After 220 years of medical experience and research, the Traditional Hévíz Therapy became a trademark of Hévíz in 2015. The therapy consists of three basic and four complementary treatments using the healing properties of sulphurous magnesium carbonate water.

Experts have recognized that a significant part of the hydro, movement, physio- and electrotherapies of the Traditional Hévíz Therapy is suitable for the treatment of certain problems of the Post-Covid syndrome. In addition, the mineral content of Lake Hévíz, the evaporating water and the climatic effect of the 60-hectare Protective Forest surrounding the lake are also very effective in achieving the healing effect.

The Post-Covid Care programme will work on the model of the already proven Traditional Hévíz Therapy. Patients arriving in Hévíz with post-Covid-19 symptoms will receive professional and personalised treatments in the comfort of a hotel, under medical supervision. The programme and the quality of the treatments will be identical, regardless of which Hévíz location the patient chooses.

You can achieve a speedy recovery and fuller rehabilitation, as far as possible, not by medication but by a targeted treatment plan (active exercise, passive treatment methods and other physiotherapy techniques). The aim is to preserve the function of the parts of the body that remain intact, to promote the regeneration of damaged tissues and to integrate the recovered functions into the movements of everyday life.

• reducing breathing difficulties
• restoring and improving diaphragm function
• improving chest mobility
• restoring and improving the breathing mechanism
• restoring and improving motor functions
• restoring and improving muscular strength of the skeletal muscles
• improving coordination of movement, balance and proprioception
• restoration and improvement of circulatory functions, endurance
• improving quality of life
• cognitive therapy under the guidance of an occupational therapist
• patient education
• psychic guidance - with the assistance of a psychologist

THE PROGRAMME IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:

1. Preliminary health survey via an online questionnaire - mandatory element
2. Specialist consultation - multiple sessions - mandatory element
3. Pre-treatment laboratory and diagnostic tests - optional: can be replaced by medical reports less than four weeks old
4. Post-Covid Care treatment programme, consisting of several treatments tailored to the individual - mandatory element
5. Accommodation at the provider of the package - optional, the Post-Covid Care programme can also be attended as an outpatient
6. Aftercare - an online questionnaire to be filled in after the treatments about the health status achieved as a result of the treatments - mandatory element

WHERE CAN I FILL IN THE PRELIMINARY HEALTH SURVEY?

The survey is the same, but it must always be completed on the website of the hotel where you book your package, as only then will the hotel have access to your protected health information. You can therefore find the questionnaire on the websites of the following accommodation providers:

• NaturMed Hotel Carbona
• Hotel Európa Fit

WHAT PRE-TREATMENT LABORATORY AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS ARE NEEDED?

• Laboratory tests (blood count, renal function, liver enzymes, C reactive protein, iron panel, thyroid function, D-dimer test)
• ECG test by an internist, cardiologist
• Imaging tests (Chest CT scan, cardiac ultrasound)
• Chest excursion test
• Six-minute walk test
• Oxygen saturation
• Muscle strength measurement of major muscle groups

WHAT TREATMENTS DOES THE POST-COVID CARE TREATMENT PROGRAMME CONSIST OF?

To provide you with a quality service, treatments are carried out according to specific rules by qualified therapists and under constant medical supervision.

Mandatory elements of the treatment

• therapeutic exercises: individually or in a group, in a gym or water according to the patient's condition,
• therapeutic massage,
• electrotherapy (TENS) - pain relief, muscle toning,
• BEMER therapy,
• inhalation,
• CO2 bath
• bath therapy

Treatments recommended as basic treatments, depending on the patient’s condition:

• breathing exercises, chest mobilisation, chest exercises
• general conditioning therapeutic exercises
• muscle strengthening, use of equipment, core training
• plyometric exercises
• development of static and dynamic balance, proprioception: aquatic gymnastics, balance exercises, use of equipment
• circulation, endurance: low, medium, high-intensity aerobic exercises in groups, depending on your condition
• Nordic Walking
• electrotherapy
• massage
• bath therapy
• dry carbon dioxide bath
• bathing in pool
• bathing in Lake Hévíz

Additional options, recommended treatments according to the patient’s condition:

