Budapest aside, Lake Balaton is the principal money-earner for Hungary's buoyant tourist industry. Stretching for nearly 80 km and boasting nearly 200 km of shoreline, the Balaton is the largest fresh water lake in Western and Central Europe.
Famous as a wine growing region since Roman times, the area is now dominated by private holiday homes and sprawling tourist resorts such as Balatonfüred and Siófok (both are packed in high season and cater mainly for hedonistic, lagered up Hungarian, German, Italian and Dutch tourists).
Get off the beaten track, however, and a visit to the Balaton can be both a rewarding and relaxing experience. Towns such as Tihany and Keszthely have a pleasant air about them, while sleepier resorts such as Balatonvilágos and Boglárlelle are ideal for a short stay, if the Ibiza/Club 18-30 type experience isn't your cup of tea.
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