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Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Hungary and in Central Europe. It is one of the foremost regional tourist destinations. It is often called the "Hungarian Sea". The Zala River provides the largest inflow of water to the lake and the canalized Sió is the only outflow. With a surface area of 592 km² has a length of 77 km and a width ranging from 4 to 14 km. The lake's surface is 104 m above sea level, and its depth varies up to 12.2 m (mean depth is 3.2 m).

The high tourist season extends from June until the end of August. The average water temperature during the summer is 25 °C, which makes bathing and swimming possible. Most of the beaches consist of either grass, rocks or the silty sand. Other tourist attractions include sailing, fishing and other water sports, as well as visiting the countryside and hills; wineries on the north coast and night life on the south shore.

It is possible to visit the lake in winter, when you can go fishing through ice-holes, or, if the ice is thick enough, brave visitors can even skate, sledge or ice-sail on the lake.

North shore

From east to west:
Balatonfőkajár – Balatonkarattya – Balatonkenese – Balatonfűzlő – Balatonalmádi – Alsóőrs – Paloznak – Csopak – Arács – Balatonfűred – Tihany – Aszófő – Őrvényes – Balatonudvari – Fővenyes – Balatonakali – Zánka – Balatonszepezd – Szepezdfűrdő – Révfűlőp – Pálkőve – Ábrahámhegy – Balatonrendes – Badacsonytomaj – Badacsony – Badacsonytőrdemic – Szigliget – Balatonederics – Balatongyőrők – Vonyarcvashegy – Gyenesdiás – Keszthely

South shore

From east to west:
Balatonakarattya – Balatonaliga – Balatonvilágos – Sóstó – Szabadifűrdő –Siófok – Széplak – Zamárdi – Szántód – Balatonfőlvár – Balatonszárszó – Balatonszemes – Balatonlelle – Balatonboglár – Fonyód – Bélatelep – Balatonfenyves – Balatonmáriafűrdő – Balatonkeresztúr – Balatonberény – Fenékpuszta

The Lake Balaton region is well-connected by train and bus. Trains and buses to Budapest leave frequently and take 2.5 hours. Transport to other regional locations is frequent and easy to use. The railway circles the lake, making travel to various towns simple. The Lake Balaton is easily accessible on public road No. 8, 71 and 7, by rail and aeroplane. The airport Sarmallék is located only 25 km (www.fly-balaton.hu). There are scheduled flights from Berlin, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Copenhagen, Zűrich and London Stansted. The lake is also accessible via charter flights from Hamburg, Dűsseldorf, Billund and Moscow.

Siofok

Siofok is the most frequented spa and holiday resort of the southern banks of Lake Balaton. The attraction of the Southern Coast is enhanced by the shallow water and the sandy bottom, which makes it a favourite destination of families. Siofok became a true holiday centre after the Second World War, when hotels nad summer houses were built one after the other. Nowadays Siofok is a tourist and commercial centre and also the centre of fishing and navigation. The lively town offers various summer programmes as operett perfomances, organ concerts, historical military, equestrian and folklore festivals, international and local sport competitions, pop concerts and noted international fine art exhibitions.

Tihany

The peninsula of Tihany and its hills, the pearl of the Balaton, rises above the region like a lonely giant or watchtower. Nine centuries ago a church and a monastery were built on the smaller of its hills, and still, it is an important centre of catholic religion. The entire territory of the Tihany peninsula is a protected area, its special sights are the Inner Lake and the abbey. The water of the mineral springs refreshes both body and soul. This idyllic picture is bordered with vineyards heavy with red and white grapes. Stop for a moment and taste the strength of fiery wines of the highland, and try out the echo which has been an inspiration to many poets.

Balatonfured

Balatonfüred and its district gives to the tourists natural beauty and special attractiveness. It is a small town with 13.500 inhabitants on the northern shore of Lake Balaton surrounded by the hills of Badacsony. Since 1971, the town has been Hungary’s premier spa resort and the „International Town of Vinces and Wine“.
A number of hotels, guest-houses, restaurants, country taverns are waiting for the tens of thousands of tourists who arrive here every year. Besides swimming in the lake and hikes in the countryside a wide selection of different programmes are offered.

Keszthely

Besides the great swimming facilities which has every town near Balaton, Keszthely is famous also because of its history. The reputation of this town is founded on the activities of the Festetic family. Hereby recently the most popular place among the tourists is the Festetic Palace (built among 1745-1887), which contains hundred and one rooms, and nowadays gives home to an exhibition of weapons belonging to the Hungarian National Museum. Notable is also the beautiful English-style garden which belongs to the Palace.

For more detailed information please visit the Keszthely website.

Heviz

This small town in Hungary is famous for its Thermal Bath, which has the second largest thermal lake in the world!! The temperature of the water is 35-36°C, and even during the winter the surface temperature does not drop under 26-29°C. The water flows through the lake at rate of 410 l/sec, meaning that the 80 million- litre lake is replenished every two days.
Now part of the town is also the village Egregy, whith the church which probably dates back to the first half of the 13th century.

For more detailed information please visit the Heviz website.