Lake Balaton's summer season is full of activities, including swim competitions, folklore and music performances, beer and wine festivals. Visitors can also participate in waters sports, horseback riding, wine tasting, bird-watching and sightseeing. Health spas are also a part of Lake Balaton's resort atmosphere.

Beach

There are plenty of things You can do- rent paddleboats, bikes or mopeds. You can swim, sunbath, sail or enjoy one of the many water sports. In the evenings there are parties with concerts on the beach in the „Coca Cola Beach House“ in Siofok, concerts and performances can be seen nearly in every bigger town next to the Balaton.

Natural Wonders

There are hiking trails and places to bike as well.

Events

• Földvár festival - the second week in June, Balatonfőldvár
• International Folk Dance Festival - first week of July, Siófok
• Withsun Season Opening Festivities – at the beginning of the tourist season, Siófok
• Golden Shell International Folk Festival (Aranykagyló Nemzetközi Folklór Fesztivál) – at the beginning of June, Siófok
• Coca Cola Beach House - Siófok
• International Show-Jumping Competition – Siófok
• Jumping Derby - Siófok
• Classical musíc and organ concerts - Siófok
• Spring Festival - classical music concerts, theatre performances – Siófok, 2009. 03. 14. – 30.
• International Harley Davidson Meeting – Alsóörs, Európa camping 2009. 06. 12. – 15.
• International Guitar Festival (Nemzetközi Gitárnapok) – Balatonfüred, June
• Anna Ball – Balatonfüred, 2009. 07. 25. – 27.
• Reception of the First Ship - the opening of the shipping season, at the beginning of April, Balatonfűred
• Sail-Setting Ceremony of Balatonfüred – the opening of sailing season, May
• Cross – bay swimming competition - at the beginning of August, Balatonfűred
• Wine Weeks of Balatonfűred – real celebration of viniculture, Balatonfűred, from middle of August
• Vintage Procession – September, Balatonfűred.
• International Competition and Meeting of Poets - at the beginning of September, Balatonfűred
• Central European Rally – part of the Dakar series, start in Budapest – finish in Balatonfűred, September 2009

Lake Balaton is the biggest lake in Central Europe (600 km2), it is 77 km long but the water-depth is only 3 meters. This is why it is such an excellent place for a holiday, to swim, to do water-sports and to angle. Angling tourism is normally recommended in the early and late parts of the season. The following fish species can be found in this lake: carp, wels, pikeperch, Volga-pikeperch, asp, pike, eel, grass carp, silvercarp, breams and it's speciality the razor fish. It is possible to fish almost everywhere, but a license is necessary. This can be obtained in any angling shop and in tourist offices. You can angle from the shore, fishing stands (these are usually privately owned), piers or boats.

Attention !!!

• fishing from a vessel is forbidden between 22:00 – 5:00 from 1st October until 30th April
• fishing from the shore or a fishing stand is forbidden from the eastern end of the lido of Örvényes towards Tihany, as far as the western border of the shore of the Development Bank, except for the stone pier of Mohosz

Lake Balaton is primarily a summer holiday destination, but it is an excellent winegrowing region. Around Lake Balaton you will find the Balatonfelvidék, Balatonfüred – Csopak, Balatonboglár and Badacsony wine regions. Badacsony offers delicious white wines like Pinot Gris, Kéknyelű, Italian Riesling, Műller – Thurgau and Tramin. Balatonfelvidék is specialized in Italian Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Balatonfűred – Csopak offers a unique flavour, rich, deep red wines.

There are hundreds of cellar and press houses, reflecting a winemaking tradition. There is an official wine route that makes it easy to try the wines of a number of different wine growers in a single day.

Four types of landscape meet here: water, mountains, hills and the plain, and in gastronomical terms that means that there are all the basic materials for cooking. The lake has been home to fish, the forests of the hills are rich in game, and in their valleys animal husbandry thrives. On the hills there are fruit trees, while the plain provides cereals and vegetables. Fish is typical on the menu. The white, flaky meat of the pike-perch (fogas) – found only in Lake Balaton – is a particular favourite. It is usually fried and served whole. Fish soup is another classic dish. It is packed with many types of fish.

It is also worth tasting game while staying by Lake Balaton. From the expansive forests of the hills, roe deer, stags, wild boar, moufflon and fallow deer, while from the large meadows hare, pheasant, and partridge are available for the table. Venison in red wine with blackcurrant jam and croquette potatoes, or back of hare, hunter’s style, with dumplings are very delicious. Finally, goulash cooked in a cauldron must be mentioned here. Those who come first time from abroad to Lake Balaton should make this dish their first appointment with Hungarian cuisine.

You can choose from many types of restaurant but typical for Hungarian cuisine is Csárda. There are plenty of Csárdas on Balaton where you can spend pleasant moments by enjoying traditional tasty of Hungarian food.

The Balaton region has a lot of thermal springs. Spa holidays can be taken all year round and make a wonderfully winter break. It´s possibility to employ all of services from massages and mudpacks to physiotherapy and dental work. All these thermal complexes are well provided with spa hotels offering wellness packages.

The spa town of Hévíz is the world’s second-largest thermal lake. The lake is open all year. The mineral rich water rarely drops below 26ºC in temperature. The thermal center in Zalakaros is open during the season, and are suitable for the whole family. Zalakaros is recommended for the relief of arthritis thanks to a combination of medicinal baths and generations of expertise.

For more information about the spas or for making a reservation in a hotel close to them please contact our travel agency.

