With a centuries old Abbey and the serene presence of the Lake Balaton, Tihany stands as an artistic little peninsula. This small town with is well preserved fisher-village and the historic architecture has become one of the most visited tourist destinations in Hungary. Tihany is a place of lavender, walk along the shores of Lake Balaton enjoying the smell of lavender in the air, visit the abbey, shout towards the church at the 7X echo, go awe at the stunning views, enjoy a good Hungarian meal and much more in this beautiful little town. Although a small place, there is so much to do in Tihany and here is our long list of everything you should know about the things to do in Tihany, Hungary.
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1. Explore the history of Tihany at Bences Apatsag
King Andrew I was one of the greatest kings of Tihany who ruled during the period 1046 - 1060 AD. During his reign, he built the Benedictine monastery in the honor of St. Anthony and Virgin Mary. This century-old place still holds the founding diploma of the monastery written in Latin text. This is not only the oldest original Hungarian diploma but also the oldest written text in the Hungarian language. The Benedictine Abbey and Museum has a collection of artifacts that speak of the 1000-year-old history of the monastery, church, and Kings in Hungary.
Benedictine Abbey and Museum
Address: 8237 Tihany, I. András tér 1.
Website: Benedictine Abbey and Museum
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm; Sun: 11:15am - 6pm
Price: 2 - 4 USD
2. Let your voice reverberate at Tihany Echo
Tihany Echo is one place in this town that you cannot miss. It is not only because of the 7X echo that you get to experience in this beautiful place but also for the stunning panoramic views of Lake Balaton. Written records from the 19th century suggest that the sound from Tihany Echo reverberates up to 15 syllables, from the northern wall of the Church. It has been featured in numerous poems and is one of the most serene places you can ever see on a windless quiet evening. Have fun listening to your own voice that returns from the Church at the Echo hill.
Tihany Echo
Address: Tihany, Alsóóvári u. 1, 8237 Hungary
Website: Tihany Echo
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
3. Take a joyride with Lokomotiv Kisvonat
The easiest way to see all the wonderful aspects of Tihany would be by hopping on to the local town train. The ride itself is a pleasant breezy experience along with the breathtaking views of this hilly town. This dotto train is available on flexible timings and you will be able to witness both the monumental as well as the natural wonders of Tihany along the way. The ride is also one of the fastest and cheapest ways to go around the town designed specifically for tourist purposes.
Lokomotiv Kisvonat / Road Train Tihany
Address: Tihany, Kiserdőtelepi út 8, 8237 Hungary
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4. Marvel at the beauty of Lavender House
Hűtött sörrel, limonádéval, vízzel várunk titeket a nyári melegben minden nap ?
Posted by Lavender Shop on Monday, 24 June 2019
As mentioned earlier, Tihany is a place of lavender. The lavender house on the shores of the lake is the first place you may want to visit in Tihany as it has a visitor center which will provide you with insights on the history of the peninsula. Along with the visitor center is a beautiful gift store that sells lavender products such as handmade soaps, essential oils, articles and much more. The history of lavender production in Tihany dates back to the 1920s and initiated by a famous European herb expert, Bittera Gyula. Learn more about the history of the Hungarian Lavender at the Lavender House.
Lavender House
Address: Tihany, Major u. 67, 8237 Hungary
Website: Lavender House
Opening hours: 24 hours (daily)
Tihany Tour Guide
Tiberiu Condulescu
My name is Tiberiu(s), just like captain James Tiberius Kirk from Star Trek, or Tibi for short, and I am an IT Service Manager who found his passion in tour guiding over 5 years ago. Similarly to Captain Kirk, I will be your captain should you choose me as your guide.Every tour is a new experience for both of us, that’s why my aim is to make it both memorable and fun. I want to make memories fo... Read more
Tours by Tiberiu
5. Walk along Lake Balaton
We have spoken quite a few times about Lake Balaton. This popular lake that bordars Tihany has a 197 kilometer (122.4 miles) shoreline. It is a freshwater lake with a hilly north shore, wetlands, volcanic hills, the Balaton uplands hiking trails, resort towns, protected national parks, an old walled castle district of Veszprém, beaches with high rise hotels and much more. Walk along the shores of the lake and enjoy the soothing breeze along with amazing panoramic water views. It is one of the most loved places for kids and couples.
