Anyone who has ever been to the West Balaton region knows that this is one of the most colourful regions of the country. In this beautiful corner of Lake Balaton, a week is definitely not enough to discover everything! This is the region worth returning from time to time to discover hidden treasures and have unforgettable adventures!
Spending your holiday in the western corner of Lake Balaton is something you definitely don’t want to miss! Every season is showing a different face of the area and the landscape is not the only thing offering an incomparable experience; from season to season many programs are waiting for tourist to try them out and to collect memories they can obtain nowhere else!
But what can the West Balaton region offer?
- The most beautiful view to Lake Balaton and the so called Witness Mountains (Badacsony, Csobánc, Szent György-hegy) can be seen in this region.
- Here lies one of the most beautiful baroque castles of Hungary, the Festetics Castle of Keszthely which offers many exhibitions all year long.
- The most unique lake in the world can be found here, in Hévíz.
- On the top of the volcanic hills, we can enjoy both the unexceptional panorama and the medieval castle ruins often accompanied by tournaments.
- Explore the many secrets of the Balaton Uplands National Park, from the Kis-Balaton to the Cave Lake of Tapolca!
- During the winter, canoe tours, ice-skating, the steaming Lake Hévíz, wellness services, great food and hot drinks wait for the guests visiting the area.
- Unlike during the summer, the best family-friendly beaches and restaurants on the shores of Lake Balaton are offering unforgettable moments while the cities get full with life offering festivals for almost every weekend.
- During the spring and the fall, the lovers of active leisure activities take hold of hiking and bicycle trails.
- And the keen gastronomy enthusiasts won’t get disappointed by the gastro experiences of Hévíz, the famous wines of Badacsony and the better and better ice creams and special deserts all around Lake Balaton.
The most notable sights of the region:
Beautiful nature:
- The sights and hiking trails of the Balaton Upland National Park
- Lookout towers and hiking trails in the Keszthely hills
- Kis-Balaton (Small Balaton)
- Kányavári Island – Kis-Balaton
- Csodabogyós Cave – Balatonederics
- Kotsy Water Mill – Zalaszántó
- Buffalo Reserve – Kápolnapuszta
- Basalt Columns at Szent György-hegy (Saint George’s Hill)
- The permanent exhibition of Museum of Balaton – Keszthely
- House of Nature Visitor Centre – Gyenesdiás
- Szépkilátó viewpoint – Balatongyörök
- Africa Museum – Balatonederics
- Lake Cave – Tapolca
- Lavender House Visitor Centre – Tihany
Castles, ruins:
- Festetics Palace – Keszthely
- Castle of Szigliget
- Castle of Sümeg
- Ruins of Tátika
- Ruins of Rezi
- Ruins of Csobánc – Csobánc Hill
Museums:
- Festetics Palace – Keszthely – permanent and temporary exhibitions
- Museum of Balaton – Keszthely
- Inner City Museums: Doll Museum, Snail Shell Parliament, Cadillac, Retro Toys, Erotic Panoptic – Keszthely
- House of Nature Visitor Centre – Gyenesdiás
- Africa Museum – Balatonederics
Further sights or programs to consider:
- Port of Keszthely – pleasure boat trips and scheduled liners on Lake Balaton
- City Beach – Keszthely
- Diás Beach – Gyenesdiás
- Paintball – Gyenesdiás
- Imre Festetics Animal Park – Gyenesdiás
- Darnay Cellar - Gyenesdiás
- Michael’s Chapel – Vonyarcvashegy
- Lido Beach – Vonyarcvashegy
- Water Lily Adventure Park (Tavirózsa Kalandpark) – Keszthely, Kertváros
- Zala Springs Golf Club – Zalacsány
- Zobori Adventure Park – Zalaszabar
- Peace Stupa – Zalaszántó
List broken down into cities:
KESZTHELY | 6 kms from Hévíz
- Festetics Palace – Keszthely
- Museum of Balaton – Keszthely
- Inner City Museums: Doll Museum, Snail Shell Parliament, Cadillac, Retro Toys, Erotic Panoptic – Keszthely
- Port of Keszthely – pleasure boat trips and scheduled liners on Lake Balaton
- City Beach – Keszthely
GYENESDIÁS | 8 kms from Hévíz
- House of Nature Visitor Centre – Gyenesdiás
- Diás Beach – Gyenesdiás
- Paintball – Gyenesdiás
- Imre Festetics Animal Park - Gyenesdiás
- Darnay Cellar – Gyenesdiás
REZI | 9 kms from Hévíz
- Dino Park
ZALACSÁNY | 10 kms from Hévíz
VONYARCVASHEGY | 11 kms from Hévíz
- Michael’s Chapel – Vonyarcvashegy
- Lido Beach – Vonyarcvashegy
BALATONGYÖRÖK | 14 kms from Hévíz
- Africa Museum – Balatonederics
- Szépkilátó viewpoint – Balatongyörök
ZALASZABAR |22 kms from Hévíz
SZIGLIGET |24 kms from Hévíz
- Castle ruin of Szigliget
SÜMEG | 25 kms from Hévíz
- Castle of Sümeg
- Tournament
TAPOLCA | 30 kms from Hévíz
- Cave Lake
BADACSONY – BADACSONYTOMAJ |30 kms from Hévíz
- Hiking and wine-tasting
Farther away:
ZALAEGERSZEG | 40 kms from Hévíz
TIHANY | 67 kms from Hévíz
BALATONFÜRED | 70 kms from Hévíz
- Tagore Promenade
- Museums and Galleries
- Lóczy Cave
- The House of Jewish Excellence
- Wines of the Csopak Wine-District
VESZPRÉM | 80 kms from Hévíz
