The best travel guide to a unique Lake Balaton round trip on two wheels
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Have you ever thought about taking a cycling trip around Lake Balaton, but you still hesitate to go ahead being terrified of the amount of preparation required for such a trip? Then you should absolutely read this article in which all the necessary information is collected from the means of transportation used to reach the lake from Budapest, through the itinerary, to the budget accommodation opportunities and bicycle repair stations just in case one is needed. Collect some pieces of practical information to get out the most of a short trip around the Hungarian Sea.
As Funiq.hu reports, more than 200 km and an unforgettable experience await those who decide to go ahead and take the cycling trip around Lake Balaton. Some sportspeople push their limits by attempting to cycle it around only within a few hours while others take the trip with their family members at a slower pace with the aim of having fun and relaxing on the beach at the end of each day.
This is why the Balaton Bike Ring enjoys such a great popularity among Hungarians and foreigners alike, since everybody can try it out at least once in a lifetime, no matter what their motivation is.
Besides the scenic view and the fantastic little settlements located around the lake, another important factor encouraging cyclists to take the trip is that this vacation can be a last-minute and, at the same time, a low-cost trip. In order to get out the most of the budget-friendly holiday, a few awesome tips are collected here which facilitate the preparation and make the trip less stressful.
Getting to Lake Balaton from Budapest
The 1st arising problem tourists might face when planning the cycling trip is getting to the lake from the capital. Although a direct Budapest-Balaton cycle trail has been being constructed according to 24.hu, based on previous estimations, the trail is going to be inaugurated only in the summer of 2019. In fact, this trail will be worth a trip on its own, since it is going to be approximately 110 km long.
If you do not want to travel to Lake Balaton by car, the best way to get there is by train. Special discounts are available in Hungary for pensioners, students, youngsters below 26, families with 3 or more children and disabled people, so you can save money if you have your identity cards with you that entitle you for the discounts.
For transporting bicycles, a special fee has to be payed, the price of which depends on the distance you aim to cover by train.
If we take the Budapest-Balaton distance as mentioned above (110 km) as an example, then the fee will be almost 400 Ft (1.3 euros). It sounds a low-cost vacation so far, doesn’t it? 🙂
How to start the Balaton Bike Ring trip?
The length of the trip is altogether 205 km, and cyclists have two options at their disposal: to start the trip on the south coast or the north coast. But does it really matter where to start? In fact, it does. While the north coast is considered to be more difficult because of the hillside routes and the varying altitude, the south and west coasts are completely flat. Therefore, if you decide to start with the more difficult northern one, then you will know for sure that the worst part is already over. 🙂
You might also be wondering about where to start the trip. There is no good or bad answer to it since you can start in any settlement around the lake, although the zero kilometre stone of the bike ring is in Balatonalmádi. It is difficult to tell how many days an average person needs to cover the distance, but 3-4 days seem to be ideal and feasible with around 50-70 km to cycle each day.
Itinerary and stations
Let’s say a few words about the settlements visited during the trip. Starting from Balatonalmádi, it is worth heading for the west in the direction of Alsóörs. This town is well-known for its great beach right next to which is the Tourinform office where you can ask for some help if you already feel lost. The next bigger station is Csopak where child-friendly programmes can be organised on the playground or in the barefoot park.
I’ve just planned a route around Lake Balaton, and it’s less than 160 kms according to Google Maps. Let’s go through the details: Balatonszabadi, Hunyadi János utca — Balatonlelle, Napospart u. 4 — Keszthely, Múzeum u. 3 — Balatonfüred, Koloska u. 30 — Balatonszabadi, Hunyadi János utca —— > This route is a bit longer than the minimum distance going around Lake Balaton, and it’s still less than 160 km — according to Google Maps.