• salt cave
• movement therapy: exercise programmes with physical strain according to the patient's condition, increasing endurance
• patient education: lifestyle and dietary advice
• O2 therapy
• relaxation techniques
• relaxation programmes: Thai Chi, Five Tibetan exercises, yoga...
• stretching
• exercise bicycle in the hotel, electric bicycles for hire at the Tourinform office
• mental health guidance
• outdoor gym at the Lake Baths,
• outdoor aqua fitness at the Lake Baths

DEPENDING ON YOUR CONDITION, THESE ARE THE RESULTS YOU CAN EXPECT:

• Improving the circulation
• Relieving pain
• Relaxing the muscles
• Restoring movement functions lost due to infection
• Relieving contractures caused by infection
• Increasing muscle strength
• Preserving and improving muscle contractility
• Functional learning, occupational therapy (practising practical movements and sequences of movements)
• Training of sensory functions
• Developing dynamic stability
• Preventing the development of complications
• Psychological guidance of the patient
• Achieving self-care

THE EFFECTS OF The Hévíz therapeutic TREATMENT CAN ALSO BE ADDED:

• Maintenance of the function of the articular cartilage
• Mobilisation of the joints
• Release of joint contractures

Hiking or nordic walking with lookouts and castle ruins

The route of the national Blue Trail passes through the most important sights of Hévíz. The Keszthely hills and the hills of County Zala offer several hiking possibilities, which are not even limited by the seasons. Whether it's sunny or snowy, the trails, nature trails, lookouts and rest areas, maintained by the Bakonyerdő Forestry and located in the Balaton-Uplands National Park, are always accessible. Want to spice up your hikes with a little Nordic walking? Rent Nordic walking poles at the Tourinform Office. There, you can also find some hiking maps. Whether you hike in the Keszthely Hills or at the Kis-Balaton, the scenery will be spectacular. On the top of almost every hill, there is a castle or a lookout tower from where you have a fantastic panorama of the western bay of Lake Balaton.

Running is a way of life

Running is the most popular and healthiest sport in the world. Whether you're a marathon runner, a cross-country runner or simply a fan of running, you can find the routes starting from Hévíz that suit you best. You'll find shorter running trails in the protective forest, but if you want to get away from the town, you can choose from several routes depending on whether you want to run on asphalt or dirt roads and what difference in the level you want to take. There are routes in built environments, but even more in nature, where rest areas are available alongside the hiking trails. Where to start? Our hiking tips can help you to decide.

Segway tours - for anyone over the age of 10

If you think segway is not a sport, try a longer ride and your leg muscles will tell you how much you've used them while standing on the segway. This unique vehicle can be steered based on the movements of the human body and, above all, is totally environmentally friendly. There are guided Segway tours on several routes in Hévíz, but you can even roll to Keszthely for a longer trip.

On two wheels: by bicycle, e-bike, e-scooter

Many people like cycling, and Hévíz offers everything for a longer or shorter bike tour as there are numerous cycle paths in the town and the whole West Balaton region. Not a professional or with a small child? That's not an issue either as most cycle paths are located farther away from heavy traffic and have rest areas and refreshment stops. Take a cycling map, rent an adult or children's bike from us at the Tourinform Office and you're free to explore the best places in the area. If you want to be on the safe side or if you want to go for a cooler means of transport, we can also provide you with a fully charged e-bike or e-roller in the Tourinform Office in Hévíz. And if you rent them for several days, we can even give you a charger, as they can be recharged from the mains in a few hours.

Adventure in the air

Admiring Lake Hévíz, the western bay of Lake Balaton or Kis-Balaton from a bird's eye view is an unforgettable experience. If you like extreme situations and you like to soar in the air, you can choose from a pleasure flight, a sightseeing tour with a micro lighter, and even more extreme gyrocopter or Hungary's largest hot air balloon. But why should you choose?

Try them all! Balaton Ballooning information, dates and booking HERE!

Fly Miki gyrocopter and micro lighter information and booking HERE!

Adventure parks for children and adults

There can be a huge difference between adventure parks. There is a wide variety of adventure parks near Hévíz to choose from, including indoor and outdoor parks, traditional parks with ropes courses and amusement parks, and even life-size dinosaurs in Rezi. Of course, there are also different levels of difficulty. While some places are suitable for smaller children, others are better for teenagers.

