Lake Balaton.

Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, is Hungary's beloved summer playground, a shimmering 50-mile expanse of warm, shallow turquoise water ringed by vineyards, volcanic hills, beach resorts and spa towns. Hungarians call it simply "the Balaton," and in summer its shores fill with swimmers, sailors and sun-seekers.

The lively southern shore has shallow, kid-friendly beaches and resort towns like Siofok; the more scenic northern shore offers the historic Tihany Peninsula with its hilltop abbey and lavender fields, the volcanic Badacsony wine hills above the water, and the grand spa town of Balatonfured. Nearby lies Heviz, the world's largest thermal lake, warm enough to swim in year-round.

Whether you come to sail, swim, taste wine or simply relax by the water, Balaton is summer at its most Hungarian.

Where: Western Hungary
Best time: Summer (Jun–Sep)
Good for: Beaches & relaxation
Pair it with: Budapest or Eger

Where it is

On the map.

Lake Balaton stretches across western Hungary; the Tihany Peninsula and Balatonfured sit on the scenic northern shore, the resort beaches on the south.

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What you'll see

On the route.

Stop 01

The lake and a sailboat

The shimmering turquoise expanse of the Balaton, where sailboats drift past swimmers and the volcanic hills of the northern shore rise in the distance.

Stop 02

The Tihany Peninsula

The scenic northern shore around Tihany, where a village church and the Badacsony hills look out over the blue water, lavender and vineyards close at hand.

Stop 03

A lakeside sunset

Evening over the Balaton, when the sky turns gold behind the reeds and the peninsula settles into silhouette across the still water.

Stop 04

Tihany lavender

The lavender of the Tihany Peninsula, whose purple fields and midsummer festival are one of the loveliest sights on the northern shore.

Know before you go

The practical details.

Good to know

The two shores

The southern shore (Siofok and others) has shallow, gently sloping beaches and a lively party scene good for families and young crowds, while the northern shore is more scenic and refined, with Tihany, Balatonfured, the Badacsony wine hills and quieter coves; pick the shore that fits your style.

Good to know

Things to do

Swim in the warm shallow water, sail or paddle, cycle the lakeside path, taste wine in the volcanic Badacsony hills, visit the Tihany Abbey and its lavender, and soak in the year-round thermal lake at nearby Heviz.

Good to know

When to go

Balaton is a summer destination, busiest and warmest from June to September when the water is swimmable and the resorts are in full swing; late spring and early fall are quieter and pleasant, while much closes in winter, so aim for the warm months.

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Lake Balaton.

On the map.