Balaton Lake

Certainly among the natural attractions, the lakes have a special place, green areas with stunning views that can create relaxing moments for you. Europe has many lakes, but the largest lake in Central Europe is located near Hungary, near Budapest, a lake with spectacular views that remains like a sea for Hungary, surrounded by ancient castles, volcanic mountains, underground caves and historic cities. Is located.
Lake Balaton is surrounded by lush gardens, volcanic mountains, hot springs and a national park, and offers stunning views of western Hungary. If you are looking for sunny beaches, delicious food, music and water sports, visit this lake. The lake is not very well known outside of Hungary, but since it is not far from Budapest, many people go to this lake for fun and relaxation, especially in the summer months, when they can get away from the unbearable heat near the cool beaches. Due to the presence of algae that grow in shallow water, the water has a green and attractive appearance.
Lake Balaton, 598 square kilometers, is 80 kilometers southwest of Budapest and stretches 77 kilometers along the slopes of Mount Bakony. The lake is 14 km wide at its widest point and its maximum depth is 11 meters. The largest river that flows into the lake is the Zala River, and the water of the entire lake changes every two years. The climate of this region is sunny and warm from May to October, but in winter the surface of the lake is covered with a 20 cm layer of ice, and this thick ice attracts many people for winter fun. There is a lot of wind in the northwestern part of Lake Balaton, which makes the coast of the southeastern part have a lot of waves. It is just an hour’s drive from Budapest to the northeastern part of Lake Balaton. If you like to explore the surrounding historic cities, you can rent a car, but if you do not have such a dream, you can easily get to Lake Balaton by train or bus.
The area around Lake Balaton has a diverse flora and fauna. There is a wildlife sanctuary on the Tihani Peninsula, on the other hand, the southern border of the lake is fertile, and volcanic soils have created fertile areas. However, due to the prosperity of the tourism industry since the second half of the twentieth century, agricultural activities in this area have greatly decreased.
Around the lake there are many historic cities with ancient attractions, for example on the north coast you will find the amazing city of Szigliget, which is home to one of the strongest castles in Hungary. This castle is located on a hill and was built with a height of more than 242 meters around the 13th century. This castle has been attacked many times over and over again, and what you see today is the ruins of a castle that once defended the city against the invasion of the Tartars and the Turks.
The city of Hévíz is located on the western shore of Lake Balaton and its most important attraction is the thermal lake Hévíz. It is said to be the largest thermal lake in the world and also has healing waters. It is believed that the waters of this lake can be useful for treating rheumatism. Spa services are also available in this small town. The Hévíz Spa is famous and, of course, very popular with tourists. Tourists can benefit from the spa services of this spa center.
The town of Zalaegerszeg is also located around the lake and can be a good option for sightseeing. It is located 50 km from Lake Balaton in Hungary and is a city full of historical and natural tourist attractions. There are many parks in the city, one of which is the water park, as well as several museums and historical and religious buildings.
There is another area near the lake known as Tihany. The city is famous for its annual lavender festivals. There are also beautiful hiking trails in the area where hiking can definitely be a great pastime when traveling to Hungary. In addition, there is a famous monastery, known as Tihany Monastery, which will not be useless to visit.
Lake Balaton, known as the Hungarian Sea, attracts many beach lovers. The average water temperature in the summer months is 25 degrees Celsius, and shallow and safe water makes it a good place to swim. There are many resorts around the lake that have good facilities such as playgrounds and rowing boats. In winter, the surface freezes on the lake, and when the ice is thick enough, you can ski on it.
Surfing competitions bring a large crowd to Lake Balaton in the summer, which is the height of excitement to watch. You can even try this exciting surfing yourself. On the north shore of Lake Balaton there are hills that you can count on for mountaineering, on the other hand, the presence of volcanic mountains makes your mountaineering more exciting. On the northern shores of the lake and near the town of Keszhely, the largest hot water lake in the world, Lake Hovez, is waiting for you. Swimming in this hot lake removes fatigue and cures diseases such as rheumatism. If you want to explore the lake more accurately and slowly, rent a boat and head to the heart of the lake. You will spend some relaxing moments while paddling in this spectacular lake.
Food lovers head to Kistücsök Restaurant on the south shore of Lake Balaton, one of the best restaurants in the country with delicious cuisine specializing in general and special.
You can cycle around the lake without getting stuck in traffic, a large track surrounds the entire lake and you can easily rent a bike and go this route. If you are looking for easier cycling, go to the southern part because this route is flatter.
Balaton Sound is a popular festival, usually held in July for 5 days in Zamárdi, south of Lake Balaton in Hungary. The festival is said to be the largest electronic music festival in all of Europe, so electronic music enthusiasts should not miss the festival if they visit the lake in July.