Lake Balaton is the largest (and arguably the most beautiful) lake in Hungary and Europe. There are many reasons why it is loved by locals and visitors alike. It offers excellent sporting opportunities, unrivalled wine, and a plethora of restaurants and beaches. Anyone visiting the area for leisure or incentive purposes is sure to find something to do.

There are also many ways to get to the lake and around the area. We at Jet Travel have always wanted to encourage our partners to travel in environmentally friendly ways. Here are some examples of how they can do that.

Hungarian railway company, MÁV-Start will increase the number of trains to Lake Balaton and the capacity of bicycle transport a month before the start of the school holidays, from May 13.

The railway company stressed that during the pre-season, running until June 21, the two-hourly Déli-Parti InterRegio trains will start running between the Budapest Déli Railway Station and Fonyód and Balatonszentgyörgy (both on the southern shore).

Between Budapest and Tapolca (close to Lake Balaton’s northern shore) there are daily two-hourly Kék Hullám InterCity trains, only stopping at Budapest-Kelenföld, Székesfehérvár (central Hungary), and Balatonalmádi until Balatonfüred (both on the northern shore).

Between Budapest and Balatonfüred, Vizipók trains run every two hours, stopping only at Budapest-Kelenföld, Székesfehérvár, and at all stations along the coast from Balatonakarattya (eastern shore) to Balatonfüred.

On weekends and public holidays, the Jégmadár express trains will continue to run during the pre-season, offering double-decker Stadler KISS motor trains between Szob (northern Hungary) and Fonyód (southern shore), and on Friday and Saturday nights, the Bagoly trains will again run from Keszthely (western shore) to Déli Railway Station via the southern shore.

On weekend days, Katica InterRegio trains – consisting of modern Stadler FLIRT motor trains – will also run between Budapest and Balatonfüred, stopping at all stations and stops from Székesfehérvár to Balatonfüred, serving smaller stops.

Express trains also run from Győr (northwestern Hungary), Szombathely (western Hungary), and Pécs (southwestern Hungary) to reach Lake Balaton.

Those traveling with a Hungary or country pass, as well as with a Hungary24 or Vármegye24 day ticket, can travel on all passenger and wagon trains going to Lake Balaton.

However, on InterCity and express trains, seat reservations are mandatory. In addition, in preparation for the increased passenger traffic, compulsory seat reservation will be introduced on priority trains (Balaton, Kék Hullám and Tópart InterCity, Jégmadár express) as well.

Bicycle transport on the Balaton trains is possible by purchasing a bicycle ticket.

Once you arrive at Lake Balaton, there are plenty of alternative and sustainable transport options around the lake. Instead of a car, you can even cycle or take the train between stations. Catamarans were also an easy way to travel across the lake, and this year their fleet has expanded.

At this year’s opening ceremony of the shipping season in Fonyód-Badacsony (southern to northern shore), visitors could also meet the new catamaran of the Balaton Shipping Company (Bahart). From spring, “Tomaj” will operate on the busiest Fonyód-Badacsony route.

Balaton Shipping Company has already started the 178th shipping season with four new ships. In addition to the two new ferries designed for Lake Balaton, two new catamarans have arrived, one of which will operate in the western basin.

The new catamaran, “Tomaj,” was presented to the public on April 20th, at the traditional Fonyód-Badacsony opening ceremony of the shipping season, and was available for free cruises between the two settlements.

This was the start of the Bahart boat roadshow, during which the fleet’s “newcomers” will be presented in several Balaton settlements.

The new ships will be ready to welcome passengers at their permanent station in the spring. The catamaran ‘Tomaj’ will operate between Fonyód and Badacsony; the catamaran ‘Balaton’ will operate in the Siófok-Balatonfüred-Tihany (southern to northern shore) triangle, and the ferries ‘Tihany’ and ‘Szántód’ will carry passengers between the havens, allowing more comfortable and frequent crossings between the coasts.

Source: MTI-Hungary Today