Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrival in Siófok

Arrival in Siófok. There is a good train connection between Budapest and Siófok. Overnight in Siófok, in the centrally located family hotel. You will have time to check your bicycles.

Day 2:
Siófok to Balatonmáriafürdo, app 34 miles (55 kms)

After breakfast you begin your cycling tour along the Balaton bicycle path “Balaton Körút” in a westerly direction. Along the southern shore you will pass typical Hungarian villages, which are mostly resort towns, until you arrive in Balatonmáriafürdo where you will stay for the night in a nice family run hotel.

Day 3:
Balatonmáriafürdo to Badacsony, app 33 miles (53 kms)

After breakfast the tour continues clockwise around the lake, crossing the Kis Balaton (Little Balaton) the huge wetland habitat. In 1979, the Kis Balaton was added to the list of "Wetlands of International Importance as Waterfowl Habitat".

On the way its worth stopping in Keszthely, Dating back to Roman times, Keszthely became a market town and now has many tourist attractions, one being the Festetics Palace built in 1745 in baroque style. The Balaton Museum displays geological and archaeological exhibitions and presents the history of Lake Balaton.

Leaving the southern shore, we reach Szigliget and Badacsony, described once as “the most beautiful landscape of Hungary”. Overnight in Badacsony in a small wine hotel.

Day 4:
Badacsony – Tapolca – Köveskál, app 21 miles (33 kms)

After breakfast we leave the lake shore and start to explore the Tapolca Basin, with the basalt hills, the disused basalt quarries and the town of Tapolca with the famous lake cave. Finally we arrive in Köveskál, a tiny village in the heart of the Káli Basin and in the most typical part of the Balaton Uplands, an area of beauty that has been granted protection. Overnight in Köveskál.

Day 5:
Köveskál to Tihany, app 22 miles (35 kms)

Today we make our way back down to the lakeside and continue our tour on the bicycle path, which leads all around the lake. Finally we arrive in Tihany, on the historical Tihany peninsula, another area of beauty protected for natural and scientific interest. The centre of the district is the Benedictine Abbey, which was founded in 1055. Overnight in a guest house with a wonderful view over the lake.

Day 6:
Tihany – Balatonfüred - Siófok, app 46 miles (75 kms)

Our final stage leads us back to Siófok, and offers a nice and easy ride via the popular holiday villages of the Northern shore, like Balatonfüred, Balatonalmádi.

Balatonfüred is considered to be the capital of the Northern lake shore and it has significant yachting life. It is also a favorite location for coarse fishing. People come here to enjoy the mild micro-climate, beautiful scenery, the local wine, and sailing and swimming facilities, as well as to revive the two-century-old tradition of socializing around spas, bathing and vacationing.

Optional route:

Crossing the lake by ferry boat and cycling from Szántód to Siófok. With this option, we ride approximately 9 miles (15 kms). 

Arrival in Siófok in our hotel, overnight. 

Day 7:
Departure from Siófok

After breakfast you leave Siófok for Budapest.