🇭🇺 Balatonfüred | Central Europe's Largest "Sea" 🌊

For a relaxing weekend getaway near Budapest, consider visiting Balatonfüred, a charming town on the shores of Lake Balaton, often referred to as the "Hungarian Sea." Getting There: Depart from Budapest's Déli Pályaudvar station. Purchase your ticket on-site at Balatonfüred for the 9:05 AM train. Be sure to collect both tickets: one for the seat (300 Ft) and one for the train (1,260 Ft). We were in a rush and only grabbed the train ticket, forgetting the seat ticket, which led to a fine on board. 😤 Upon Arrival: Head to the station to buy a bus ticket to "Tihany posta." You can pay by card at the station, or use cash and buy on the bus. Search for "Fisherman and the Ferryman" and take a leisurely walk to the lakefront where you can relax on lounge chairs. Exploring Tihany: After taking photos, enjoy an ice cream (Furedi) and take the bus to Tihany, known as the lavender town. Upon arrival, you'll find shops selling lavender products right by the bus stop. To avoid being overcharged, visit the "Lavender House," but you'll find prices are consistent, so for just shopping, the nearby store at the bus stop is fine. The Lavender House also has an exhibition. Navigate to the "Tihany Abbey," and midway up the stairs, you'll find a shop selling lavender-flavored ice cream 🍦, which is worth a try. Continue up the path from the abbey to reach the viewpoint Dining and Relaxing: Follow the path to the top to find the "Echo" restaurant 🍴. The second floor offers great views and is perfect for photos, but be aware that the service can be slow. Around 16:00, head to "Hajókikötő" on foot, which is a downhill walk of about 10-15 minutes. The Google Maps route may be a bit roundabout; simply cross the street. Purchase your 16:40 ticket at the machine and head to the pier. We rushed to secure the first-row "first-class" seats, which were quite sunny but offered a cool sea breeze. The boat travels slowly, and it was hard to tell if we were moving at all. At 18:10, arrive in Siófok. After disembarking, head to the lakeside where the sunset turns the water a soft pink. This area is home to many swans and features a musical fountain. We danced by the fountain, which was very romantic. You can dine in the neighborhood and explore the area. Depart Siófok for Budapest Déli at 20:15. #BalatonLake #HungaryTravel #WeekendGetaways #CulturalHeritage #Hungary