Here are the best adventure parks in the area:

Tavirózsa adventure park

Located between Hévíz and Keszthely, it offers active recreation for the whole family: traditional rope courses, zipline, mini-golf, petanque./ Bobo fun park - Alsópáhok | Indoor adventure park on 3 levels of 3,000 square meters with 30 attractions: climbing walls, free jump, punching bag maze, and a lot more. Great location for team building programmes, class trips, family outings, or even for active indoor sports and energy release. It is recommended for all ages.

Dinosaur and Adventure Park - Rezi

Ropes course, life-size dinosaurs and countless adventure activities with outdoor games only for the whole family. 

Rifle shooting, clay pigeon shooting, paintball

An exciting, out-of-the-ordinary programme in a beautiful setting. On open days, the sport shooting range in Gyenesdiás offers the opportunity to try clay pigeon shooting under professional guidance, but you can also shoot pistols and shotguns. For those who prefer a less dangerous form of shooting in a group, the Gyenesdiás paintball field is the ideal choice. Information and advance booking on the Sport Shooting Range's website. 

Paintball field information here.

Canoe tours in Hévíz, on Lake Balaton, at Kis-Balaton and on the River Zala

The Hévíz stream is fed by the hot water of Lake Hévíz, so it does not freeze in winter. Uniquely, the 9-kilometre stretch can only be paddled in winter as the stream is protected for its flora and fauna, and can only be paddled when nature is at rest. Canoeing in the winter landscape on the steaming stream in the snowfall is a truly fabulous experience for families or groups of friends. For those who would prefer to do it in the summer, we recommend the tours organised by Kis-Balaton Visitor Centre, the Balaton sunset canoe trip or the all-day River Zala trip. Information about the winter tours of Hévíz is available at the Tourinform Office

For the tours organised by Kis-Balaton, please contact the Balaton-Uplands National Park.

Sports on the lake - sailing, windsurfing, SUP, canoeing, paddle boat, kayaking

If you are fond of water sports, you can sail, windsurf or SUP on one of the beaches of Keszthely, only 15 minutes from Hévíz. Most beaches have paddle boats or other paddling vehicles for hire. There are guided canoe trips on Lake Balaton and Kis-Balaton, but if you'd rather just enjoy being on the water, take one of the cruise boats from the pier of Keszthely. Are you looking for something more extreme in the water? For years, there has been a very popular water-skiing track in Vonyarcvashegy, and in the spring of 2021, the floating extreme adventure park was completed on the Municipal Beach in Keszthely. Lake Balaton can also be interesting if you arrive in the depths of winter: if it freezes over you can skate, chair ski or ice sail.

Aqua aerobics and Aqua bike

Moving in the water reduces the risk of injury thanks to the resistance of the water, and at the same time, it develops muscular strength, endurance and coordination. Aqua aerobics with Aniko Papp on Friday afternoons at Hotel Spa Hévíz. Aquabike at Bonvital Wellness & Gastro Hotel - available not only for hotel guests.

BÁZIS - spin racing, close combat, trx, yoga...

In the Bázis fitness room on Dombföldi street in Hévíz, you can choose from a variety of sports such as spin racing, close combat, trx, army pt. In the latter training session, you can perform physical endurance and mental strength exercises, using kick and strike pads and strengthening equipment, as well as simple clocked exercises. However, there are several fitness rooms in Hévíz, such as in the Hévíz Lake Baths and the Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort, where you can also go to train with a day ticket or a pass. Yoga classes are offered not only in the Bázis but also in several other places all year round.

Tai-Chi and Chi-kung

Perfect relaxation technique and ideal form of exercise for greater flexibility and mobility, as well as an excellent way of prevention. The practices are available in some hotels and the Hotel Spa Hévíz offers them even to non-hotel guests.

Golf for ladies, gentlemen and everyone

Zala Springs Golf Resort is a world-class golf course designed by the world-famous course designer Robert Trent Jones Jr. and is located only 10 km from Hévíz. The 18-hole championship golf course is suitable for both beginners and advanced players to learn or improve their golf skills with the help of professional instructors, in individual and group lessons.

