9 stunning lookouts where you can get a bird’s eye view of the landscape

Hidden among the trees, the Pécsvárad lookout is located on the highest point of the Mecsek, the 682-metre-high Zengő. From the 22-metre-high steel structure, you can see the enchanting villages of the area, Szársomlyó and Tenkes Mountain, and on clear, sunny days even the peaks of Croatia’s Papuk Mountains and the volcanic mountains of the Balaton Highlands.

An exciting hiking trail leads to the Károly Eötvös lookout, where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful and complete panoramas of the Káli Basin. From here you can see Tihany, Köveskál, Kővágóörs, on the other side the Fonyód hill and to the west the witness hills. Although the tower has been a little battered by the weather, the view is still very impressive – so if you can, take binoculars and contemplate for as long as you like.

Galya-tető is home to one of the country’s most exciting lookouts. The 964-metre high building offers special bivouac facilities and an unparalleled panorama of the Bükk, the High Tatras and the rolling hills below. The uniquely designed tower has won several architectural and design awards over the years – well worth a visit at any time of the year. 

In Balatonföldvár, you can even take to the water on land: from the “mast” on top of the special, boat-shaped Maritime History Visitor Centre, you have an unparalleled view of the Hungarian sea. After enjoying the unique view from the observation deck, take a stroll down to the ship’s belly, where you will find a permanent, interactive, family-friendly exhibition of over 1,000 square metres of ship history.

Between Hollókő and Felsőtold, on the south-eastern side of the Szár Hill, we can gaze at the eye-catching landscape of the Cserhát, both figuratively and literally. On the hillside, there is a unique hand-shaped lookout. The sturdy wooden structure was created by wood sculpting artist Benjámin Csíkszentmihályi at the request of a local association, who had regularly visited the mountainside to meditate. 

One of the most notable sights of Sárospatak is the Megyer-hegy marine lake, but if you are in the area, you should also climb to the top of the hill. From the Megyer Hill lookout towering 300 metres above sea level, you can enjoy a majestic full panorama. The 18-metre tower offers an unparalleled view of the forests of the Zemplén Hills, the Eastern Carpathians and the Bodrogköz. The lookout is free to visit all year round.

The lookout tower, reminiscent of the shape of former Roman watchtowers, stands in the middle of the Tihany peninsula, on the top of the 216-metre-high Apáti Hill. Interestingly, organic materials were used in its construction, including local natural stone and wood. From the highest level of the tower, you can see almost the whole of Lake Balaton, the southern coastal towns and the primeval forest at your feet.

The Írottkő lookout is unique not only for its bastion-like form, but also for its location. The lookout point is located at the junction of the National Blue Trail and the Pál Rockenbauer South Transdanubian Blue Trail, as well as the Hungarian-Austrian border. From the highest point of the Kőszeg Mountains, you can admire both the landscapes of Austria and the plains of our country. The entrance is on the Austrian side.

The Gömbkilató (Spherical Lookout Tower) in Balatonboglár, with its panoramic view of Badacsony, is one of the most iconic sights in Somogy County. The 15-metre-diameter structure on the 60-metre-high Castle Hill (Várdomb) sits like a light snow globe in the black pine forest. The lookout tower itself is a great photo subject, but, of course, it is the best with the view of Lake Balaton. The Spherical Lookout Tower is open every day of the year and admission is charged.