The Beach of Diás in Gyenesdiás has been among the best Balaton beaches for three years straight. It is a children’s paradise where the little ones are boss, with a paddling bay and every kind of outdoor play equipment you can think of. Luckily, the other Gyenes beach is for grownups, too.
A beach with an intimate feel
Lidó Beach in Alsógyenes is smaller and has a more intimate feel, so it is most popular with couples and families with older kids. Located next to the harbour and the section of the shore inhabited by anglers, the beach is still somewhat reminiscent of the ‘80s with its shady groves and retro food stands.
The lángos served at Karám büfé is well-known even at the far end of the northern shore, so do not miss it by any chance if you find yourself on this beach. For HUF 350-600 you can choose from simpler versions, but if you are in the mood for something more elaborate, try filled variants or the ones with bear leek, bacon or marrow. Bathing and chowing down lángos are not the only options waiting for you here. There is an adventure park and a bird park with an ever growing selection of winged creatures. You need to pay a separate fee for admission into the parks, but you can enter the beach for a symbolic HUF 400.
“Oh, I enjoy the beach so much”
Sometimes you would give anything to be a kid again, even if just for ten minutes. Looking at the little ones running around in the castle at the Beach of Diás, many adults must get this feeling. Granted, 15-20 years ago none of the fancy and safe wooden play equipment was here, only a couple of swings and the standard red monkey bars, which gave everyone a lesson for life: the higher you climb, the bigger the fall is going to be.
An amusement paradise for kids in Gyenediás, the Beach of Diás is only 800 metres in a beeline from Lidó Beach in Alsógyenes. No wonder that it is a favourite of families with small children: the options for occupying the little ones are virtually endless. Everything here is about climbing, creeping and crawling. The beach has top quality sand and the entire length of it is covered by a canopy so that the kids can play in the shade. The tiniest guests have at their disposal a dolphin-shaped paddling bay sectioned off from the Balaton itself. Lined with oleanders and palm trees, the beach exudes a Mediterranean vibe.
Chronic worriers can relax: the beach has a paediatrician on call all day, a loudspeaker, its own storm warning system, an outdoor baby changing area, a water quality analyser station and many more services which make this place comfortable and family friendly.
Rain check
Even if the weather is bad, you can still have a good time in Gyenesdiás. There is an active civil community and well developed infrastructure for eco- and equine tourism. There are several equestrian centres between Keszthely and Gyenesdiás, offering forest excursions on horse-drawn carriages as well. The Gyenesdiás fish and farmers market is a mere hundred metres away from the Beach of Diás, and it is open on Wednesday afternoons. A little further from the shore, by Highway 71, there is an interactive pottery store where, apart from buying ready-made products, you can also make your own pottery wares. We have already explored the myriad of options the region has to offer these days.
