Day 8 - Lake Country
Lake Balaton has been known as Europe’s largest freshwater lake. Recently it has been found to be slightly salinized, likely due to human activity such as salting roads in winter. Today we’ll take a day trip west of the city into the country, and to Lake Balaton, with a few stops at more rural attractions.
After we pick up breakfast to go, we’ll settle in for a little under two hours of countryside sights on our way to the lakeside town of Tihany. Tihany is perched on a peninsula that bulges out into the north side of Lake Balaton. There are some pretty streets and lookouts to explore, and all the little shops feature products made with lavender! We’ll take some time here to sit for a lunch snack and a drink.
From Tihany we have a 45-minute drive to the town of Tapolca. Here we’ll visit a cave with an underground lake! A visit here, including a boat ride, will take about two hours.
Next it's a short drive to the 13th-century castle ruins of Szigliget. The castle is perched on top of a hill, which is accessible by a short walk up a gentle slope from the parking area. The long views of Lake Balaton from the top will be worth it!
We'll stop at Kenyérbár in the town below the castle in case anyone needs a snack or a glass of wine.
From there, it's another short drive to Egry József Strand at Badacsony for some beach time. The actual beach is narrow, but there are shady, grassy areas where we can settle, too. Bring your swimsuit and your book, and enjoy a refreshing swim in the waters of Lake Balaton.
It will be mid-evening when we get back to Budapest. If you need to eat again, there will be time for a late dinner or snack on a patio or at our apartment.
