Ready, set, go: the World Aquatics Championships starts this weekend. Although Tagore Promenade and downtown Balatonfüred will be busy with the competitions for days, that doesn’t mean that only professional athletes can splash in Lake Balaton – this is why we’ve rounded up the beaches in Balatonfüred and the area.
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Esterházy Beach and Water Park – Balatonfüred
If it weren’t for the wet swimsuits, we would have an almost aristocratic feeling at the beach that has a view of Tihany. Esterházy Beach on the eastern end of Tagore Promenade has a green lawn, and there are even some flowers that we can admire on the way to the adventure pools.
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Kisfaludy Beach – Balatonfüred
Kisfaludy Beach along Aranyhíd Promenade could even pass for a waterfront entertainment center, while it still manages to keep its homely, peaceful atmosphere. There’s a playground and pools with small slides, as well as a bouncy castle and trampoline for the kids, while the library and the mini golf are there to entertain the older ones. The beach is equipped with bike racks and baby changing tables, and the beach is also highly recommended for people living with disabilities.
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Csopak Beach
Talking about championships, this beach has great “results”: stretched on more than half a kilometer, this beach has the highest, 10-metre tall slide of Lake Balaton, plus the largest water-adventure park. Csopak is prepared for the wave of digital nomads who might not find the climbing wall, the catapult or the balance beam exciting enough: they have Wi-Fi and a laptop charging station as well.
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Gödrös and Somosi Public Beach – Tihany
Gödrös public beach can be seen even from the road: this is a long, narrow, concrete coastline that is colorful with towels and people in swimsuits. It’s not the beach that was made for retreating, as it’s usually really busy and there’s even an adventure park opposite it, which adds even more fun to the beach.
To reach Somosi Public Beach, we have to keep going: it’s after the pier, but well before the dock. Many locals go here, as this one’s the closest to the village, and you can easily get here on foot as steps lead down to Lake Balaton in the woods. It’s a simple beach with a changing cabin, shower, and toilet. Although there’s no entry fee, visitors have to pay for parking.
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Napsugár Beach – Tihany
A large and popular beach next to the dock – this is the easiest way to describe Napsugár Beach, which has the least “Tihany-like” name among the local beaches. It’s a large area with a nicely kept lawn, but it has other great qualities as well: parking is free, it has a playground, and there’s even a sandy part on the beach, however, it’s mostly occupied by children equipped with plastic buckets, shovels, and other sandcastle-building supplies. The view is also great: we can see Balatonfüred from the beach.
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Átrium Beach – Tihany
It’s a small, well-kept, elegant beach that won’t feel overcrowded. It has a great view (there’s a bay-like shore east from it and the hills of the peninsula are to the west), it has a grassy football pitch, and you can rent paddle boats, barracudas, and kayaks as well. We can feel like we belong to the upper class in such a nice and organized environment.
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Sajkod Beach – Tihany
If we get to go to this beach, we can feel like we’re the members of a secret society. Unbelievable, but one of the best beaches of Lake Balaton is also one of the most secret ones: it’s on the western side of Tihany Peninsula, far from all the bustling. The woody, leafy Csúcs-hegy (Csúcs Hill) towers above it, while you can see both shores of Lake Balaton on the sides at once. It’s pretty far from everything on foot, so it’s best to either ride a bike there or drive over. Also, keep an eye out, as it’s easy to miss it.
It’s small, and although many people come here, it still has a homely vibe, and we won’t develop a fear of crowds at Platán Beach. The water is pleasant, the view is nice, the large canopy of trees gives refuge from the scorching heat, plus it’s easily accessible from Road 71. Although there’s a buffet, most people arrive with their own baskets and have a picnic on the shore.
The article was sponsored by Bp2017 Nonprofit Kft.
Translated by Emma Póli
