Lake Balaton

Take a self-drive holiday to Lake Balaton and discover the popular holiday region in Hungary

A holiday in your own car is always an experience, but if you've planned the drive a little in advance, you're guaranteed an unforgettable trip. If you can combine your holiday with visiting idyllic towns, taking part in exciting activities and making sure the kids have fun too, you're already well on your way. But most important of all, of course, is the destination, and luckily there's plenty to choose from. One of the really popular family self-drive destinations in central Europe is Hungary. Here you can combine everything on the family's wish lists of holiday activities, both for adults and children. So start by packing your trunk with towels and your swimwear and head off on your own beach holiday to Lake Balaton, which is about a two-hour drive from Budapest in Hungary. Lake Balaton has also been nicknamed the 'Hungarian Riviera', but is perhaps best known to the locals as the 'Hungarian Sea', as Hungary famously has no sea! Lake Balaton, on the other hand, offers beautiful and idyllic towns and the opportunity to take part in a wide range of outdoor activities along the shores of Lake Balaton. It is the largest lake in Central and Western Europe and, as it lies at the foot of a mountain range made up of extinct volcanoes, the area is protected from the cold winds of the northern latitudes. This makes for mild summers and a Mediterranean-like climate that certainly works well as an alternative to more southerly destinations. The lake covers almost 600 square kilometres and with its wonderful climate it is now one of Hungary's main tourist attractions. Visit the lovely Somosi beach or the beach in Sajkod and experience a freshwater swimming holiday on your Hungary self-drive holiday. Fortunately, the bathing season is long and the temperature is between 24 and 30 degrees in summer, and the beautiful water also has a health-giving effect. The southern part of the lake has wide beaches and shallow waters, which offers especially good bathing opportunities for families with children.The northern part of Lake Batalon has a more varied nature and also slightly deeper water. See the many basalt columns rising in the landscape thanks to volcanic activity. There are also several pottery workshops and the northern area is ideal for sampling some of the local cuisine served in small seafood restaurants, among others. Discover the charming little towns, delicious spas, impressive castles and underground caves with cave paintings dating back to the Stone Age. Badascony, located on the northern side of the lake, is also a wine-producing region, especially around Badacsony, where the fertile soil is rich in minerals thanks to the volcanic rocks. In the 14th century, the first vines were planted by monks and the Pinot Gris grape grown is still called 'Szürkebarát' or 'the Grey Monk'. Try one of the many wine-tasting tours to Laposa Birtok, for example, or Homola, a family-run winery in Paloznak. If you're on a wine holiday, August is the perfect time to sample Balatonfüred wines at the wine festival, which features around 250 different types of wine from across the region. An excellent opportunity to find just the right taste to take home. On the western side of the lake lies one of the area's oldest towns, Kesztheli, which has been an important trading centre since Roman times. Visit the fascinating Franciscan church, which dates back to the 14th century, and don't miss Hungary's third largest castle, built in 1750. The Festetics Castle has a very fine hall of mirrors and a beautiful palace garden, and is probably the closest Hungary comes to the Palace of Versailles. On the north coast of Lake Balaton you will also find the small town of Tihany, which is also one of the oldest medieval towns in the region and from the top of the peninsula there is a fantastic panoramic view of Lake Balaton. There are beautiful hikes in the area for the adventurous and there are also many rare bird species in the area and the interesting volcanic formations. As well as magnificent scenery, Tihany also has a great selection of art with exhibitions at KOGArt as well as the ARTplacc art festival which takes place towards the end of August. Try a trip up to the Ortorony lookout tower, where you can enjoy views of the beautiful countryside. Or stand on the Ekko hill and shout at the old monastery, hearing the repetitive echo of your voice as it bounces back.There are also plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy by the water, apart from swimming and beach life of course. If you like cycling, hire them for the whole family and you can set off on the cycle path around the lake - a long but very beautiful ride. It's also possible to hire boats so you can experience the lake from its more rocking side. Hire a dinghy or sailing boat and moor wherever you like, with each port offering a different food and wine option. It's also possible to fish in Lake Balaton, which has over 40 different species. In fact, there are no limits at all to what you can do around beautiful Lake Balaton.