Lake Balaton
Address: Lake Balaton, Shores of Tihany, Hungary
6. Savor the flavor at the Paprika House
Are you someone who loves paprika? When in Tihany you cannot miss the Paprika House that sells the best of paprika spices in the whole world. They have all sorts of products made using paprika from infused oils, sauces, smoked paprika spices and much more. You will love this place from its very entrance, that has dried hot pepper hanging on the wall outside and at the entrance. Pack a bunch of never-ever-seen paprika spices on your way back home from the PaprikaHáz.
PaprikaHáz
Address: Tihany, Kossuth Lajos u. 18, 8237 Hungary
7. Try Hungarian food at Regi Idok Udvara Skanzen Es Etterem
Similar to the length of the name, the waiting queue is always quite long at this place. The Regi Idok Udvara Skanzen Es Etterem is often visited by the locals as well as the tourists in Tihany for a delicious and authentic Hungarian meal. The menu is filled with a wide range of dishes of the traditional Hungarian cuisine. You will fall in love with the cozy atmosphere and amusing food names. For example, they serve the best ‘Káposztáságyon csülök’ here. They have vegetarian and vegan-friendly options as well.
Regi Idok Udvara Skanzen Es Etterem
Address: Tihany, Batthyány u. 3, 8237 Hungary
Website: Regi Idok Udvara Skanzen Es Etterem
Opening hours: 12pm - 9pm (daily)
8. Visit the Open-air Folk Museum
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Explore how the people of Hungary lived in 18th & 19th century by visiting the largest outdoor folk museum in the country. It all began as the “Village Museum Department” in 1967 with a group of talented ethnographers and later became an independent open-air folk museum in 1972. The museum was inspired from the Skansen of Stockholm and has 46 hectares of collections at Sztaravoda. The museum is spread across eight areas and is one of the best ways to learn the history and lifestyle of the fishing community in Tihany.
Open-air Folk Museum
Address: Pisky sétány 10, Tihany
Website: Open-air Folk Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 4pm, Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 1 USD onwards
9. Visit the Ortorony Lookout Tower
A much recently created sightseeing spot, Ortorony Lookout Tower is a three-story tower that offers the best views of almost everything near Lake Balaton and more. It began functioning in the year 2011 and is actively visited by a lot of tourists. The tower is perched amidst the trees of Apáti-hegy along the old Roman military road. Check out the stunning views of Tihany’s lavender fields, Balatonfüred - the Hungarian spa town, Balatonföldvár- the resort on the Balaton shore and the Balatonudvari village in Veszprém. You can also enjoy the stunning views of Lake Belső and Lake Külső on a clear day.
Ortorony Lookout Tower
Address: Tihany, Apáti-hegy 8237, Hungary
10. Visit the Crypt of King Andrew I
The Benedictine abbey, the oldest and biggest parish in Tihany was built during the reign of King Andrew I. This monastery is not only the seat of the oldest Hungarian linguistic relic but also the remains of King Andrew I himself. The abbey premises have an 11th-century crypt under which the limestone sarcophagus of King Andrew I lies. The crypt has the tomb of King Andrew I that was constructed post his death in 1060. There is also a white-stone statue of King Andrew I and his wife near the crypt. This is a place of historic significance and is often visited by tourists.
Crypt of King Andrew I
Address: 8237 Tihany, Kossuth u. 20.
Website: Crypt of King Andrew I
11. Stroll in the Tagore Promenade
Rabindranath Tagore is the first non-European writer to win the Nobel prize in 1913. This Indian poet visited Balatonfured at the age of 65 for medical purposes. After a three-week-long stay for curing his cardiovascular ailments, Tagore returned home. During his recovery period, he spent time in the lakeside lanes, now the Balatonfüred Park, where he planted a lime tree and even wrote a rhyme. This act of planting trees later became a tradition among the visitors who sought medical healing in Balatonfüred. The street is named after Tagore himself and there are numerous trees in this lane planted by numerous visitors. Take a stroll through this beautiful park and get lost in the magical powers of mother nature.
