Amazing cycling tour around Lake Fertő along the Hungarian-Austrian border

Without a doubt, many people long for getting out into nature when summer sets in and a great way of exploring our natural beauties is on two wheels. If you feel that the itinerary of the Lake Balaton round trip is too hard for you and you are not prepared enough for cycling 200 km during this trip discussed here, you might get into the mood for a Lake Fertő trip on two wheels. It is easier to accomplish and provides as many unforgettable experiences like the one around Lake Balaton. 

What distinguishes the Lake Fertő round trip from the one around Lake Balaton? Firstly, the fact that it is much shorter, only 135 km long, out of which the Hungarian part constitutes of 38 km, given that the third-quarter of the territory of the lake belongs to Austria. Secondly, unlike the Lake Balaton round trip during which cyclists have to ride on main roads and cross busy traffic intersections in some settlements, this cycling path literally runs in nature where we can understand why Lake Fertő earned a place on the World Heritage list of UNESCO in 2001, reports Freeminimaps.com.

Furthermore, while the quality of the Balaton Bike Ring is not always irreproachable, that of the cycling path around Lake Fertő is absolutely impeccable. As Origo.hu reports, the path is not overgrown with plants, there are no potholes, and the route is well-signposted, which also shows how seriously Austrians take cycle tourism.

Therefore, the Lake Fertő track is easier to cover and it takes only 8-9 hours for experienced cyclists to complete.

However, it might be worth riding slower and making a few stops when necessary also visiting well-known sights and monuments in the small settlements. In order to get out the most of your trip, a few useful tips and practical information are collected here that remove the burden from your shoulder when planning it.

Getting to Lake Fertő from Budapest

Concerning the place of departure of the journey, it is advisable to choose a Hungarian settlement and thus start on the Hungarian side. However, there is no agreement in guidebooks concerning the ideal starting point. Some sources mention Fertőd, but the only problem with this town is that you have to change trains at least once if you want to travel by using public transportation.

In contrast, trains go directly from Budapest to Sopron from which Fertőrákos, a town part of the cycling track and thus ideal for starting, is not far at all. However, do not forget to check in advance whether the train by which you want to travel is eligible for transporting bicycles in order to avoid embarrassing situations already at the very beginning of your journey.

One more thing to keep in mind: you need to pay a special fee for transporting bikes which is 235 Ft (0.8 euros) under 50 km. If you travel more than 50 km, which is the case with the Budapest-Sopron distance, then the price varies based on kilometre zones. Instead of transporting your own bike, which can be sometimes troublesome, you can also rent one in almost all settlements located along the Austrian-Hungarian border.