Balaton: A True Hidden Gem in Hungary

September 24, 2025, 6:17 am | Read time: 4 minutes

Many know Lake Balaton, also known as the Plattensee–yet this part of Hungary remains somewhat of a hidden gem among European travel destinations. Yesterday, the TRAVELBOOK Award, Germany’s most prestigious tourism industry accolade, was presented in Berlin. The best travel destinations were honored, including some true insider regions. Among the nominees was the area around Lake Balaton in Hungary. TRAVELBOOK explains what makes the region so special.

Lake Balaton in Western Hungary

Lake Balaton is located in western Hungary and, with its 195-kilometer circumference and an area of 594 square kilometers, is the largest lake in Central Europe. According to the Hungarian Tourism Agency, the southern shore is particularly popular with families with young children because it is especially shallow. In some areas, you can also engage in water sports.

But it’s not just the lake itself that’s worth a visit; the entire region around Lake Balaton is as well. The Tihany Peninsula is particularly noteworthy. The monastery there is one of Hungary’s most significant historical monuments. Additionally, there are vast lavender fields, and every year, you can pick lavender there at a certain time.

Tapolca Balaton — The underground lake cave in Tapolca can be explored by boat

The town of Tapolca is also worth a visit–especially the underground lake cave, which was accidentally discovered in 1903 and later made accessible to tourists. You can explore part of it by boat.

Several wine regions also stretch around Lake Balaton. The picturesque vineyards are not only beautiful to look at, but you can also taste the wine there. The Káli Basin and the Kis-Balaton nature reserve should not be missed during a vacation at Lake Balaton.

For those who prefer a more active vacation, cycling along the lake is an option

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Active at Lake Balaton

Of course, you can spend the whole day lounging on the beach in the sun at Lake Balaton. But that might be difficult given the range of activities available. Anglers can fully enjoy themselves after obtaining a fishing license. Sailing is particularly enjoyable due to the size of the lake. Boats and surfboards can be rented directly at the lake.

A unique way to explore Lake Balaton on your own is by cycling around it. Since 2004, there has been a 200-kilometer path around the lake. In all major towns, organized bike tours or bike rentals are offered.

A Paradise for Children

Families with children will particularly enjoy Lake Balaton. Since the water on the southern shore doesn’t get deeper than one meter, it makes a beach vacation with young children much safer, and the water has a pleasant temperature because it warms up faster.

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Additionally, hosts are particularly attuned to the needs of children. Many restaurants and hotels have play areas. The leisure offerings specifically for young guests are enormous: there is a bobsled track, an aqua park with a turbo slide, numerous child-friendly museums, and adventure playgrounds.

Methodology for the TRAVELBOOK Award

We say it every year: All the nominated regions, countries, and more for the TRAVELBOOK Award are already winners. Even if they didn’t achieve overall victory. This also applies to the region around Lake Balaton in Hungary. Because: Every country had already made it to the shortlist in advance, meaning it was selected from a large number of contenders in a category.

The TRAVELBOOK editorial team asked the community on Facebook and Instagram for help and consulted experts from the travel industry to create the shortlist. TRAVELBOOK readers then cast nearly 150,000 votes and chose their trend travel destinations for 2026.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@travelbook.de.