Hungary has several georgeous lakes, which are so popular to visit espacially in the summer time. We have collected for you the six most visited ones, so you just have to get your swimsuit and sunscreen! Don’t worry, if you don’t have enough time or money to travel to see these beauties in our country! There are also smaller stunning lakes in Budapest, or around the city, too, so you can try them if you have only a few days in Budapest.
This georgeous Lake is the largest one in Central Europe. With its beautiful beaches, coastal cities and nice atmosphere it’s one of the most popular destination for tourists in the country. Balaton is relatively shallow, its average depth is around 3,2 meters, its surface area is almost 600 square kilometers. The tourists love this lake not only for swimming, but for sailing as well. So in the summer it’s unmissable, but it’s still well visited in the winter, too! The most famous cities around the lake is Siófok – which is the centre of the best Balaton-parties -, Zamárdi, Balatonfüred, Tihany, Csopak, Badacsony, Keszthely etc. And what can you do, if you would like to admire our „Hungarian Sea”? Just catch the train! There are direct rail services to several Lake Balaton destinations, from the Déli Station. For example, Siófok is not so far from Budapest, it only takes about one and half hour to get there.
Lake Hévíz is the second largest thermal lake in the world, so it’s really worth to visit. It’s on the north-western edge of the Balaton, and it was used even in the Roman times, too. But nowadays’ people also like this for its healing properties. Morover the water has certain species, which are found only in this lake due to the temperature and chemical composition. The Hévíz Spa is built around the lake, where the guests can relax and enjoy the healing effects. The water contains calcium, magnesium, radon, carbonic acid, sulfur, methane, hydrogen-sulfide, radium gases and radioactive mud, so it almost heals everything. In the bathing house the water’s temperature is 35-36 °C, which is frequented in the middle of the lake. It has a constant activity, because it’s always replenished, so the lake keeps the water’s moving.
This beautiful lake is the third largest lake in Hungary, and also one of the warmest lakes in Europe. Because of the shallow water and the sunshine, its average depth is about 1,5 meters. Its temperature is really pleasant, it can easily reach the 26-28 ºC. The water is rich in minerals, which can refresh your exhausted body. Morover the lovers of the nature can watch the special avian world of the georgeous lake at the Dinnyés Bird-watching spot, what is a realy popular holiday resort in the country. So if you visit the „Lake of sunshine”, do not miss the bathing and sunbathing. The extreme beach-lovers can try surfing, water-skiing or wakeboarding, as well. If you would like to play some sport, you can choose from deep or shallow lakesides, too.
This largest Hungarian artifical lake has a wonderful water world. It’s located in the eastern part of the country, in Heves county with its 127 km². The lake is the most famous ecotourism place in Central Europe. To tell the truth, the territory do not have a continuous water surface, but here are sixteen isands and ten channels in it. As Lake Velence, the Lake Tisza also has a huge bird reservation with hundreds of differend bird speices. Morover you can find here the Eurovelo 11 bicycle road, which connects Norway with Greece. Passing over there you can enjoy the stunning and breathtaking view of the nature and the lake from a four meters tall gazebo. Walking along the riverbank you can find open-air baths, camps-sites and other recreation areas, too, where everybody can find their own interesting area.
The Lake Lupa in Budakalász’s border is quite a new beach. The lake has a nearly 100 hectares huge area, more than half kilometer long shore was cleaned up in the summer of 2016, which resulted in Lupa Beach. It has real white sand, palm trees, sunshaders, cocktails, beach food and crystal clear water. If you try the Lupa, you will get a true seaside feeling. The beach also has a separate kid’s part for children, so it’s a perfect choice for families, too. You can get there from Budapest’s Árpád Bridge by car, it only takes 15-20 minutes, but you can use public transport, too.
If you don’t want to go too far from our big city, visit the unmissable and stunning Bottomless Lake in Budapest! It’s in a nice park in the Buda side of the city, in the district XI., in the Kosztolányi Dezső square. However it is not quite bottomless, but it’s still so deep with its 4,5 to 5 meters. However, the Lake has a dramatic story about its birth: the workers accidentally excavated a spring, which caused a huge pit, which was filled the water. According to the local folklore some people died in the accident, whose remains lie on the bottom of the lake. Of course it has an official story too, which is less dramatic: in the XIXth century, after the brick factory’s definitive closing the ground water slowly started to seep in and then filled the pit. Just come and don’t miss the attractive park next to the lake, which has a walking path encircling the water. However, it’s not possible to bath in the lake, you can admire the several statues and monuments and the georgeus water.
