{"id":2777,"date":"2025-01-11T10:19:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-11T10:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.ru\/hungary\/?p=2777"},"modified":"2025-01-11T10:19:27","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T10:19:27","slug":"keszthely-overview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Keszthely, Festetics Palace, thermal baths in Zalakosvar"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n<p>The oldest town on the shores of Lake Balaton, and also the largest and most developed, is Keszthely. This town isn&#8217;t just about resorts and beach relaxation; it&#8217;s also home to one of Hungary&#8217;s most luxurious palaces and the world&#8217;s largest thermal lake, just seven kilometers from Keszthely. Ahead, awaits a comprehensive overview of this small Hungarian town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#Keszthely_General_Information\" >Keszthely: General Information<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#How_to_get_to_Keszthely_from_Budapest\" >How to get to Keszthely from Budapest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#Where_to_stay_the_best_restaurants\" >Where to stay, the best restaurants<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#What_to_see_in_Keszthely\" >What to see in Keszthely<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#Keszthelys_Attractions_Beyond_the_City\" >Keszthely&#8217;s Attractions Beyond the City<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/keszthely-overview\/#Beaches_on_Lake_Balaton_in_Keszthely\" >Beaches on Lake Balaton in Keszthely<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keszthely_General_Information\"><\/span>Keszthely: General Information<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Summarily and briefly, here are the crucial facts about the town:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The town was founded in the 13th century.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Today, Keszthely has a population of only 18,000 people. It&#8217;s a small town even by Hungarian standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, Keszthely stands as the largest town on Lake Balaton&#8217;s shore and is the oldest and most developed. Around Lake Balaton, there are dozens of towns and resorts, but officially, Keszthely holds the status of the main resort and capital of Balaton.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A comprehensive review of <a href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/lake-balaton\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1375\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lake Balaton resorts,<\/a> beaches, and the best places to relax<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-1.jpg\" alt=\"Keszthely museums ticket\" class=\"wp-image-2809\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Moreover, Keszthely is a city of museums. There are about a dozen museums here, including even a Erotics Museum, but more on that later (with photos).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Interesting to note:<\/p>\n<cite>Unlike other Balaton resorts, which are around 50-70 years old, Keszthely boasts an old town and museums, making it appealing to architecture and history enthusiasts.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_get_to_Keszthely_from_Budapest\"><\/span>How to get to Keszthely from Budapest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I won&#8217;t delve into driving directions. You hop in, open a map app, and drive. The roads in the country are excellent, and there&#8217;s a high-speed highway from Budapest to Keszthely with a speed limit of 130 km\/h. The distance from Budapest is 190 km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, the main points for those traveling without a car:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You can take a bus or a train. In my opinion, the train is more convenient, comfortable, cheaper, and faster.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are 5-6 daily buses from Budapest to Keszthely. Travel time is 3.5 hours. One bus runs directly to Keszthely without stops, taking 2.5 hours, departing from Budapest at 14:15. The ticket price for any bus is 9 euros\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Schedules, prices, and ticket purchases can be found on the official carrier&#8217;s website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.volanbusz.hu\/en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.volanbusz.hu\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Volanbusz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Trains depart from 5 am hourly until night. Travel time is 2 hours and 40 minutes. Ticket prices range from 6 to 8 euros. You&#8217;ll arrive directly at Keszthely&#8217;s central train station.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For train schedules, prices, and tickets, refer to the Hungarian railway website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mavcsoport.hu\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.mavcsoport.hu\/en<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-2.jpg\" alt=\"Keszthely budapest train\" class=\"wp-image-2810\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There&#8217;s a train departure from Budapest to Keszthely every hour. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting from Budapest to Keszthely is no trouble at all, as there&#8217;s plenty of transportation available. When booking tickets online, remember to enter the city&#8217;s name as your destination &#8211; Keszthely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Where_to_stay_the_best_restaurants\"><\/span>Where to stay, the best restaurants<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The city is small but elongated. Where to stay is up to you. You can book in the center in its historic part, closer to architectural landmarks and all amenities, or nearer to the beach and the lake. The distance between these locations is 2-3 km.