Go-kart for the lovers of speed

The Blokk Go-kart track is located in the neighbourhood of the Tavirózsa Adventure Park on the outskirts of Hévíz. There are two tracks in fact because besides professional racers there is also a smaller, beginners' track, where beginners and younger age groups can try themselves.

Horse riding

Club Dobogómajor offers well-trained horses, indoor and outdoor riding arenas for beginners, advanced and experienced riders alike. Both beginners and advanced riders have the opportunity for individual and group riding lessons. And for the youngest riders, pony rides are available from 3 to 7 years of age. Those who have not tried riding before can take part in riding lessons, and those who are already experienced in riding can book a one-day cross-country ride at the Lovaspanzió in Hévíz.

Tennis

The Novák Tennis Club in Club Dobogómajor offers four clay courts and an indoor sports hall for the fans of tennis or those who want to get acquainted with this popular ball game now. There are two clay courts in Keszthely, one in Ady Street and the other on the shore of Lake Balaton.

Squash, bowling, billiards

Whether the weather is good or bad, whether you are alone or in a large group, you can actively spend a whole day in the House of Sports in Gyenesdiás. In the basement, there are two squash courts and a two-lane bowling alley. The upstairs restaurant has a billiard table and a variety of board games for your entertainment.

You have expected good weather but it’s raining cats and dogs? Read our tips to see where to go!

Bobo Fun Park

Hungary's largest indoor adventure park. 30 attractions on 3 floors on 3,000 square metres await you in Alsópáhok. Climbing walls, free jump, punching bag maze, trampolines, cave exploration game and much more. An excellent programme for team building, class outings or family trips. The park has a course for all ages as the challenges vary by age.

Aqua Aerobics and Aqua bike

Moving in the water reduces the risk of injury thanks to the resistance of the water, and at the same time, it develops muscular strength, aerobic endurance and coordination. Aqua Aerobics with Aniko Papp on Friday afternoons at the Hotel Spa Hévíz... Aqua bike at Bonvital Wellness & Gastro Hotel - available not only for hotel guests.

BÁZIS Gym – spin racing, trx ...

In the Bázis Gym on Dombföldi street in Hévíz, you can choose from a variety of sports such as spin racing, close combat, trx, army pt. In the latter training session, you can perform physical endurance and mental strength exercises, using kick and strike pads and strengthening equipment, as well as simple clocked exercises. You can also use fitness rooms in several other locations in Hévíz, for example in the Hévíz Lake Baths or in the Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort, where you can also buy a day pass.

Indoor yoga

You can also join yoga classes in the Bázis Gym and the Hotel Spa Hévíz. Information and timetables are available at the venues.

Horse riding

Club Dobogómajor offers well-trained horses, indoor and outdoor riding arenas for beginners, advanced and experienced riders alike. Individual and group riding lessons are available both for beginners and advanced riders, and the youngest (aged 3-7) can take a pony ride.

Tennis

The Novák Tennis Club in Club Dobogómajor has four clay courts and, if the weather is not favourable, an indoor sports hall for tennis lovers or those who want to get acquainted with this popular ball game.

Squash, bowling, billiards

Whether the weather is good or bad, whether you are alone or in a large group, you can actively spend a whole day in the House of Sports in Gyenesdiás. In the basement, there are two squash courts and a two-lane bowling alley. The upstairs restaurant has a billiard table and a variety of board games for your entertainment. The No.1 Billiard Saloon in Keszthely awaits you with billiards tables, snooker tables and darts boards.

Active programmes on the beaches, in the marinas

On several beaches of Lake Balaton you can rent canoes, kayaks, SUP and of course paddle boats. If you want to experience something more challenging, you can also try the water adventure park on the Municipal Beach of Keszthely or the water skiing track on the beach of Vonyarcvashegy. Going on a pleasure cruise is less active but also can be great fun. There are not only scheduled boat services from the Keszthely pier but also themed excursion boats. And if you want to drive a boat yourself, you can hire a small motorboat in the bay.

