Sunny Side of Life

Lake Balaton

The sunny side of life

The Balaton experience:

It is not solely a lake or a holiday destination, but the sunny side of life! It is sunshine, gently splashing waves, excellent beaches, gastronomical delights, first-class wines, unmatched natural, ecological and geological values, a picturesque view of the lake and the landscape from every angle, cultural and architectural heritage of 2000 years, eco-extreme sports, rare and protected species of the rich flora and fauna, and the nature reserve of the Balaton Uplands National Park. Balaton is an organic unity of all these above, it is the harmony of a living ecosystem.

We bring you closer to make you a part of this experience. You can have an unforgettable holiday while immersing in the harmony of tastes, aromas, scents, nectars, wines and spirits of Balaton .

Balaton Climate

Lake Balaton is the most important and best-known tourist destination in Hungary with over 2000 hours of sunshine a year.

Spring, Autumn :
April, May, September, October: mild , wonderful touristic season, 17 – 24 °C daytime and high rate of sunny hours, with occurrent showers . Best time for horse riding, sailing, hiking with us.

Summer begins in May with daily temperatures around 25 °C. In June, July and August the temperatures around 28 – 34 °C, with high rate of sunny hours. Nights are also warm for example to stay on outdoor programs.

Lake Balaton is suitable for splashing, swimming from the end of May till the end of August. Lake temperature is around 20 – 26 °C. Showers and rain are possible some days in order to give freshness in warmer summer periods.

That’s why Balaton’s climate is more pleasurable for many people than always hot and dry mediterranean beaches.

Map

The largest freshwater lake in central Europe.

Basics:

Length: 77km
Max width: 14km
Surface area: 592km2
Average depth: 3.2m
Max depth: 12.2m

The Balaton experience

it is not solely a lake or a holiday destination, but the sunny side of life!

It is sunshine, gently splashing waves, excellent beaches, gastronomical delights, first-class wines, unmatched natural, ecological and geological values, a picturesque view of the lake and the landscape from every angle, cultural and architectural heritage of 2000 years, eco-extreme sports, rare and protected species of the rich flora and fauna, and the nature reserve of the Balaton Uplands National Park.

Balaton is an organic unity of all these above, it is the harmony of a living ecosystem

We bring you closer to make you a part of this experience. You can have an unforgettable holiday while immersing in the harmony of tastes, aromas, scents, nectars, wines and spirits of Balaton.

Why discover this wonderful region?

Few highlights:

(for detailed information please choose ‘Nature & Wine Holiday’ in the menu and visit our ‘Daily Programs’ and ‘Wine’ menu)

  • We invite you into the only cave in Europe where you can take a boat trip under the innercity streets and houses of a town , this exceptional experience is in Tapolca. 10-minute drive from Lake Balaton.

You can have a bath in the largest biologically-active natural thermal lake in the world, The 4.44 ha water-surface lake is surrounded by a 60.5 ha nature conservation area. Springs of different temperatures diffuse in a narrow cave, and became a constant (38,5 °C) temperature stream. Beautiful water lilies enrich the treat of Héviz’s world-famous curative power. Lake Héviz, just 6-km distance from Balaton.

Balaton vicinity is called “Hungarian Provance“

because it is widely known for its excellent vineyards, volcanic and sediment soil and sunny climate, which give a noble aroma to both grapes and wines.

Archeological artifacts prove that grape has been grown since before the Hungarian conquest, therefore, local viniculture rests on 2200 years of practice.

Dozens of prizes of international wine competitions and our wines in the selection of Michelin-starred restaurants prove the excellence of our viticulture and tradition, which have been handed down from grandfather to son through hundreds of years .

Participating in our programs, you will have the pleasure of indulging by our premium quality wines every evening, with the guidance of professional sommeliers in first class wineries, in which otherwise individual tourists have no access. Browse freely in the world of Balaton wines in the menu ‘Nature & Wine Holiday’, under ‘Wine selection’.

Wandering in Geological Wonderland…

Balaton Geopark area internationally has an outstandingly rich geological past and geological build-up. Monadnocks , geyser cones, and basalt organs, basin of “seas of stones” , caves – please click to eco-extreme sport menu for caving information .

Tihany Peninsula - as a recognition of its outstanding geological volcanological and geomorphological values and the work of nature conservation in that region - was awarded of the prestigious European Diploma in 2003

The monadnocks are peculiarly shaped results of the volcanic activity towards the end of the Pannonian Age. At the edges of the Csobánc, Szentgyörgy and Badacsony Hills, typical formations of solidifying basalt: the basalt columns can be seen

Extraordinary cultural heritage is in our program

just examples

The 1000 year-old Benedictine Pannonhalma Archabbey was founded in 996. This is the second largest territorial abbey in the world, after the one in Monte Cassino. During your holiday with us You will be the guest of their world-famous winery for 7-wine tasting and their gourmand local food dinner.

The deed of foundation of the Benedictine Tihany Abbey, which was founded in 1055, contains the first Hungarian sentence which makes the document the first memory of Hungarian language.

Central Europe's only remained early mediaeval friar homes carved out from the cliff in Tihany created by Greek monks whom King Andrew I. invited to Hungary in the 11th century.

The Blue Ribbon Sailing Race at Balaton is the most significant and longest lake –roundabout competition in Europe with many international contenders. You can also enjoy Balaton chillout or extreme sailing by us , please read the Öko-extreme sports menu.

Where the dreams have lavender fragrance

According to authentic sources, lavender grown in Tihany Peninsula contains essential oils that exceed both the quantity and quality of those measured in the plantations in France. Lavender from the Balaton region can be found in ice cream, pastries, chocolates, soaps, fragrance bags, syrups, bouquets, and on the sides of hand-painted ceramic dishes.

Taste the freshness of mineral water from a 1500-year-old spring. Theodora Quelle of Kékkút is of international renown. Its name originates from that of an empress of Byzantium in the fifth century. She had a liking for this slightly sparkling mineral water gained from this spring.

Remarkable flora, fauna

With us You can explore nature reserves in Balaton Uplands National Park that individual tourist may not enter, and we provide a unique birdwatching program with telescope use in a wetland area with a professional guide

Fig, almond, chestnut, lavender and rosemary are some of the native plants. Juniper trees and bushes accompany the submediterranian flora on rocky ridges. It is a unique blend of Alpine and Atlantic vegetation.

Rare relict and endemic species can be found here, such as Primula farinose from the Ice Age , a plant whose only known Hungarian location is within the Balaton Uplands National Park. Another rarity is the European mudminnow, a small carnivoruos fish living in marshy waters; 60 percent of its world population lives in Kis-Balaton nature reserve.

Kis-Balaton was included in the list of Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat in 1979, when Hungary joined the Ramsar Convention. It is also part of the Natura 2000 network

The Bakony-Balaton Geopark became member of the European Geoparks Network and the Global Geoparks Network – assisted by UNESCO in 2012.

Detailed information about places of interest can be found under Nature&Wine Holiday Daily Programs menu and Responsible Travel menu.