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A service frequently offering discounts and excellent accommodation deals for tourists is <a href=\"https:\/\/hotellook.tp.st\/0vfRp9Pg\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/hotellook.tp.st\/0vfRp9Pg\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hotellook<\/a>. It compares accommodation prices among dozens of providers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>There&#8217;s no shortage of eateries here; you won&#8217;t go hungry. Keszthely streets are lined with numerous European cuisine restaurants. I&#8217;ll recommend the best (in my opinion) Hungarian cuisine restaurant in the city:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>J\u00f3bar\u00e1t Vend\u00e9gl\u0151: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/j23j3p8KW9zA6aFw6\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/j23j3p8KW9zA6aFw6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.77165495520048, 17.258685154837526<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Restaurant menu and website: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jobaratvendeglo.hu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">http:\/\/www.jobaratvendeglo.hu\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generous portions, standard prices, and most importantly, the menu includes all the main Hungarian dishes: goulash, bogracs, halaszle, p\u00f6rk\u00f6lt. An excellent place for those seeking authentic Hungarian flavors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-3.jpg\" alt=\"best restaurants in Keszthely\" class=\"wp-image-2811\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Our standard lunch for two at J\u00f3bar\u00e1t Vend\u00e9gl\u0151 in Keszthely: two beers, goulash (soup), and paprikas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_see_in_Keszthely\"><\/span>What to see in Keszthely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I won&#8217;t list dozens of churches, cathedrals, or houses where a famous person once lived. I&#8217;ll only mention the most interesting sights in Keszthely, where you&#8217;d spend more than 5 minutes. I&#8217;ll provide coordinates, prices, and opening hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The city&#8217;s main attraction is the Festetics Palace. One of Hungary&#8217;s most beautiful palaces, built in the style of Sch\u00f6nbrunn. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/UQugaNhid2Rws2gz7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.771025318237854, 17.241837134186557<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/helikonkastely.hu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/helikonkastely.hu\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open from 10:00 to 17:00.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ticket price: 8 euros (3200 forints). There&#8217;s a full ticket granting access to palace exhibitions for 5000 forints (15 euros).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The garden and exterior of the palace are open to all visitors for free. A ticket is only required for the palace&#8217;s interior and exhibitions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I recommend allocating 2-3 hours for Festetics Palace. Even if you don&#8217;t plan to go inside, just strolling through the beautiful park, relaxing, and enjoying the views is worth it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-4.jpg\" alt=\"Festetics Palace in hungary review\" class=\"wp-image-2799\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Festetics Palace leaves a strong impression.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/castles-and-palaces-in-hungary\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1097\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">review of Hungary&#8217;s best palaces, castles, and fortresses<\/a> includes Festetics among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main pedestrian street in Keszthely, the main square, the main Catholic church, and a secondary school housed in one of the historical and beautiful buildings. This is the city center, all located in one area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-5.jpg\" alt=\"Keszthely main street\" class=\"wp-image-2800\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The main pedestrian street. The photo was taken in November, and in the rain, yet in summer, it&#8217;s bustling. Additionally, all the museums I&#8217;ll discuss later are situated on this street.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coordinates of the main square, where the pedestrian street starts: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/u1U3wA7LayyNrSA17\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/u1U3wA7LayyNrSA17\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.76508748496541, 17.24300260347615<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tourists come here for evening walks. There are plenty of shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, museums, and simply beautiful architecture and lots of greenery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-6.jpg\" alt=\"Keszthely main square\" class=\"wp-image-2801\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fo ter &#8211; or the main square of Keszthely. In the photo, the building in the center houses an ordinary secondary school, and behind it, you can see the main Catholic church.