What Lake Balaton costs
Lake Balaton has no hostel, so even the frugal day does not start with a dorm bed — it starts with the cheapest hotel, €52–113 per person.
- A day without a hostel
- €62–125
- A day with restaurants
- €76–142
- A more comfortable day
- €87–154
Hungary is not in the eurozone, but every price on this page is already converted to euro at the ECB rate from 21 September 2026 (362.40 forint to the euro). Because Balaton has no hostel, a day without one here means a day with the cheapest hotel on offer — €62–125 per person.
Prices line by line
All prices are per person.
A day without a hostel
The same basket used for every town on the site, with one difference: because Balaton has no hostel, the sleeping line counts the cheapest hotel on offer, not a dorm bed. It does not include tickets or transport between towns.
Tickets
Tihany Abbey is €9.40. Festetics Castle is €14.35, but that price only holds for the summer season, June–September 2026. The Hévíz thermal lake is a separate trip, not part of swimming in Balaton itself — the basic ticket, 3 h (basic ticket duration), is €12.40 (3 h).
What moves the price
Hotel prices drop outside the main season — the €52–113 range covers an autumn sale and the regular off-season rate, while summer months need checking directly with the hotel. The BAHART boat runs more often from May to September; outside that window, there are fewer sailings.
What this sum leaves out
- A rental car. Not in this sum — the price depends on the company and the season, and it shifts week to week.
- The train from Budapest. The line exists (train to Balatonfüred (from Budapest-Kelenföld/Déli)), but check the exact fare and journey time on the timetable before you travel.
- A wine tasting at Badacsony. Organised tastings vary by winery and event — there is no single price that covers all of them.
The same comparison for 143 places: hostel, hotel, getting into town and a day pass. Travel costs →
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
How much money does a day at Lake Balaton need?
€62–125 per person, because there is no hostel — the cheapest bed is a hotel, plus street food and a set lunch.
Why is a "day without a hostel" pricier than in cities that have one on this site?
Because the basket counts the cheapest hotel instead of a dorm bed — €52–113 per person.
Does Lake Balaton use euro or forint?
Officially forint; prices on this page are converted to euro at the ECB rate from 21 September 2026.
Ready for Lake Balaton?
Where to next
Balaton beyond Tihany and Hévíz
→A hillside cave, a fish grill with one dish on the menu, a cemetery of heart-shaped headstones, a bird…
Győr · 82 km
→A town where three rivers meet, halfway between Budapest and Vienna: a square, a cathedral hill and an island in the Rába fit into one walking day, with Pannonhalma a second.
How well does Lake Balaton suit you?
→Six questions: a score for this place and others like it.
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