyves Buzsák- Badacsonytomaj Csisztapuszta Biking or bathing - it is all B Balatonmáriafürdő Szigliget the same, both Tapolca 68 can be enjoyed Gyulakeszi Balatongyörök by the Lake Marcali Balatonszentgyörgy Vonyarcvashegy Gyenesdiás E71 Balatonederics M7 71 Hévíz Keszthely KIS-BALATON Sármellék Zalakaros Balaton » Greeting | Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com 1 The Balaton experience WATER EVERYWHERE… text and photos » Hungarian Tourism Ltd. The Balaton region would be inconceivable without Lake Balaton, and Lake Balaton is unimaginable without the beaches and everything they have to offer. From spring to autumn, regat- Information about territorial In order to meet the demands ta sailors conquer Lake Balaton licenses, fishing tickets, size of the younger gene ration, more day by day. The 596 km2 sur- limits and ban periods can be and more beaches offer volley- face of the lake is a real paradise obtained from the website ball and soccer fields, basketball for lovers of sailing, perhaps the of Balaton Fish Management and handball courts. Those on most popular water sport at Bala- (www.balatonihal.hu). The main sandy beaches or grasslands are ton, with nearly 100 ports avail- season for water programs is as popu lar as the ones built in able for yachts and dinghies. naturally summer. A large num- the water. For guests looking for The most prestigious event is the ber of renovated, family-friend- more exciting adventures, water- Blue Ribbon Regatta, the longest ly beaches offer many children’s ski courses are available in Bala- round-the-lake race in Europe, and sports programs as well as tonfüred, Vonyarcvashegy and organized every July. Schedu- Wi-Fi access. The water quality Siófok, where kite-surfing is also led boat traffic starts at East- is excellent, and the standard of worth trying. In addition to beach er each year. Pleasure and tour services on the beaches improves programs, water sports events boats also offer an amazing ex- year by year, therefore, a large should not be missed either. perience from early spring to au- number of beaches are awarded The best known among these tumn. Balaton, as a natural lake, the “Blue Wave Flag” prize. The is Lake Balaton Cross Swim- offers pleasant fishing opportu- Balaton-shaped pool in Keszt- ming from Révfülöp to Bala- nities almost all year round; typi- hely and Wonderful Water Spi- tonboglár, which takes place in cal Balaton fish are carp, zander der, the kids’ water world of the July of each year. It is also worth and bream (especially common spa in Zalakaros, opened in 2012, looking for local and/or regional Lake Balaton bream), but there are large stocks are very popular among families. discount-cards, providing dis- is a paradise for sailors and of Volga pikeperch, silver bream, In many places lido-like shores counts among others on beaches. all kind of boats eel and sabre-fish here as well. are available for small children. « Balaton » The Balaton experience | 2 Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com Balaton » The Balaton experience | Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com 3 ACTIVE BALATON BALATON NATURALLY! text and photos » Hungarian Tourism Ltd. Lake Balaton has been blessed with an abundance of beauty. A wide range of unique natural formations can be found in the Balaton Uplands National Park. The Tihany peninsula, the pearl and marshlands also represents here. The visitor centre of the of Balaton was the first land- an outstanding asset. Visitors are area, Kányavár Island is open for scape protection area in the mesmerized by the peaceful at- walking. The Buffalo Reserve in country. You can learn about the mosphere of the nearby Káli ba- Kápolnapuszta is open all year once raving world of volcanoes sin. The so-called Kőtenger (Sea round. The Balaton region is an and the culture of lavender cul- of Stones) on the border of Szent- ideal cycling destination also tivation in Tihany in the Laven- békkálla and Mindszentkálla is a for families with small children, der House. The basalt columns unique formation with Ingókő since there are no significant lev- of Hegyestű, the 337 meter high (Rocking Stone), which – though el differences and plenty of inter- former volcano between Zánka it weighs several tons – can be esting sights can be visited within and Monoszló, the gatekeeper of moved even by one man. Kis- a short distance. There are many the Káli basin, offer a view unique Bala ton (Little Balaton) has been opportunities to cycle: along the in Hungary. Tapolca basin with a natural conservation area since recommended hiking trails or its spectacular buttes, swamps 1951. About 232 bird species nest even the 210 km Balaton Bike There are magnificent panoramas from the hills all over the Lake Balaton » Active Balaton | 4 Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com Endless fun on the beaches Carefree recreation either in on a golf course or on a yacht Ring around the lake. Excellent offers the opportunity to have tournament courses of Balaton- horse trekking routes are avail- a go at special, even extreme ac- udvari and Balatongyörök offer able in the territory of the Bala- tivities like hot air ballooning the opportunity for sports with ton Uplands National Park. It is in Western-Balaton. If you pre- a wonderful view in a wonderful also worth visiting one of the nu- fer paddling to bathing, you can landscape. Nordic walking is also merous adventure parks, where go canoeing from spring to au- gaining popularity in the region, you can try horseshoe tossing, tumn in Nagyberek near Bala- you can try it in many places such archery, and also the bob-sled tonfenyves or on the Zala River as Zalakaros, Hévíz, Keszthely, track, wire rope slide, paintball- in the summer and, in the win- Badacsony, Szigliget, Ba la ton- ing, adventure track or water ter, on the Hévíz Stream, which feny ves, in the villages of the Bal- bumper cars. The Balaton region never freezes. For golf lovers the aton Riviera and in Balatonfüred. Balaton » Active Balaton | Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com 5 Balaton » Health from summer to winter | 6 Hungarian Tourism Ltd. » gotohungary.com Health From Summer to winter PAMPERING TREATMENTS text and photos » Hungarian Tourism Ltd. The nature and the lake radiate infinite harmony. Thermal, mineral and spring water surface in many places in the Balaton region. Lake Hévíz, the earth’s largest, in 2013 – have become the treatment of accidental injuries bio logically active thermal lake meeting point for generations. and orthopedic surgery. At sever- can be found at a distance of The thermal water at Zalakaros al wells in Balatonfüred you can 6 km from Lake Balaton. The sul- facilitates the healing of pati- taste aerated spring water, which phuric and slightly radioactive ents suffering mainly from fa- is also applied in the form of wa- water of the lake is excellent for tigue, musculoskeletal problems, ter therapy mainly for treating healing rheumatism, musculo- chronic inflammatory problems cardiovascular diseases and for skeletal and neurological diseas- and arthritis. The waterpark in the treatment of the overall ex- es. The type of medicinal mud Siófok was opened in 2006. The haustion of the body. As a drink- covering the lake bed is unique in thermal waters of Nagyberény ing cure, it is effective in treating the world. Among the therapies supply the indoor waterpark gastritis, gall bladder and intesti- applied at Hévíz, drinking cure and wellness centre, named af- nal disorders, and even diabetes.