A taste of our favourite attractions in Balatonfüred and its surroundings

The Arács district, nestled between Balatonfüred and Csopak, is like stepping into a small village. Although it was an independent settlement for a long time, today it is a part of Füred but the atmosphere has remained calm and rural. Anyone who would like to get to know the spiritual side of Füred should definitely visit the Arács Community Centre and the Arács Country House. While the former offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, fine art and music programmes, the latter offers visitors the opportunity to see the layout customs and objects that have been characteristic of the settlement over the past centuries.

It is also worth keeping an eye on the programmes of the two venues, as the Foundation for Arács announces many excellent events throughout the year: on New Year's Eve, they hold a "bloodbath", i.e. a pig slaughter with a brandy tasting, but they also organize craft beer tastings, a champagne festival and a harvest.

Who would think that an international-class fashion museum is hidden on the shores of Lake Balaton, in a renovated 19th-century villa? The Katti Zoób Fashion Museum in the heart of Balatonfüred offers a special journey through time: the permanent and temporary exhibitions not only give a glimpse into the career of the fashion designer through her iconic pieces, but also bring important moments in Hungarian fashion history to life. The building is striking from the street front, but the interior is also worth a visit: elegant and playful at the same time – just like Katti Zoób's works. Behind each piece, artistic reflections, personal stories and social overtones are hidden. The museum is the perfect, hidden stop for fans of both fashion and architecture!

If you are planning an active holiday in the Balatonfüred area, the Lóczy Cave is a real hidden treasure! The largest, 120-metre-long cave in the Balaton Uplands lies in the belly of the Tamás Hill. Its interesting feature is that the limestone layers that were deposited millions of years ago are beautifully visible.

After visiting the Lóczy Cave, it is worth taking a pleasant, 3-kilometre circular tour on the Tamás Hill, where the unique viewpoints of Balatonfüred await you. Starting from the cave, following the green triangle sign, you can reach the three-storey Jókai Lookout in about 20 minutes, from where you can enjoy an unparalleled panorama of Lake Balaton and the Tihany Peninsula. From here, following the blue lane sign, the path leads along the Aranyember (Golden Man) nature trail, which evokes the world of Mór Jókai's novel. Along the route, you can learn about the flora and fauna of the region with the help of six information boards. A short walk takes you to the Tamás Hill Cross, which is not only a sacred symbol, but also a wonderful viewpoint – do not leave your camera at home, because you can take phenomenal photos from here! And if you arrive after sunset, the cross is especially spectacular when illuminated!

Hello Hungary tip: The Balatonalmádi – Sümeg section of the Mária Road, which touches several wonderful churches, lookouts and natural treasures, leads through Balatonarács, and is an excellent choice if you are planning a hiking trip. Along the green M-marked route, you can visit the St. Imre Parish Church and St. Jobb Chapel in Balatonalmádi, as well as the Franciscan Church and Monastery of Our Lady of the Cross in Sümeg. The 40-kilometre pilgrimage route can be comfortably covered in three days, but it can also be divided into smaller sections to make a one-day tour. During the Marian Road tour, it is also worth visiting the Lóczy Cave and the Jókai Lookout.

Villa Gyetvai is a modest but beautifully renovated old villa building that hosts contemporary exhibitions and excellent wine tastings. During the summer months, you can wander through the ground floor rooms of the magical building built on the Eszterházy estate as part of an exciting series of exhibitions, which simultaneously evoke the atmosphere of Füred in the past and the vibrant world of the present.

But it is not only the building that is worth exploring, but also the villa's terrace and garden, where you can taste Gyetvai wines in the shade of ancient trees. It is also worth choosing complementary dishes for the three-, four-, five- or six-item wine tasting: the offer ranges from ham and cheese platters to caprese, liver pâté and pork rillettes! From May to September, the villa's gates are open until eight o'clock on Friday and Saturday evenings.