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, Keszthely is renowned in Hungary as the city of museums. I&#8217;ll summarize as all the museums are small-scale, without much grandeur. It&#8217;s up to you whether to visit or not. But here is where you can plan a day exploring museums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All Keszthely museums are situated in the very heart of the town, within 50 meters of each other. Here&#8217;s what you need to know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Official website of these museums: <a href=\"https:\/\/szexpanoptikum.hu\/en\/ticketprice\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/szexpanoptikum.hu\/en\/ticketprice<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entrance to each museum costs around 4 euros (1500 forints).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, you can purchase a combined ticket for all museums for 5000 forints, approximately 13 euros. You can buy this ticket at any museum&#8217;s ticket office listed below, where you&#8217;ll begin your museum exploration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There&#8217;s a slightly cheaper package: visit 3 or 4 museums of your choice from the list. But the price difference between this and the combined ticket is 2 euros.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The museums are open from 10 am to 4 pm, and in summer, until 6 pm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-7.jpg\" alt=\"Erotikus Panoptikum hungary\" class=\"wp-image-2802\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Remember that promise of a photo from the Erotics Museum? Promise kept. This is one of the more decent ones. It consists of several rooms with about a dozen wax figures, all in line with the theme, featuring a lot of, well, intimate body parts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a list and coordinates of accessible museums (all situated on the main pedestrian street):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nostalgia Museum: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QSPrPoLS6TXg83nr5\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/QSPrPoLS6TXg83nr5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.768236066071914, 17.242331971389437<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Doll Museum: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/iEx9fTPaeThzGia58\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/iEx9fTPaeThzGia58\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.76756932649208, 17.242317498955693<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shell Museum, I&#8217;d say a museum of one exhibit &#8211; a model of the Parliament building made of sea shells: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/msHL4UU1bsV7Wsea7\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/msHL4UU1bsV7Wsea7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.767582951098845, 17.242003106756854<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erotic Museum, also known as the Erotikus Panoptikum, or the Sex Museum: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/yKfYs3JDdu5novc56\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/yKfYs3JDdu5novc56\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.767751595225874, 17.242721792349144<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Museum of Horrors and Torture: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/KfGpcnJJCTtwtfBd7\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/KfGpcnJJCTtwtfBd7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.76745526524297, 17.24204602210258<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Toy Museum: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/rzjz2uEyVt84ifhV9\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/rzjz2uEyVt84ifhV9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">46.76771339244941, 17.242715233269998<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Radio Museum: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/TakNqyrXeS4sX2wh9\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/TakNqyrXeS4sX2wh9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.768377828024086, 17.242066732383176<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-8-1024x790.jpg\" alt=\"Shell Museum Keszthely\" class=\"wp-image-2803\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Hungarian Parliament building made of sea shells. Even a photo doesn&#8217;t quite convey the scale and size of this exhibit. It&#8217;s pretty awesome.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Good to know:<\/p>\n<cite>All museums are quite small, I&#8217;d say they&#8217;re simply someone&#8217;s personal collections. Literally 1-2 rooms in each with a few hundred exhibits: toys in the Toy Museum, dolls in the Doll Museum, items from the past in the Nostalgia Museum, and so on. Plan around 20 minutes for each museum. That should be sufficient. You&#8217;ve probably seen much of this before. The only exhibit that&#8217;ll amaze you is the Hungarian Parliament made of shells. You&#8217;ve never seen anything like it; it&#8217;s a must-visit for everyone.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keszthelys_Attractions_Beyond_the_City\"><\/span>Keszthely&#8217;s Attractions Beyond the City<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re tired of relaxing in Keszthely, just 7 km from the city lies the country&#8217;s largest thermal resort and, simultaneously, the world&#8217;s largest thermal lake &#8211; Heviz. Here, hot water is available year-round. There&#8217;s a comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/heviz\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1820\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">review of the Hungarian resort, Heviz<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in the vicinity of the city, there are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The small town of Tapolca, 25 km from Keszthely, with caves and an underground lake where you can take a boat ride. There&#8217;s an overview of this place in an article about Balaton, the link was at the beginning. Cave coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/J3CFKKRb6HWQV73v5\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/J3CFKKRb6HWQV73v5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.883257498960475, 17.443404392776806 <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hegymagas Wine Village with wineries, cellars, and tastings. Only 20 km from Keszthely. Coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Mz2rTSRbdsfrWct68\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Mz2rTSRbdsfrWct68\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.835385904657414, 17.449842817247628<\/a>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/alcoholic-drinks-in-hungary\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1260\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All about Hungarian alcoholic drinks and wine, about wine regions, and the village of Hegymagas<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>K\u00e1nyav\u00e1ri Island, 25 km from Keszthely. The island is free, but parking costs 4 euros. Parking coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/YSwW5RKE6NFM1hNw7\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/YSwW5RKE6NFM1hNw7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.61563994518491, 17.168570072569263<\/a>. The island, formerly known as Balaton-Kis, offers plenty of greenery, hiking trails, observation decks, a beautiful wooden bridge. It&#8217;s a place for nature walks and relaxation. You can have a picnic; there are tables available.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And a large aqua park with thermal pools for the whole family in the town of Zalakaros. Slides, saunas, children&#8217;s pools, outdoor spas; in summer, there&#8217;s an Open Air area with entertainment for both kids and adults. Coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/kDRJJprnGdFSGjrR9\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/kDRJJprnGdFSGjrR9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.54722162248702, 17.124896570610794<\/a>. 35 km from Keszthely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-9.jpg\" alt=\"Balaton-Kis island\" class=\"wp-image-2804\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An observation tower on K\u00e1nyav\u00e1ri Island. There are many of these. The island is great, peaceful, and not overcrowded.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-10.jpg\" alt=\"Zalakaros thermal baths\" class=\"wp-image-2805\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">And these are the thermal pools in the aqua park in Zalakaros. On top in the photo are the open thermal baths, water temperature +37\u00b0C. Below are medicine baths inside the building, water temperature +40\u00b0C. They operate all year round.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Beaches_on_Lake_Balaton_in_Keszthely\"><\/span>Beaches on Lake Balaton in Keszthely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe and the main beach resort in the country. Keszthely is situated right on the western shore of Balaton. Here&#8217;s what you need to know about the beaches in Keszthely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most of Balaton&#8217;s beaches are grassy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are hardly any sandy beaches, mostly just a thin strip of yellow sand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The lake is quite shallow, making it ideal for children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The city beaches are all free of charge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are paid beaches, known as Beach Clubs. The cost for a whole day is 2-3 euros, and these areas have toilets, power outlets, changing cabins, and there&#8217;s even a microwave to heat food. Sunbeds usually require an additional fee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An important point: Balaton, in general, has a muddy bottom, so you can&#8217;t just wade into the water anywhere along the shore. In any case, it&#8217;s better to head to an equipped beach. I usually go to the main free city beach; it&#8217;s clean, the grass is trimmed, and there&#8217;s plenty of shade. All Balaton beaches generally look the same.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-11.jpg\" alt=\"Beaches Balaton Keszthely\" class=\"wp-image-2806\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This is how most beaches look not only in Keszthely but around the entire Balaton. Neat lawns and equipped stairways into the water. In these places, the bottom is cleaned, and there&#8217;s little to no mud. By the way, dogs are not allowed on these beaches. You wouldn&#8217;t want to lie on the grass or walk barefoot where dogs relieve themselves, would you?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the three main beaches in Keszthely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Main City Beach, free admission. Coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Vtsw2qARxsWpPZxQ7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.75806738876068, 17.251513203334998<\/a>. There&#8217;s even a sandy beach here. But it gets very crowded during the season. Open year-round.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helikon Beach Club, with free parking: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ac33BHrFfXx81dJq9\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ac33BHrFfXx81dJq9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.74963556442355, 17.245322725330208<\/a>. Only open in summer, usually closing by early October. Entry is around 2 euros. After 19:00, it&#8217;s free.