Kis-Balaton Paddling tours

The Balaton-Uplands National Park organises canoe trips to Diás Island on the Gyöngyös stream during the summer. The group can visit the István Fekete Memorial and Uncle Matula’s Hut, which evokes the atmosphere of the famous Hungarian novel Tüskevár. Advance booking is required for the tours. Guided tours around the Kányavár Island on Kis-Balaton are also available.

Paddling on the River Zala

Paddling on the River Zala for 12 km from Zalaapáti to Zalavár, an easy all-day programme for everyone

Canoeing in winter on the steaming Hévíz Stream

Those who are attracted to extreme conditions can try paddling on the steaming Hévíz Stream from November to March. As protected plants bloom in the stream in the summer and several water birds breed in the reeds along the banks, paddling on the stream is only allowed in the winter with a tour guide. However, it's a fantastic experience, especially if it is snowing. You can have more details about tours at the Hévíz Tourinform Office during the winter season.

Canoeing on the Hévíz stream

The most popular winter sport in Hévíz is canoeing: The Hévíz stream is fed by the hot water of Lake Hévíz, so it does not freeze in the winter. Uniquely, the 9-kilometre stretch can only be paddled in winter, as the stream is protected for its flora and fauna, and can only be paddled when nature is at rest. Canoeing in the winter landscape on the steaming stream in the snowfall is a truly fabulous experience for families or groups of friends. Dates, prices, conditions of participation can be found here.

The largest indoor adventure park in the country - Bobo Fun Park

Indoor adventure park with 30 attractions on 3 levels and 3,000 square metres. Climbing walls, free jump, punching bag maze and much more. An excellent programme for team building, class outings or family trips for kids and adults alike. There are some rules for using the adventure park, click here for information, prices, opening hours. / Running trails and stretching stations in the protective forest / Some people are not deterred by the winter cold from running outdoors. For them, we recommend the wind-protected running trails of the protective forest since they can choose from trails with several distances and several levels of difficulty. Running here is safe and enjoyable even in winter.

You can also shoot in winter

Rifle shooting is an exciting and unusual programme. In the modern shooting range, located in a beautiful natural setting, amateurs can try clay pigeon shooting, pistol and shotgun shooting under professional guidance on open days. For those who prefer to shoot with less dangerous weapons and in a team, the Gyenesdiás paintball field is the ideal place.

BÁZIS Gym – spin racing, trx ...

In the Bázis Gym on Dombföldi street in Hévíz, you can choose from a variety of sports such as spin racing, close combat, trx, army pt. In the latter training session, you can perform physical endurance and mental strength exercises, using kick and strike pads and strengthening equipment, as well as simple clocked exercises. You can also use fitness rooms in several other locations in Hévíz, for example in the Hévíz Lake Baths or in the Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort, where you can also buy a day pass.

Indoor yoga

You can also join yoga classes in the Bázis Gym and the Hotel Spa Hévíz. Information and timetables at the venues

Riding

Club Dobogómajor offers well-trained horses, an indoor riding arena and, for the more adventurous, outdoor courses for beginners, advanced and experienced riders alike. Individual and group riding lessons are available both for beginners and advanced riders, and the youngest children (aged 3-7) can also ride ponies. Those who have never ridden a horse before can take part in riding lessons, and those who are already experienced in riding can book a one-day cross-country ride at the Hévíz Lovaspanzió.

Tennis

The Novák Tennis Club in Club Dobogómajor has four clay courts and, if the weather is not favourable, an indoor sports hall for tennis lovers or those who want to get acquainted with this popular ball game.

Squash, bowling, billiards

Whether the weather is good or bad, whether you are alone or in a large group, you can actively spend a whole day in the House of Sports in Gyenesdiás. In the basement, there are two squash courts and a two-lane bowling alley. The upstairs restaurant has a billiard table and a variety of board games for your entertainment. The No.1 Billiard Saloon in Keszthely awaits you with billiards tables, snooker tables and darts boards.

Ice skating

In the winter months, when Lake Balaton freezes over, you can skate, chair ski or ice sail. At the Energia Square in Keszthely, children can practise their favourite Balaton sport, ice skating, every day after dark during the winter months, even if Lake Balaton is not frozen over.

