Kis-Balaton, or Little Balaton, is a wild and atmospheric wetland landscape southwest of Lake Balaton, where the Zala River meets the great lake. It is one of Central Europe's most valuable marshland habitats and a true paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

The scenery shifts dramatically with the seasons - reed beds, channels and small islands come alive in spring and summer with herons, cormorants and countless waterfowl, while autumn brings golden reeds and winter a hushed stillness over the marshes. The landscape has a raw, untamed feel, with water, reeds and sky merging into one. Much of the area enjoys strict protection status, preserving its wild character.

• Zalavár or Keszthely/Fenékpuszta - by car, then walk along the nature trail, flat terrain, easy
• Kányavári Island - accessible via walkways, an easy route suitable for families

• Much of the area is strictly protected - visits only possible in organized groups led by rangers from the Balaton Uplands National Park
• Designated under the Ramsar Convention since 1979 as an internationally important wetland for waterbirds
• Worth visiting: the Kis-Balaton Visitor House in Zalavár and the Visitor Center in Keszthely/Fenékpuszta
• Nearby buffalo reserve at Kápolnapuszta

The area inspired Fekete István's beloved 1957 novel 'Tüskevár', and the reed-filled wilderness still carries that same untamed, storybook atmosphere today.