A family holiday at Lake Balaton with the little ones can be a great experience for the whole family. Here are our tips for activities where parents and children will both have a great time.
- A programme packed with animals at Lake Balaton with children
Who doesn’t love cute animals? A must on any holiday, especially if you’re looking for a children’s programme. In Gyenesdiás, at the Festetics Imre theme park, there are goats, lambs, sheep with funny names like Zigaja and Zackel sheep, calves, horses, donkeys, buffaloes, deer, wild boar and the inhabitants of the poultry farm are waiting for you. In spring, the growing babies in the petting zoo will put a smile on your face and visitors can watch the animals grow up and live all year round. - The Folly Arboretum
In Badacsonyörs, you can admire the beautiful flowers in the shade of the unique cedars and cypresses, while the children test their skills on the playground’s squirrel wheel, try out the slide and then chill out in the nest swing. Although there are pergolas and benches along the path to relax on, you shouldn’t miss the viewing tower. Slide down the treetop path to the restaurant or get yourself a delicious ice cream. - The model railway exhibition
A huge model railway layout awaits you on an entire floor in one of the buildings of the Festetics Castle in Keszthely. On the more than 2.5 km long railway network, 75 different trains run and bring the station buildings, tracks and trains of the 19th to 21st centuries in Hungary, Austria and Germany to life. You can even admire the whole layout when it’s lit up at night. Whether it’s more fun for the kids or dad will only be clear once you get there. - The farm museum and the Georgikon adventure farm
In Keszthely, you can also have a great experience at the Georgikon adventure farm – as the name indicates. While mum has fun in the herb garden and dad is impressed by the working steam engine from the 19th century (which is put into operation on special days every year), the children can enjoy the historical toys of the farm children, the inhabitants of the petting zoo and the exciting play barn. In the museum, whose main theme is agriculture and plant cultivation, you can also take a look at life in a smithy, wainwright’s workshop and cooperage. - Szigliget Castle, the castle of Balaton
The iconic castle of Szigliget on the northern shore of Lake Balaton is a unique attraction on Lake Balaton. Exploring it is a wonderful activity for children, too. As you climb higher and higher up the castle, the view opens up onto the landscape with its witness hills and the marvellous waters of Lake Balaton. A journey through time with exhibitions takes you back to the 13th century. - The Family WesternPark
The Family WesternPark is a great programme for children at Lake Balaton. In the Wild West-style park in Nemesvita, you can try out archery, knife throwing, pedal go-karts, pony riding, air rifle shooting and even gold panning. The mini zoo is home to guinea pigs, rabbits, goats and peacocks. There are also exciting Wild West scenes, including a bank robbery, a bird show and you can escape from a maze. - The dinosaur and adventure park in Rezi
In Rezi, you can ride a miniature railway through the adventure park with lifelike dinosaurs or walk among the moving, breathing, life-size and sound-making dinosaurs. Younger children can climb on ropes courses close to the ground, older ones at a higher altitude. For more adrenalin, there is a zip wire. But there is also a calf rodeo, foot billiards, digger, a happy car, climbing wall, donut slide, treasure hunt and plenty of excitement. - Africa Museum
Your adventures can also take you to Africa, as the Africa Museum in Balatonederics brings the atmosphere of the savannahs to life. The little ones will appreciate the mini safari park, where ostriches, zebras, antelopes and buffaloes live. You can ride a pony or camel, and the Nassau hut is guarded by life-size photo prints of the natives. Don’t miss the museum. In the house of Endre Nagy, the African hunter, you can find hundreds of trophies, his personal belongings in his study, a wealth of different African jewellery and an interesting ethnographic exhibition. - Adventure baths, spas
If you have already made the most of the beaches on Lake Balaton, or if you want to visit an adventure pool with the children because of the cooler weather, then the thermal and adventure pools in Zalakaros and Kehidakustány are ideal even on a cloudy day. Water adventures also for the little ones outdoors and indoors with slides and climbing frames, where everything splashes and sprays to the delight of the children. - Sea cave in Tapolca
In Tapolca, you should get to know the visitor centre and explore the cave system under the town by boat. Boating in the turquoise water with small children will be a fantastic experience that will hopefully not be remembered for capsizing. (Online ticket purchase to the See cave in Tapolca is recommended during the summer months).
+1 ice cream at Bringatanya
Our bonus tip, a must for every Balaton holiday, not only with children: tasting the award-winning ice creams at Bringatanya in Gyenesdiás. To find out which is your favourite ice cream, you should visit as often as possible and try the entire range.
Don’t have accommodation for your holiday at Lake Balaton yet? Are you looking for child-friendly accommodation? Take a look at our family apartments in Gyenesdiás and request a quote!
