Ten must-see bucket-list destinations: Lake Balaton and its surroundings

At the top of the picturesque Tihany Peninsula stands the Benedictine Abbey, founded in 1055, which offers a unique panorama over Lake Balaton and preserves one of the earliest surviving Hungarian charters (including the oldest known fragments of the Hungarian language). Make sure you take a walk around Tihany’s Inner Lake. Children and grandparents alike will enjoy it as you can explore the lakeside path at a gentle pace or even run along it, spotting Hungarian grey cattle and ground squirrels as you go. The peninsula is famous for its lavender, which turns up in the local shops in everything from ice cream to soap and perfumes. It’s worth returning in winter too, when Tihany takes on an entirely different atmosphere: mysterious, quiet and calm. 

With its distinctive basalt columns, viewpoints and historic wine cellars, Badacsony offers both natural spectacle and the unmistakable wine-country charm of Balaton. As you climb the hill, a breathtaking panorama will open in front of you, while on the way down you’ll be tempted to have a glass of local wine in one of the inviting wine cellars or terraces. In Badacsonyörs, Folly Arboretum is a true treasure for garden and park enthusiasts: a family-run arboretum filled with cedars and cypresses, where you can do wine tastings or guided tours with prior booking. Children can enjoy the playground, and at the end of your visit you can take home cordials or even plants as souvenirs.

Balatonfüred always has exhibitions, festivals and countless activities going on, but the best way to begin exploring the town is with a stroll along the beautiful Tagore Promenade. Wandering among its trees by the lakeshore is a unique experience all year round. The promenade is named after Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel Prize-winning Indian poet, painter and polymath, who planted a linden tree near the local cardiac hospital in 1926 in gratitude for his recovery. Many famous writers, scientists and politicians later followed his example. From the promenade you can reach two beaches, or continue your day at playgrounds, restaurants and cafés. 

Szigliget Castle is open all year round and is one of the finest places to admire a Balaton sunset, making it well worth planning a summer evening within its walls. Standing on a volcanic hilltop, this more than 750-year-old fortress offers stunning views of the witness hills and the lake. Interactive exhibitions and medieval-themed demonstrations await visitors within the restored walls. The castle is dog-friendly, and at its foot you can taste unique ice-cream flavours.

The Káli Basin is the perfect place to linger: the tranquillity of the landscape, the quiet of the small villages and the charming restaurants together create the slow, unhurried Balaton atmosphere that keeps people returning. At Kornyi Lake in Kővágóörs stands a monumental group of bronze sculptures depicting the Human Comedy, which represents the diversity of human destinies against the dramatic backdrop of the Balaton Uplands. The Salföld Manor offers encounters with traditional Hungarian livestock, horse-drawn carriage rides and pony riding, while herb gardens and a playground await families.

How about bathing among water lilies in Europe’s largest thermal lake at any time of year? You can – and you should. Try a healing Hévíz mud treatment as well, and if you have any aches and pains, explore how the local therapies might help you. You can walk or cycle around the lake (bicycles can be rented at the local Tourinform office), or enjoy wellness treatments in a beautiful setting. 

The idyllic landscape of the northern shore is defined by the witness hills – reminders of volcanic activity from millions of years ago. These volcanic cones, which are 300–450 metres high, are ideal destinations for hikers, offering magnificent views from their summits. Around the Balaton Uplands National Park, you can explore nature trails showcasing unique basalt formations, wander among lavender fields and vineyards, and even set off on birdwatching trips or cave tours.

Elegant villas have stood on the northern slope of Castle Hill Along Fonyód’s Panoráma promenade (now known as Szaplonczay Promenade) since the 1800s. They were built mainly for doctors, lawyers and landowners from Kaposvár and Budapest. While you walk along the promenade, which directly faces Badacsony, you can admire what is perhaps the most beautiful row of villas around Lake Balaton. It also offers a unique vantage point from which you can see almost the entire lake: from Keszthely all the way to Tihany, and in favourable weather even the shores of Balatonkenese.

In Balatonboglár, at the top of Kopaszdomb, stands the Xantus János Sphere Lookout and Canopy Walk. This distinctive honeycomb-shaped structure, which is open all year round, is an ideal stop for a romantic walk, a family outing or even a cycling trip. The 10-metre-high, 500-metre-long canopy trail surrounding the lookout features 15 stations telling you about local wildlife and ends in a viewpoint. The park around the lookout is perfect for strolling and picnicking – or even stargazing on a blanket. If you are up for something more active, you can test yourself in the nearby adventure park.

You can still sit and read in the library of the Festetics Palace today, but you can also wander through the palace, see the hunting and carriage exhibitions, and enjoy a picnic in the French and English gardens like a true aristocrat! This is one of Hungary’s largest and best-preserved Baroque aristocratic residences. The Festetics family played a significant role in Hungary’s cultural and social life. It’s thanks to them that the renowned Georgikon, which was Europe’s first higher-education agricultural school, was established here.