Bescali Csárda és Rendezvényterem Address: 8638 Balatonlelle, Rákóczi út 56. Phone: +36 (30) 260-0139	Laci Pince Csárda Address: 8245 Vászoly, Öreghegy Hrsz: 1050/3 Phone: +36 (87) 704-822, +36 (20) 397-8170
Kukorica Csárda Address: 8638 8623 Balatonföldvár, Budapesti út 41. Phone: +36 (84) 340-387	Markói Csárda Address: 8441 Márkó, Padányi tér 9. Phone: +36 (88) 270-205
Kormos Csárda Address: 8441 8230 Balatonfüred, Kilátó u. 2. Phone: +36 (30) 378-0339	Magyar Csárda Address: 8380 Hévíz, Tavirózsa u. 2. Phone: +36 (83) 343-271
Tüzes Csárda Address: 8315 Gyenesdiás, Béke u. 2. Phone: +36 (83) 316-567	Baricska Csárda Address: 8230 Balatonfüred, Baricska dűlő Phone: +36 (30) 986-3745
Bescali Csárda Address: 8394 Alsópáhok, Dózsa György u. 65. Phone: +36 (83) 344-369, +36 (30) 204-7757	Betyár Csárda Address: 8749 Zalakaros, Jegenye sor 1. Phone: +36 (93) 540-180, +36 (30) 500-7000
Borvirág Csárda Address: 8242 Balatonudvari, Leshegy Phone: +36 (30) 939-7109, +36 (30) 959-9071	Botos Csárda Address: 8638 Balatonlelle, Május 1. u. 34. Phone: +36 (85) 354-804
Gesztenye Csárda Address: 8313 Balatongyörök, Kossuth u. 68. Phone: +36 (83) 346-080	Gizi néni Csárdája Address: 8380 Hévíz, Katona J. u. 3. Phone: +36 (20) 922-8186
Glóbusz Csárda Address: 8220 Balatonalmádi, Glóbus u. 1. Phone: +36 (88) 432-077	Gondűző Csárda Address: 8228 Lovas, Öreghegy Phone: +36 (87) 700-037, +36 (20) 933-0817
Gyula Csárda Address: 8710 Balatonszentgyörgy, 76-os főút Külterület Phone: +36 (85) 377-780	Gulyás Csárda Address: 8312 Balatonederics, Balatoni u. 11. Phone: +36 (87) 466-353
Győngyősi Betyár Csárda Address: 8373 Rezi, Kültelek 5. Phone: +36 (83) 373-006	Hordó Csárda Address: 8230 Balatonfüred, Széchenyi u. 33. Phone: +36 (87) 482-017
Hűvosvőlgyi Csárda Address: 8394 Alsópáhok, Ady E. út 17. Phone: +36 (20) 924-3319	Juliska Csárda Address: 8749 Zalakaros, Termál u. 4. Phone: +36 (93) 340-610
Kecskekőrőm Csárda Address: 8237 Tihany, Kossuth L. u. 19. Phone: +36 (87) 438-500, +36 (20) 936-2000	Kerekedi Csárda Address: 8229 Csopak, 71-es főút. Phone: +36 (87) 705-842, +36 (30) 994-1921
Kiliti Csárda Address: 8600 Siófok, Honvéd u. 86. Phone: +36 (84) 322-529	Kiskupa Csárda Address: 8698 Somogyvár, Kaposvári u. 1. Phone: +36 (30) 330-4242, +36 (30) 500-9204
Koloska Csárda Address: 8230 Balatonfüred, Koloska-völgy Phone: +36 (87) 703-037	Kolping Csárda, Sőrőző, Borozó Address: 8394 Alsópáhok, Fő út 120. Phone: +36 (83) 344-143, +36 (83) 344-281, +36 (83) 344-282
Lóki Csárda Address: 8700 Marcali, Lókpuszta Phone: +36 (20) 564-3239	Lucifer Csárda Address: 8242 Balatonudvari Phone: +36 (20) 424-9365
Mandula Csárda Address: 8243 Balatonakali, Sósi földek Phone: +36 (87) 444-044	Ménes Csárda, Őreg Csárda Address: 8622 Szántódpuszta Phone: +36 (84) 349-052
Nádas Csárda Address: 8174 Balatonkenese, Jókai M. u. 1. Phone: +36 (88) 482-216, +36 (88) 594-550	Nyera Csárda Address: 8695 Buzsák, Kossuth L. u. 61. Phone: +36 (30) 294-2510
Pál Csárda Address: 8237 Tihany, Visszhang u. 19. Phone: +36 (87) 448-605	Paprika Csárda Address: 8646 Balatonfenyves, Fenyvesi u. 268. Phone: +36 (85) 363-467
Paprika Csárda Address: 8621 Zamárdi, Honvéd u. 1. Phone: +36 (84) 348-705, +36 (30) 946-0512	Pinkóczi Csárda Lovasudvar Address: 8220 Balatonalmádi, Vödörvölgyi u. 12. Phone: +36 (88) 439-315
Piroska Csárda Address: 8315 Gyenesdiás, Csokonai u. Phone: +36 (83) 316-301	Puszta Csárda Address: 8655 Som, Daránypuszta Phone: +36 (30) 957-0583
Puszta Csárda és Lovasudvar Address: 8174 Balatonkenese, Bajcsy-Zsilinszky u. 47. Phone: +36 (30) 517-1958, +36 (30) 225-3174	Tanya Csárda Address: 8695 Buzsák Phone: +36 (85) 331-460
Tőlgyfa Csárda Address: 8230 Balatonfüred, Meleghegyi dűlő Phone: +36 (87) 343-036	Vadaskert Csárda Address: 8360 Keszthely, Kertváros Hévízi út 131. Phone: +36 (83) 312-772
Viszi Csárda Address: 8360 8681 Visz, Rákóczi u. 21. Phone: +36 (85) 327-076	Zsindelyes Csárda Address: 8242 Balatonudvari, Nyárfasor Phone: +36 (87) 449-325