Lake Balaton

“The Hungarian Sea”: Whites on the Northern Shore and Reds on the Southern Shore

Suggested Trip Length
Lake Balaton, just 100 kilometers southwest of Budapest, is do-able as a day trip. If you have the time, we suggest spending at least one day on the northern shore and another on the southern shore. The lake is a popular vacation destination for Hungarians, so if you have even more time to spend, (particularly during the warm months) you can really delve into the nature and culture of the region.

When To Go
It is possible to go year-round, but many restaurants and smaller hotels are closed during the off-season. Due to its lack of a coast, the 78-kilometer-long lake attracts crowds during the warm months, when there are frequent wine festivals held throughout the region.

Wining and Dining
The area surrounding the lake is officially five separate wine regions, which produce slightly different wines. Balaton is best known for its whites—olaszrizling (welschriesling), szürkebarát (pinot gris), tramini (gewürztraminer), riesling, chardonnay, and muscat lunel (muscat ottonel). But reds are making a comeback on the flat southern shore, which is also known for some fine sparkling wines. Starting on the hilly northern shore we will visit wineries in Balatonfüred, Csopak, and Badacsony. In addition to being among the first to be mentioned in Hungarian historical records for winemaking, Badacsony’s volcanic vineyards make it one Hungary’s most scenic wine regions. We will make a stop in the Balaton Uplands National Park, where we can see Hungarian heritage animals like Racka sheep, Mangalica pigs, and Hungarian Grey cattle. For lunch, we will dine on a terrace in the vineyards overlooking the lake, at a winery-owned restaurant specializing in preparing these Hungarian specialties.

The proper way to do Lake Balaton is to taste wines on both sides of the lake. We will get to the southern shore by car ferry, or taking the longer route around the lake. The southern shore holds a small distillery which produces some of Hungary’s smoothest pálinka. Next we will head to a brand-new state-of-the-art winery a few kilometers from the lake, which has a light-filled tasting room and an outdoor terrace next to the vineyards. We will dine outdoors at a traditional restaurant, which has arguably the most gorgeous panoramic view of the lake and vineyards. While on the southern shore, we will visit boutique wineries specializing in hand-crafted wines where we can snack on local bites such as house-made salami, handmade cheese, smoked fish, and walnut oil.  We will visit the country’s top sparkling wine producer, and try to squeeze in some time to browse traditional Hungarian pottery and folk items.

Other Options
Sunbathing and sailing on the lake’s 300 kilometers of shoreline. Exploring the surrounding countryside, with its rolling meadows of wildflowers, winding streams, tiny villages with pretty churches, patches of vineyards, and views of the shimmering lake. The Benedictine abbey in Tihany. The university town of Keszthely. The Szigliget peninsula with the ruins of a castle and panoramic lake views. Bathing in the Hévíz thermal lake. Birdwatching at Kis-Balaton (Small Balaton), a swampy protected area with tens of thousands of birds nesting, a lookout tower, and a buffalo reserve. The Kali basin: a “stone sea” of flat rocks scattered along the hillside left from the era when Lake Balaton was part of the Pannonian Sea.

Our trips include Round-trip transportation to/from your hotel in Budapest; English-speaking food and wine-trained guide/translator; wine tastings and cellar tours; meeting winemakers wherever possible.

This itinerary is a sample of what is available. We customize each itinerary individually, and venues and activities may change due to availability of third-party vendors.

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