Larger than Lake Geneva, Lake Balaton extends along 77 km of beaches and undulating shoreline to the south-west of Budapest. This ancient refuge of the Hungarian aristocracy still charms visitors with its seaside atmosphere.

The “little Hungarian sea” and tourism have got along famously for over 100 years. It was the arrival of the train in the second half of the 19th century that made the banks of Lake Balaton a popular destination, both in the south, where the shoreline is smooth and the waters are shallow, and in the north, where the scenery is more rugged and spectacular. Now the most popular summer destination for Hungarian holidaymakers, Lake Balaton boasts a string of over 100 places to swim and a shoreline dotted with pretty places to visit. The main site in the north is the Tihany peninsula. Cutting deep into the centre of the lake until it almost touches the opposite bank, it is home to a Benedictine abbey with richly detailed Baroque décor. The nearby village of Balatonfüred is a thermal spa resort full of old-fashioned charm, nestling close to the hills further inland and covered in vines as, for example, in the Kalimedence valley.

Dotted with viewpoints and villages, the northern shore ends at Keszthely in the west, a small town known for its beaches, Austro-Hungarian style houses and its superb Baroque chateau, offering a real contrast with the fortress in the neighbouring mediaeval village, Tapolca. Another nearby village, Héviz, is also well-known. The steaming waters of its thermal lake are a popular spot for the many people who come here for hydrotherapy to deal with stress-related disorders. The busiest destination on the southern shore is Siofok, a very popular lakeside resort that takes full advantage of its proximity to Budapest.