Hostels in Lake Balaton

Balaton is the biggest freshwater lake of Central Europe and the national pride of Hungary, with the local people often referring to it as the "Hungarian Sea." There is nobody in Hungary who has not spent at least a long weekend by its shores and would not have fond memories of splashing away among its waves, munching away at "lángos," the traditional Balaton-side snack in between swims. It's a great idea to stay at a Balaton hostel to be in close proximity to the lake at an affordable price.

At seventy-seven kilometres in length and fourteen kilometres in width, the Balaton region encompasses a huge area, with differing sceneries, cultural attractions, facilities, and hostels. The major resorts along the lake are Siófok, Keszthely, Balatonfüred, Zamárdi, the Tihany peninsula, and Badacsony. Siófok, "the capital of Balaton" has a youthful energy and it famous for its lively beaches and nightlife. Keszthely, on the other hand, is a more sophisticated place, with its impressive palace and Roman ruins attracting just as many tourists as the beach. Balatonfüred is a historical bathing town which hosts the annual Anna Ball, a traditional beauty contest. Zamárdi, another destination popular with young people, has been the host of Balaton Sound, an internationally renowned electronic music festival for almost a decade. The Tihany Peninsula is a historical district with Benedictine Tihany Abbey overlooking the bay and the traditional streets of the hill selling Hungarian artifacts. Last, but not least, Badacsony is a mountainous area most famous for its wine making that has its roots in the Roman times and its unique geological relics of volcanic basalt that are the habitat of many rare plants and animals.

Lake Balaton is also the host of an annual lake swimming marathon, during which swimmers have to swim across the huge lake, completing a more-than-five-thousand-meter distance between Révfülöp and Balatonboglár.

Handwritten by local expert for Lake Balaton hostels JudyM