Lake Balaton Hotels

Lake Balaton has been known as the premier resort area for Hungary since after WWI, and it still enjoys that title today. When summer arrives, tourists flock to the area, which buzzes with festivals and activities in the towns surrounding Lake Balaton. The climate and soil of Badacsony Hill in the city of Balatonboglár is perfect for growing wine grapes; therefore, several small wineries and vineyards populate this area and offer wine tasting tours. Festetics Palace, a 16th century Baroque castle, can be found in the town of Keszthely. If you want to check out the bars and dance clubs, head to Siófok, a resort town popular for its nightlife and party scene. This town vies for the title of the ‘Capital of Lake Balaton’ against Balatonfüred, another major resort spot that is popular for fishing and yachting as well as the yearly Anna Ball. Tihany Peninsula is considered the historical centre for Lake Balaton, and it offers several landmarks, such as a Benedictine Abbey from the 9th century that houses the crypt of Andrew I. The southern resort town of Zamárdi hosts the Balaton Sound, a major music festival that rocks this Hungarian holiday spot every year.

When To Go

Tourist season for Lake Balaton is from June through August when the waters of the lake are a pleasant 27°C (81°F). The area’s climate is slightly warmer and less severe than other parts of Hungary, and it experiences slightly more precipitation as well. The overall annual rainfall in Lake Balaton is 60 cm (23.6 inches). Summers are warm and pleasant, especially along the beaches with highs reaching 23-28°C (73-82°F). While it is not overly humid, you can still expect some summer rain showers in Lake Balaton; however, July and August are the driest months. Fall and spring have the most rain with May being the wettest month. Winters are cold and can reach freezing temperatures around -2 to -5°C (28-23°F). The northern hilly areas do have occasional snow as well.

• Summer highs 23-28°C (73-82°F); winter lows -2 to -5°C (28-23°F)

• Tourist season June through August

• 60 cm (23.6 inches) of rain annually

Getting There

Lake Balaton has the local FlyBalaton airport, known officially as Sármellék International, which is a quick drive from Keszthely. However, most people currently fly to Budapest or one of the other five international airports as FlyBalaton was closed indefinitely in 2009. Lake Balaton is still served by the Hungarian railway system, however, and there are daily trains to the Budapest Déli and Budapest Keleti stations. The trip to Budapest can take anywhere from two and a half to four hours depending on the type of train. There are several rail stations in Lake Balaton, but the main stations with intercity trains are in Balatonföldvár, Fonyód and Siófok. There are numerous motorways in Hungary as well, so driving to Lake Balaton may be just as convenient as using a train.

• International airports: Budapest, Debrecen, Győr-Pér and Pécs-Pogány

• Train: Extensive rail network

• Car: Motorway network spans 1,300+ km (800+ miles)

General Information

Attractions & Activities

Restaurant & Nightlife

Climate

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