Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe. Its area is 596 square meters. km, length - 78 km, width - up to 12 km, average depth - 3 m, maximum - 11 m. On the shores of the lake there are well-arranged beaches with various entertainments for children and adults.
The main resorts of the southern coast are Siofok and Santod, Balatonfoldvar and Fonyod; northern - Keszthely, Badacsony, Tihany, Balatonfured and Tapolca.
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How to get to Balaton
Balaton connects with the capital of Hungary a modern two-lane highway 115 km long, which in the area of Siofok connects with the road that surrounds the lake. By car, Balaton can go round a day, stopping at the places you like. Transfer from the airport takes about 1, 5 hours.
Search for air tickets to the city of Budapest (nearest a / p to Balaton)
The climate of Lake Balaton is
Overcast +9 ° С in the day +2 ° С at night ° С water |
Overcast, light rain +10 ° С in the day +4 ° С at night ° С water |
Clearly +7 ° C in the day +5 ° С at night ° С water |
| The weather in Balaton for 10 days | ||
The water in Balaton warms up quickly, so you can swim in it from spring until late autumn. Soft, slightly alkaline water with a high content of iodine and a special southern microclimate create here almost a complete illusion of rest on the sea. The bottom of the lake, especially this, is noticeable in the shallow waters of the southern coast, covered with fine velvety sand.
On windy days, the water in Balaton is often much warmer than air. In summer, its temperature seldom falls below +22 ° C, and in the height of summer it can reach +27 .. + 28 ° C.
Balaton Beaches
The beaches of the northern and southern shores of Lake Balaton differ significantly from each other. In the north, the bottom is rocky and stony, more steeply goes down: after 30-50 m the depth already exceeds the growth of a person, therefore the beaches of the northern coast can be recommended to those who know how to swim well, or to those who come with fairly large children. Sighetfurdo in Keszthely is one of the nicest places in the north of the lake, there are beautiful beaches near Zanka, Tihany, Balatonfured.
On the southern side of the lake the depth increases very smoothly - in most places you can walk along the bottom of five hundred meters and never swim. Especially small in the coastal strip, where even the smallest children can splash carelessly in the water, the depth of which barely reaches half a meter. That's why families with young children prefer the southern coast.
The eastern part of Lake Balaton is the real estate of the sun worshipers. Beaches of the local villages Kenes, Akarattya and Aliga look to the south and therefore bathe in the sunlight from morning till almost evening.
Entertainment, excursions and attractions of the Lake Balaton
Approximate cost of group excursions: sailing on the ship to the peninsula of Tihany with a visit to the abbey ~ 10 EUR, a trip to the thermal lake of Hévíz, an excursion to Keszthely with a tour of the Festetics palace (only outside), a trip to Badacsony with lunch and wine tasting ~ 18 EUR. Skating in Balaton on a yacht ~ 14 EUR, a trip to the fortress of Shumeg with a "knight's tournament" and "medieval dinner" for gypsy music ~ 33 EUR, an excursion to Tapoltsu with visits to cave lakes and boating ~ 17 EUR.
Sailing, surfing, fishing. Each major resort has tennis courts and mini golf. In Tihany, Santoda, Keszthely, Nagyvajoni and many other places in the vicinity of Lake Balaton, riding schools are open. On the coast there are many restaurants and even more cozy traditional restaurants with gypsy music, where guests are offered dishes of Balaton cuisine - hot Hungarian soup, silver pike perch and catfish, as well as local wines.
Since the end of April, fishing has been allowed on the lake: it should be purchased with a special permit, which is sold at every fishing store. Photo by Lake Balaton (43)