Balaton is the biggest almost 600Km² big lake in Eastern Europe. It is 77km long, 1.3-1.4km wide and almost never deeper than 3m. The northern side is gets deeper more quickly than the southern one. The water of the lake is almost always above 22 degree in summer, sometimes even 27-28 degree. It is a freshwater and 'sharkfree' lake. Its territory near Keszthely and to the north has been very inhabited since the Stone Age as it has beautiful and convenient geographical surroundings, pleasant subtropical climate, the average temperature of 15 degree and sunshine of more than 1800 hours yearly. The town expects her guests with a well-developed touristic infrastructure, cultural, sport and other free time activities. The town is called the capital of Balaton because of its history, tradition and cultural life. Keszthely is also called a school town as it has several institutions like that. It can also be called a bath resort as it can further offer many things to tourists. You can refresh on the two beaches of the town even on the hottest days. It also has a port where you can go on a ship route to other Balaton towns and resorts. Travelling on one of the promenade ships, you will see the port and the building that was erected where the island beach established in 1862 used to be. Tourists can find many types of accommodation ranging from camping via private rooms to pensions and hotels. It is also advisable to visit the town in autumn and spring as it offers many varieties of different programs. The beginning of summer and autumn is the season suitable for sports. There are more tennis courts and many horse riding schools as well.

The main sights of the town are the building of the gothic church in the main square and the neighbouring secondary grammar school. The church was erected to serve the Franciscan Order, who settled down here. The Trinity statue was placed in the middle of the square in 1770. The pedestrian street from the square to the north has buildings erected mainly in the second half of the last century and it leads onto the entrance to the Festetics Castle. The beautiful baroque building with its 101 rooms is the 3rd largest castle, a real stately home in the country. The castle garden is under protection because of the many unique and rare plants and trees. Starting our route to the south from the main square we can get to the Balaton Múzeum, the neobaroque building of the museum opened in 19288. In the museum you can meet the history of the Balaton, see the flora and fauna of the lake and there is a unique stone collection from the Roman Times and the Middle Ages. In the Bercsényi street we can find a museum that introduces us the old leasehold farm and its equipments, as it was the Georgikon leasehold house in the earlier times. Exhibitions dedicated to the agrarian upper education, wheat growing procedures, vineculture, different types of coaches, etc can be seen. From the railway station to the west there is a beautiful park, the 'lungs' of the town, in the middle of which the statue of Helikon signals the placewhere old poets, literary persons used to meet and have some plays, as well. Many statues dedicated to former poets accompany the route to the port. The summer season in Keszthely begins with the festival Helikon already in April. The Balaton Season Opening is held on 1. May. The Balaton Festival is celebrated in May. Many people come to the yearly Wine Festival in early August, and the Beer Festival in late August. In the famous Goldmark yard we can enjoy many theatre plays, music programs, folklore evenings. The classical music concerts held in the Festetics Castle are famous country-wide. Every second week the Galery in the Kossuth street opens a new exhibition.

Gyenesdiás, with its 3000 inhabitants in an area of 18,5 square kilometres, is situated 100 kms from the western border of Hungary, in the West-Balaton Region, at the foot of Keszthely Hills. The town of Keszthely, a cultural centre famous for the fascinating Festetics Palace and the world-famous spa, Hévíz are only a few kms far. Gyenesdiás offers excellent opportunities for those who are longing for rest, entertainment and recreation.
If you are planning a family vacation with children, Lake Balaton, also known as the „fresh-water see” may be the ideal place for you. The smooth and shallow water offers a safe and pleasant way of passing time. The Lake and its surroundings attract lovers of swimming as well as numerous different water sports (sailing, boating, rowing), fishing and other recreational activities. You can try horse-riding, archery, shooting (skeet, running target) and various sports (tennis, cycling, volleyball, football etc).
Lovers of nature can roam about Keszthely Hills to seek relaxation in a wonderful combination of quiet landscape, fauna and air. Varied forests, plants, look-out towers and rest places (Nagymező "Great Field" with playground and barbecue site are very popular) make this region attractive for day-trippers.
A wide range of cultural programmes will help make sure that everyone enjoys their holiday and you can participate in the programmes and trips of the local Touristic Association.
Additionally visitors can enjoy the Hungarian cuisine with famous delicious wines.
The guests arriving in Gyenesdiás are welcomed by hospitable locals in B&B's, high-quality apartments, camping sites and pensions.
Why not to take the opportunity and visit Gyenesdiás, be our guest and enjoy your stay in our village.

The village is situated on the southern sides of the Keszthelyi hills. It has a population of 1745. Tourism has been playing an important role in the lives of the people and the village since the 1960s. From the village to the west there is the St Mihály hill, on the top of which there used to be an inhabited tower, and a suspection tower in the times of the Turks. Now there is a chapel here that was erected in 1739. Exhibitions in the village community hall are worth visiting. Wine Festival is held on the 4 weekend of July where you can taste the wines of the region. The second Sunday in August is commemorated to the 40 fishermen, it is now the Fishermen's Common Day. To the celebration of the centenary of the Balatoni Fishing Ltd. A so-called Balatoni Fishermen's Parkwas established. Those who arrive to the city by train have to walk5min to get to the largest beach of the neighbourhood. Another village festival is the Vashegyi Búcsú on the name's day of Mary.

Towards the end of the village the road brings us to the Szépkilátó hill. Here you can enjoy the beautiful view of the basalt hills around Tapolca, the Castle in Szigliget, Badacsony and the whole western region of the lake Balaton. It is mainly tourism that dominates in the village. It has replaced vintage for today as the source of income. Balatongyörök has a population of 665. The Roman-Catholic church represents the classic style building built in 1831-1833. The stone cross in front was erected in 1848, the famous year in Hungarian history. The village has many cultural and traditional programs, like temporary exhibitions in the village hall, the summer opening program, and many others.