This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Balaton. To help you make friends with Balaton before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Balaton, Hungary, is home to Lake Balaton, which is the largest lake in Central Europe. The freshwater lake is seventy-seven kilometres long, up to fourteen kilometres wide, and covers an surface area of just under six hundred square kilometres. For more than one hundred fifty years, this lake has been a popular tourist destination. The national railway connection helped to increase the number of visitors in nineteenth and early twentieth century. After World War II, Balaton became a major tourist destination for the Hungarian working class. In addition, tourists from Eastern Germany and other Eastern Bloc countries went to Balaton to spend their summer holidays. Nowadays, frequent trains from the stations Budapest Déli and Budapest Keleti link the capital of Hungary with both shores of the lake.
One of the most popular and most known places by the lake is Siófok, the unofficial capital of the lake, which boasts a vibrant nightlife during the summer. Around thirty-five thousand people live in Siófok all year round. In summer, an additional two hundred thousand tourists visit this town on the south coast at the same time. Another important tourist towns by the lake are Keszthely and Balatonfüred.
The lake is perfect for beach holidays with family and friends. If you do not want to party and only want to relax, avoid Siófok at night. The port of Siófok serves every boat route and many cruise boats on the lake. The lovely parks in Siófok are ornamented with statues and it's perfect for a stroll. In Keszthely, you can visit the beautiful Festetics Palace, with its ornate wrought iron gate and Baroque architecture. The palace from the eighteenth century is surrounded by a well-designed English park.
The lake is a major tourist attraction in Hungary. Swimming, soaking up the sun, and relaxing by the lake are the reasons for many tourists to visit the area. If you want to spend your holidays there, you can choose from numerous hotels, campsites, guesthouses, and hostels in Balaton, Hungary. Many hotels and hostels in Balaton, Hungary, are clustered around Siófok. If you want visit Lake Balaton in summer, book your accommodation ahead; especially in July and August, you will not find many spare beds in any Balaton, Hungary hostel, hotel, or guesthouses.
Written by local enthusiast for Balaton hostels
Flo
