Lake Balaton (Tihany)

Central Europe's largest lake, with Tihany Abbey overlooking the blue water from its peninsula, waves of purple lavender in early summer, volcanic hills and vineyards on the north shore, the natural thermal lake at Hévíz, and shallow sandy beaches on the south shore that suit families.

Lake Balaton lies in Transdanubia in western Hungary. Around 77 km long from east to west and covering some 600 km², it is the largest lake in Central Europe, known to Hungarians as the “Hungarian Sea”. Its average depth is only about 3 m, and in summer the water can exceed 25°C. This destination is based on the Tihany Peninsula in the middle of the north shore: the peninsula juts far into the lake, leaving only about 1.5 km of water at the narrowest point; its hilltop Benedictine abbey overlooks the lake, and inside the peninsula are two crater lakes and swathes of lavender fields, all part of the Balaton Uplands National Park.

The north shore is a landscape of volcanic hills and vineyards: basalt buttes such as Badacsony and Szent György Hill are renowned for white wine, and castles such as Szigliget and Csobánc crown the hilltops. At the western end are the Festetics Palace in Keszthely and Hévíz, the world's largest swimmable natural thermal lake; on the south shore, Siófok is a resort town with shallow sandy beaches and lively nightlife.

The best time is June–August: lavender blooms from mid/late June to early July, and July–August brings the warmest water and a packed calendar of music festivals and sailing. September–October is the grape harvest, with fewer visitors and beautiful scenery; in winter most of the lake is quiet, but Hévíz thermal lake is open for bathing year-round.

Getting there: it's about 1.5–2 hours by car from Budapest, or take the train to Balatonfüred (about 2 hours) and change to a bus for Tihany; in summer a car ferry runs between Tihany and Szántód on the south shore, and passenger boats link the lakeside towns. Allow 3–4 days; driving is the easiest way to get around the lake. Note that parking in Tihany is scarce in summer and mostly paid, and some lakeside beaches (strand) charge admission.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries