Discovering Lake Balaton
The Balaton (in English: Lake Balaton) is much more than a lake — it is a national sanctuary. Generations of Hungarians have spent their summers here, and nostalgia still lingers: Langos on the lakeshore, the scent of suntan oil and grilled corn, sailboats on the turquoise water, sunsets over the vineyards of Badacsony.
With a length of 77 km and up to 14 km in width, Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central and Western Europe. Its peculiarity: it is only 3–4 meters deep in most places (maximum depth: 12.2 m), which means that the water heats up to 25–28°C in summer — warmer than some Mediterranean beaches. The shallow southern shore is like a natural bathtub where children can walk a hundred meters into the water.
The two shores have completely different characters: The northern shore is hilly, characterized by volcanic cones and covered with vineyards — here lie the most attractive places like Tihany, Badacsony, and Balatonfüred. The southern shore is flat, with long sandy beaches and better-developed tourist infrastructure — Siófok is the most famous resort. The west with the thermal lake Hévíz and the Keszthely bay combines bathing and thermal culture.
Getting there: From Budapest, you can reach Lake Balaton in 1.5–2 hours by train (MÁV, from 5€) or car (M7 motorway). On-site, a rental car or the well-developed bus network is recommended. The Balaton bike path (204 km) circles the entire lake and is one of the most beautiful cycling routes in Central Europe.
