Badacsony Wine District

1. day tour

Weather permitting, visit the Szigliget beach in the morning, bathe in the Balaton and then explore the village. It is perhaps the most famous area in the country, with a beautifully restored castle on the top of the hill, the Avas church ruins (also known as the Truncated Tower), the Classicist Holy Trinity Chapel and the former Esterházy Palace. It’s also worth discovering the former house and studio of the painter István Farkas.

The latter currently houses a restaurant, so you could have lunch here and then wander over to the Folly Arboretum in Badacsonyörs, where you can explore the wonderful botanical garden and even enjoy a wine tasting. Hike to the ruins of the Pauline monastery in the afternoon and then end the evening with a wine dinner in Badacsonyörs. It’s worth booking your accommodation here.

2. day tour

Start your walk at the quay and visit the former house of the painter József Egry in the middle of the village, which now houses a museum. After that, head up the hill, but stop off on the way at the Szegedy Róza House to admire the popular residence of Hungary’s famous poet, Sándor Kisfaludy and his wife. Plan a short detour to one of the surrounding wine terraces, refresh yourself with a wine spritzer made from a local grape variety or even enjoy a light lunch.

Climb up to the Kisfaludy lookout tower, then make your way down the Exiles Stairs (Bujdosók lépcsője) to the former Rodostó tourist house, and then, once you are ready for a break, walk into Badacsonytördemic, where you can reward yourself with a wine tasting on a local winery’s wine terrace. Returning to Badacsony, you can decide whether to call into an open winery and taste their best Kéknyelű wines, typical of the wine district, or you can head out onto open water from the harbour and watch a beautiful sunset from the lake. Round off the day by discovering another gem and having dinner at one of the local winery’s restaurants, before bidding the hill farewell.