About 10,000 years ago, rapid climate warming triggered a cascade of natural responses: torrential floods, landslides, and intense rock weathering. The landscape we walk on today was not shaped over mere centuries, but by the dramatic forces of climate and water, working together. Did you know that the Zala Valley floor is made up of sediments deposited by a kind of "river of time"? Discover how the Earth’s surface became one of the most sensitive indicators of climate change.

Climate Change: Not Just a Modern Phenomenon

We often associate climate change with contemporary issues, but Earth’s climate has shifted many times throughout its history — sometimes quite rapidly. Within large-scale climatic cycles, alternating periods of warming and cooling have long been part of the planet’s natural rhythm.

When Climate Changes, Everything Reacts

A change in climate sets off a chain reaction of environmental processes. It’s not just animals and plants that respond — so does the landscape itself.

Around 10,000 years ago, as the climate warmed significantly, rainfall became more intense.

More rain meant more erosion: stormwater began washing away sediment from hills and valleys into riverbeds. The rivers, now carrying more water and more sediment, flooded more often and spread these materials across the landscape.

Shaping the Terrain

This had a major impact on topography: the land surface became more fragmented and dynamic. Warming temperatures also sped up chemical and physical weathering, breaking down bedrock and helping fertile soil layers to develop.
 In short, natural geological processes that had long been underway suddenly accelerated — and reshaped the surface of the land.

Young Sediments at the Base of the Slopes

Today, in many areas of the region, the lower slopes and valley edges are coated with sediment — debris washed down from higher ground, largely within the last 10,000–20,000 years. In the Zala Valley, for instance, these deposits have spread so far that they now reach the center of the valley floor.

The original bedrock source of these sediments varies: in Zala, it’s typically Pannonian sand (Somló Formation), while in the Keszthely Hills, marine-origin carbonates dominate — mostly dolomite, with some limestone. These sediments now appear as fine gravel, pebbles, or coarse sand, quietly recording the environmental changes of the recent past.

The Life-Giving Winds of the Ice Age: How Loess Shaped the Land

Did you know that Transdanubia’s rich, golden soils are actually a gift from the winds of the Ice Age? Loess isn’t just a dry geological term — it’s an ancient natural recipe that gave rise to some of the most fertile soils in the Carpathian Basin. Where vineyards grow today and birds nest in loess cliffs, strong winds once carried yellow dust across the landscape — for thousands of years. Learn how this unique sediment shaped the land and why loess is still essential for sustainable farming today.

What Is Loess and How Did It Form?

The term loess comes from the German word lose, meaning "loose." Loess is a fine-grained, yellowish sediment that was deposited during the Pleistocene epoch (2.58–0.01 million years ago), particularly during glacial periods. It formed in periglacial environments south of the great Scandinavian ice sheet — cold, dry landscapes with little or no vegetation.

The dust was carried by strong Ice Age winds from floodplains and barren steppes, and slowly accumulated over tens of thousands of years. Eventually, calcium carbonate cemented these layers into loess, which developed characteristic vertical fissures.

It’s important to note that the Pleistocene wasn't a single “Ice Age,” but a period that included alternating cold and warm phases — some even warmer than today.

Loess and the Landscape

Loess gave the Carpathian Basin — especially Transdanubia — its distinct terrain.

Steep loess cliffs (sometimes up to 10 meters high), caves that provide nesting sites for bee-eaters and sand martins, centuries-old sunken roads carved into hillsides, and exposed root systems are all part of the landscape’s geological legacy.

Together, they define the unique character of this region — shaped by time, wind, and stone.

Fertility and Water Retention

Loess-rich areas have produced some of the most fertile soils in the region. Many local producers farm on land that sits atop loess. This creates an excellent foundation for agriculture — not just because of the high humus content, but also because loess has outstanding water-holding capacity. Its vertical pores allow moisture to penetrate deeply and remain in the soil, even during dry periods.

A Modern Echo — Dust from the Sahara

Interestingly, the fine Saharan dust that now reaches Central Europe more frequently can be seen as a modern counterpart to loess-forming material. It’s a reminder that the powerful natural forces that shaped the land long ago are still at work today — just on a different scale.