5 spectacular family-friendly cycling tours in Hungary for the summer
If you are a fan of more active holidays and you’re not afraid of going on a tour on two wheels, the following compilation is for you. We have gathered some of the most beautiful cycling tours near water in Hungary.
Most of these routes could be taken in one day (except maybe Lake Balaton unless you’re really determined), but we recommend spending a few days on these trips, as there is plenty to see and visit along the way.
Lake Velence
A superb location to circle around a lake is Lake Velence. This route is less than 40 kilometres. There are plenty of minor detours from the main road to check out some lookouts with a breath-taking panorama. For example, you should definitely visit the Savajc Cross and Lookout Tower and the Bence Hill Lookout Tower.
Once you’re at Lake Velence, you can rest a bit at the “Northern Beach” or, as they call it, the Vízi Vár (Water Castle). The 500-meter beach offers sports fields, restaurants, and water entertainment. If you’re up to a really sportif holiday, you could also try the canoe trips of Expedíció Velencei-tó in Gárdony.
Danube Bend
The beautiful route starts from the capital, and it is one of the favourite destinations for bicyclists from Budapest. Almost the entire Danube Bend can be toured on a bicycle path. The biggest challenge is probably getting out of Budapest, but the route is relatively easy afterwards. The distance is about 65 kilometres, depending on where exactly you start from in the capital.
There are plenty of places to stop on the way, like the city of Szentendre, Vác, or Zebegény and its surroundings. The bike path runs almost all the way next to the Danube and often crosses the Danube-Ipoly National Park.
Lake Tisza
Lake Tisza is one of Hungary’s favourite cycling destinations. Most of the small circle of about 70 kilometres is a comfortable bike path, and the tour could be completed in roughly three and a half hours. However, with admiring the beautiful area and the views of the lake, it might take much longer.
One of the most interesting places to visit here is the Lake Tisza Ecocenter, with the biggest freshwater aquarium in Europe. You can also hop on a small boat at the Ecocenter’s pier and explore the lake yourself. If you seek some more excitement, you could also visit the Aquaglide water playground in Sarud.
Lake Fertő
The Fertő region has unparalleled wildlife, and if you’d like to explore this incredible natural environment thoroughly, the bike is a perfect choice: the area is too big on foot, and its most beautiful parts are inaccessible by car. The whole lake can be circled on a super comfortable 115 km bike path.
The Esterházy Palace in Fertőd, also called the Hungarian Versailles, is a must-see in this area, but Sopron, a unique wine-producing city, packed with monuments should also be on the list.
The Balaton Circle
The 210-kilometre circle around Lake Balaton is something everybody should do once. The tour takes around 3-4 days at a comfortable speed, and it is an excellent opportunity to discover the villages and landscapes around Balaton, while also enjoy the beaches in the summer. Most of the circle is on signposted bike paths and low-traffic roads, and the level difference is barely 100 meters, so it is safe with children as well.
