3+1 great stops around the country

On board, loyal sailors! No storm warning, weather clear, heading north! In Balatonföldvár, anyone can “board” one of the most exciting lookouts on the shores of Lake Balaton, which forms a huge boat. What’s more, it is not only its shape that is special: the building’s mast is the highest built lookout on Lake Balaton! The north-facing watchtower, some 70 metres high, offers an unrivalled panorama. From Balatonakarattya all the way to Keszthely! But it’s not just about contemplating the distance: by climbing down into the hull of the boat, young and old alike can learn more about the history and culture of Lake Balaton shipping. The interactive exhibition introduces the visitors to the interesting aspects of navigation and sailing with the help of models, field tables and simulators.

And once you have dropped sail, head to the Sky Bistro on the panoramic terrace for a refreshing coffee or a delicious treat while you lose yourself in the playful undulations of the north coast. The visitor centre is dog- and baby-friendly, with a playroom for younger children and an animator for larger groups.  

The unique Dutra collection is located in a secluded corner of the south shore, at the Fonyód end of Balatonboglár. These world-famous Hungarian machines are displayed in magnificent condition in Balázs Molnár’s yard, where alongside the robust tractors and dump trucks are Dutra relics, documents, models, books, photographs and former work clothes. Balázs is proud to show off his unrivalled collection, which he has been expanding for 15 years, but has never sold a single piece.

There is also a demonstration room in the courtyard, where you can play a game with the machines: if you can name all 27 of the 27 products on display, you could win a Dutra wine. But if you get just one wrong, you have to “pay” with a bottle of wine. An interesting feature of the museum is that Balázs is happy to start up some of the machines for an additional fee, so that tractor enthusiasts of all ages can witness the roar of the cubic centimetres.

For aircraft enthusiasts, the RepTár in Szolnok is a great choice, as it is not just an aircraft memorial park: there are countless interactive, experience-based entertainment options waiting for visitors, just make sure you can squeeze all the attractions into one day! In the yard of this well thought-out, themed park is a 19th-century Water House, which was used to supply water to the locomotives. The Warehouse was responsible for storing the salt transported on the Tisza, and the Indóház (Railway operation house) was responsible for the intake. While the former is a great military obstacle course, the latter houses the ticket office, gift shop and restaurant-café.

"The military obstacle course features a crawling corridor, a moving floor imitating a suspension bridge, a climbing ladder and perhaps most exciting of all: a dark labyrinth! For the more adventurous, there is a 4.5 metre-high AN-2 aeroplane cable car, from which you can slide down a slide track.”

A short corridor leads from the Indóház to the two-storey hangar, where the largest exhibition of aviation history in Central and Eastern Europe awaits you. On the ground floor you will find fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, museum-worthy flying machines and relics of aviation history. It is a real thrill to step inside a model of a turbine, but you can also get inside an original fighter plane! Upstairs, you can enjoy a 4D cinema or try out the simulators.

It is not a museum in the classic sense, but the Balatonfenyves narrow-gauge railway is a favourite of train enthusiasts! Thomas the steam locomotive can hide next to the green vehicle scooting from Balatonfenyves to Somogyszentpál or Csisztafürdő, the King of the Nagyberek! In the old days, tracks were laid at right angles to each other to access farmland in difficult, marshy areas. On the trail you can see rabbits, pheasants, deer and a host of birds racing as if in competition with the slow-moving steamer.  

Extra tip: in the “green gateway” of Nagyberek, Imremajor, a recently built, modern, railway-themed playground awaits the little ones in the immediate vicinity of the new station, so the waiting can be really pleasant! And if you have chosen Thursday or Sunday as your train day, don’t miss the Two Roosters Gastronomy and Handicrafts Market (Két Kakas Gasztro és Kézműves Piac) in Majorka, where you can buy the best of local artisans’ handicrafts.