Hungary’s Lillafüred Waterfall turns into a spectacular ice kingdom

The Lillafüred Waterfall is attracting visitors in a form rarely witnessed: the 20-metre-high cascade has frozen solid from top to bottom, transforming into a single vast ice kingdom. In its current state, the waterfall is not only spectacular but also a true rarity, something that has not occurred for many years.

In recent days, the Lillafüred Waterfall has shown a completely different face from the one most people know. Instead of rushing water, a continuous yet awe-inspiring ice wall now rises in its place, covering the surrounding rocks from top to bottom. As reported by Szeretlek Magyarország, the icicles form stalactite-like shapes and merge at the bottom with the frozen surface of the stream, creating a fairytale-like ice realm that many are seeing in this form for the first time in their lives.

The formation of this exceptional state requires a rare combination of conditions. For the Lillafüred Waterfall to freeze over entirely, a few cold nights are not enough: weeks of sustained temperatures between –10 and –15 degrees Celsius are needed, while sufficient water must continue to flow in the stream. These two factors rarely coincide, which is why the waterfall can only be seen in this form roughly every 5–10 years. However, the extremely harsh winter weather of recent weeks has made it possible.

The winter face of the Lillafüred Waterfall offers a completely different experience

The current state is particularly fascinating given that the Lillafüred Waterfall is essentially a man-made attraction. It was created during the construction of the Palota Hotel, yet over time it has become one of the area’s most iconic natural sights. When frozen, its artificial origins fade entirely into the background, and it draws attention as a wild, untouched natural phenomenon.

The paths leading to the frozen waterfall are crowded with hikers, many of whom travel to the area specifically to see the ice-bound cascade, even from further afield. The sight invites not only photography but also lingering moments of quiet observation, simply standing still and gazing at the massive block of ice, which looked completely different just a few months earlier.

It is an interesting contrast that not long ago the Lillafüred Waterfall was in an entirely opposite state: during the summer drought, it was at times almost completely dry. This clearly shows how dramatically different faces the same location can reveal from year to year.

Stepping onto the ice is extremely dangerous

Although the frozen Hámori Lake and the ice-covered Lillafüred Waterfall together form an especially attractive sight, it is important to stress that stepping onto the ice of the lake is prohibited and dangerous, particularly due to the expected rise in temperatures in the coming days and the increased melting that will result, as detailed in our related article.

The current frozen state of the Lillafüred Waterfall will not last forever, which is precisely why these few days are so special. Hungary’s most famous waterfall is presenting itself in an exceptionally rare and striking form.