Badacsony, out of season

It is difficult to say no to the invitation of cellars, wines and local flavours. Hotel Bonvino, which is open all year round, awaits you with regional specialties, food specialties, traditional Hungarian cuisine, and a selection of more than 100 types of wine, so you can combine a professional wine tasting with a real culinary experience. Buffet breakfast and dinner options, an opportunity for wellness and active programmes occurs, where real relaxation awaits us after a tiring day.

The Villa Tolnay Wine House is also open out of season, and as a tribute to the well-known actress Klári Tolnay who lived there during the Second World War, it has kept the artist's name. The founder-owner of the winery, Philipp Oser, an excellent connoisseur of the European wine world, during a trip to Hungary, visited the Csobánc mountain more than 10 years ago, where he immediately felt like he had found home. With the help of estate director László Nagy, who knows the Badacsony wine region very well, he is working to put this region on the world wine map.

The Pláne Badacsony wine terrace has the most comprehensive wine selection in the region, as a part of the selection comes from small wineries that would be almost impossible to come across anywhere else, but wines from more well-known wineries can also be found on the wine list. In addition to the drinks, cheese and ham platters are offered as an extra, you can choose from different pâtés, and the coffee is not to be disregarded either.

More and more attractions and restaurants at Lake Balaton recognize the need for autumn-winter opening hours, which is why it is worth visiting Badacsony even out of season! In addition, you have more and more opportunities to travel by boat: the BAHART's boat trips between settlements start daily from the first of May and, what is more, you can even expect an extended schedule on the Wednesday holiday! It is really worth getting out on the water (also) that day, because there will be a party boat service on the cruises in the morning and in the afternoon. Another curiosity is that the catamaran named Tomaj "started working" in 2024, which runs between Badacsony and Fonyód, but from Badacsony you can also get to Balatonmáriafürdő, touching Szigliget and Balatongyörök. Needless to say, all of this can come in handy when you end the day with a glass of wine, as a pleasant rocking in the Balaton sunset can be a fitting end to your jaunt in the Badacsony! By the way, in addition to the scheduled and sightseeing boat flights from the harbour of Badacsony, you can also join the children's boat programme in the high season – it is worth paying attention to the schedules!

The off-season period - spring and early autumn - is perhaps the most ideal time for convertibles. It is not too hot or cold, and there is no threat of strong sunlight. We can smell the pleasant smell of the grill, hear the birds and feel really close to nature, since thanks to the open passenger compartment we can observe even the smallest vibrations of the environment. If the weather is ideal, a drive by a convertible with your love and/or family can even give you an experience of a lifetime.

Ildikó Schreiber, an expert at Euroleasing Zrt., will help you choose the right four-wheeler for the Badacsony adventure drive. As she says, it is not certain that the model with the most powerful engine is the right choice, we should rather try to pay attention to the fact that it gives a pleasant driving experience and allows us to connect with our surroundings. The classic Mazda MX-5 Roadster or the Fiat 500e Cabrio, for example, can be a great choice - but for the latter, plan ahead with charging!

If you are interested in the world of karsts, head to the Tapolca Lake Cave Visitor Centre, where you will be introduced to the mysterious world of caves with eye-catching sights. Interactive games test the skills of both children and adults: the adults' ability to perceive is tested by a "rock feeler", while the little ones are waited by a crawling cave. With the help of paleogeographical paintings, you can get to know the wildlife of ancient times, and the photos and videos show how the karst water shaped the most beautiful limestone formations. The repertory of rooms welcomes the interested people with the following rooms: Dropstone, Dive, Bat, Geopark, Ancient Archaeologist, Old Karst and Projection room and there is also the possibility of boating, and the climbing wall can be tried at any time.

After the wonders of the lake cave, a walk around the lake before returning home may gratify, unless we were in the mood to spend the night in Badacsony. If we were to stay, HangVilla Badacsony, 2 km from Lake Balaton, between Badacsony and Gulács, offers perfect relaxation and recreation with the comfort of home, enriched with a spacious garden.

As a worthy end to the culinary journey, we can visit the Szegi Family Farm, located 20 km from Badacsony. On Lesenceistvánd, the milk from their own cows is processed, their fresh cheeses can be grilled, but there are also some aged in the cellar for several months. They have natural and smoked cheese, cheese with pumpkin seed, ramsons, chive-garlic, dill-garlic, slightly spicy Hungarian and red wine aged. More and more places and catering establishments in Balaton recognize the need for autumn and winter opening hours, which is why it is worth visiting Badacsony even out of season!