Lake Balaton, poetically called 'the Hungarian sea', is the largest lake in Central Europe and a defining feature of Hungary's landscape. Its shallow, quickly warming waters make it ideal for swimming and watersports, while the volcanic hills along its northern shore give the region a truly unique character.

The lake stretches about 77 km in length, narrowing to just 1.5 km at Tihany and widening to 18 km between Siófok and Balatonfüzfő. The southern shore is shallow and sandy, perfect for families, while the northern shore rises into the vine-covered slopes of the Balaton Uplands, dotted with volcanic cones and small wine villages. In summer the shoreline buzzes with sailboats and holidaymakers, while winter can bring a thick ice cover that occasionally allows crossing the lake on foot or by skates.

How to get there

• Keszthely or Siófok — easily reached by train or via the M7 motorway, easy walking along the promenade, from a few minutes to several hours depending on the stretch chosen
• Tihany Peninsula — reachable by ferry from Szántód, easy access, offers views over the lake's deepest point

Practical information

• The sailing and swimming season runs mainly from April to October
• A storm-warning light system along the shore signals dangerous winds
• In exceptionally cold winters, with sufficiently thick ice, crossing the entire lake on foot is possible in designated, supervised areas

The lake's deepest point, the so-called 'Tihany well', reaches 11-12.5 meters near the narrow strait by the Tihany Peninsula, where currents can be surprisingly strong.