Balaton Sound is one of Europe's largest open-air electronic music festivals, held right on the shore of Lake Balaton in the town of Zamárdi. It's not a hiking destination in the traditional sense, but for anyone exploring the Balaton region in summer, it's a landmark event that turns the lakeside into a massive open-air party.

The festival has taken place every July since 2007 on the sandy southern shore of the lake. Originally a four-day event starting on Thursday, it later expanded to five days beginning on Wednesday. The atmosphere is lively and packed - days are spent on the beach and in the water, while nights come alive with electronic music across multiple stages. The event is organized by the production office behind the Sziget Festival, and its creation was inspired by the EFOTT festival held in Zamárdi in 2006, whose location gave organizers the original idea.

• Zamárdi is located on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, reachable by road and by train from Budapest and other major Hungarian cities
• Extra transport connections and parking areas are arranged during the festival period

• The festival takes place every July directly on the lakeshore
• In 2019 attendance reached a record 172,000 visitors
• The 2012 edition won the prestigious European Festivals Award for best medium-sized festival in 2013
• After a two-year break, the festival returned in 2022

Interestingly, after the 2024 edition, reports emerged that it may have been the last Balaton Sound in Zamárdi, later confirmed by the town's mayor, who stated the municipality does not plan to host large music festivals there from 2025 onward.