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Libas Beach. Essentially the same as Helikon, just one and a half kilometers north. Coordinates: <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Q8HsLkKbRGV7KT2P8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46.76491402078877, 17.267490403479922<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Website for all city beaches in Keszthely (both paid and free): <a href=\"https:\/\/khvuz.hu\/stranduzemeltetes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/khvuz.hu\/stranduzemeltetes\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-src=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2023\/11\/kesthei-12.jpg\" alt=\"Keszthely map\" class=\"wp-image-2807\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Keszthely map, with green areas along Balaton marking beach zones and parks. There are more than enough of them here.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Interesting:<\/p>\n<cite>You&#8217;ll definitely find a beach for yourself here. The map above highlights all the beach areas along the Balaton shore in Keszthely. Even in summer, when the city is packed with tourists, there&#8217;s always a secluded spot available. Only on the main city beach in the center, it might be a bit crowded.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Most travel packages to Hungary are sold precisely in Heviz and Keszthely. These are the hubs of package tourism. Everything about <a href=\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/hungary-tour-packages\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3019\">travel packages to Hungary<\/a>, about tours and treatments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In conclusion, Keszthely is one of the best places to relax on Balaton. There are plenty of advantages: there&#8217;s a historical part and a beautiful center, the world&#8217;s largest thermal lake nearby, which you can visit for a day, and a bunch of attractions in the surrounding area, including the famous wine region on Lake Balaton. And of course, beach relaxation is a given here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IMPORTANT: Below are useful links that will help organize your trip to Hungary and Budapest:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul style=\"background-color:#f9f9fe\" class=\"has-background wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Flight<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/wayaway.tp.st\/QTMqa33n\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WayAway <\/a>&#8211; compares prices for flights among 30+ airlines flying to Budapest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tours and excursions:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/viator.tp.st\/oxrq9MSy\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/viator.tp.st\/oxrq9MSy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Viator<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/getyourguide.tp.st\/qMdO9yko\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/getyourguide.tp.st\/qMdO9yko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GetYourGuide<\/a> &#8211; the best services for finding tours in Budapest and Hungary with the largest database of activities in Hungary. They offer river cruises on the Danube, tickets to baths, and 1000+ tours (available in different languages).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accommodation, apartments, hotels, hostels<\/strong>: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/tripadvisor.tp.st\/Xe1rRi3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TripAdvisor <\/a>&#8211; compares the prices among dozens of other booking services and offer the best price<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trip.tp.st\/PVvEHKNS\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trip.com<\/a> &#8211; the most popular booking platform<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Car rental<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/discovercars.tp.st\/3RVO6srh\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/discovercars.tp.st\/3RVO6srh\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DiscoverCars<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/localrent.tp.st\/n6KQJPzz\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LocalRent <\/a>&#8211; the leading and largest car rental services in Hungary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Travel Insurance<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/ektatraveling.tp.st\/EgDdeXmD\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/ektatraveling.tp.st\/EgDdeXmD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EKTA<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>eSIM<\/strong> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/airalo.tp.st\/rUnrFWN2\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/airalo.tp.st\/rUnrFWN2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Airalo<\/a> virtual SIM card in Hungary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Taxi and airport transfers<\/strong>: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/intui.tp.st\/Kg96IMKW\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/intui.tp.st\/Kg96IMKW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intui.Travel<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The oldest town on the shores of Lake Balaton, and also the largest and most developed, is Keszthely. This town isn&#8217;t just about resorts and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2778,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2777","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attractions","category-accommodation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2777"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3349,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2777\/revisions\/3349"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2777"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2777"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/hungary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2777"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}