Balatonakarattya
The Gate of
Lake Balaton
Activities
Balatonakarattya, known to be inhabited thousands of years ago and also by the Hun and the Romans, currently with about 1000 inhabitants, is the first settlement on the eastern shore of Lake Balaton and the first meeting point of the traveller coming from the east, i.e. from Budapest. A train climbing up the Akakarattya hump or a car winding up the road reveals Lake Balaton's shimmering waters. To the right, the mountains of the Balaton highlands line the lakeshore, while in the distance the greyish heights of the Tihany peninsula stretch out into the lake's reflection. (On a clear day, you can see all the way to the volcanic Badacsony from here.) To the south, the gradually lowering Aliga hills give way to the Somogy foothills. Between them, below us, Lake Balaton ripples out to a 71 km long, 14 km wide body of water.
Besides swimming in the lake the local water sports on the beach, a hike (or drive) up the hill reveals one of the best panoramas of the lake. A 15-20 minute drive on the south coast of the lake and there is a go-kart, an aquapark, a zoo, a major city of Siófok with plenty of shopping and restaurants.