Tagore Promenade
Address: Balatonfüred Park, Tihany
12. Check the collection of dolls at Babamuzeum
The Babamuzeum is a museum in Tihany that is filled with original porcelain dolls that are dressed up in custom stitched original clothing and accessories that represent the European life and homes. The dolls are arranged in the old-style homes including kitchens, living rooms ad shops. Witness the fashionable European folk clothing of dolls and the intricate artwork behind it at the Babamuzeum, a one-of-a-kind museum in Hungary.
Babamuzeum
Address: Tihany, Visszhang u. 4, 8237 Hungary
Website: Babamuzeum
Price: 300 HUF (5 USD)
13. Take a guided cycling tour of the Tihany peninsula
What more than cycling can be a better way to explore the hilly trails of the Tihany peninsula? Take a cycling trip on the recommended routes of Tihany along with an English-speaking guide. The trip covers from 4 - 10 kilometers (2.4 - 6.4 miles) of a trail around Tihany where you will get to see the wind-carved rocks of the hills, old fortress plateau and much more. You can cover the route either by walk or on a bike. Activ Point has been conducting guided tours in Tihany for the last two decades. You are in the safe hands of the experts, so go ahead and enjoy the trails of your newly found land.
Activ Point Tihany
Address: 8237 Tihany, Lepke sor 9-11.
Website: Activ Point Tihany
14. Hit the dance floor in Club Helka
Hejj harcosok!? Mit tettünk tegnap Füreddel?? Ja igen, összeraktunk egy királyságokon átívelő őrületet és béreltünk egy...
Posted by Club Helka on Saturday, 15 June 2019
A trip to a shore town without drinks is no good trip. Drink your favorite cocktails and local brews at the popular Club Helka and dance to the tune mixes by celebrity DJs. This place is suitable even for huge parties and is located at the center of the city. The staff here are absolutely guest friendly and is a place of guaranteed fun. So grab those dance shoes and rock the floor shaking your legs to your favorite tunes.
Club Helka
Address: Balatonfüred, Széchenyi tér 8, 8230 Hungary
Website: Club Helka
15. Go paddle boarding in Lake Balaton
Tihany welcomes people who love an activity-filled tour. Tihany may not have a sea coast, however, that does not stop the locals from going for a surf. The kind of surf that the locals do is called stand-up-paddle surfing. Paddle your way in the Lake Balaton and enjoy the stunning deeper and wider views of the water. At the stand-up-paddle SUP center in Balaton has a number of SUP daily and weekly courses that you can give a try when visiting Tihany.
SUP Center Balaton
Address: Tihany, Rév u. 7, 8237 Hungary
Website: SUP Center Balaton
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
16. Book a sailing lesson with GetMyBoat
Another interesting activity to do on the waters of Lake Balaton is taking up a sailing lesson via GetMyBoat. The water sports company has been conducting sailing classes to both locals and tourists in Tihany since 1988. They have a five-day sailing crash course that goes for three hours per day and by the end of the course, you will be sailing confidently than ever. They have beginner-friendly boats, theory lessons to understand the nuances of sailing and practice training sessions. The course is conducted by certified instructors and they speak multiple languages.
GetMyBoat
Address: Lake Balaton, Tihany, Hungary
Website: GetMyBoat
Price: 296 USD
17. Visit the Historic Waxworks and Pirates Museum
Visit the all-new fully air-conditioned waxworks museum of Hungarian Kings, the Historic Waxworks and Pirates Museum in Tihany. As you gaze through the intricate art in the Panoptikos of the Hungarian Kings learn more about the history and mysteries of the land. Some of the famous Hungarian Kings featured in the museum include Prince Géza, Charles Charles, Sigismund of Luxembourg, King Matthias and more. The Pirates museum features popular names like the Blackheads, Sir Francis Drake, Anne Bonney, pirate coins, flags, and weapons. Learn about the indigenous Shuar Indians and their ancient habits at the Indian museum.
Historic Waxworks and Pirates Museum
Address: Kossuth Lajos utca 35, Tihany 8237, Hungary
Website: Historic Waxworks and Pirates Museum
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
18. Taste the best regional wines at Ferenc Pince Csárda
The best wines of the land are found in the barrels of the Ference Pince. Taste the delicious foods that go well with their special collection of Wine freshly prepared by the Chef. The Ference Pince wine house is located at just a couple of kilometers from the Benedictine Abbey church. It has a lovely open terrace where you can stand and enjoy the stunning expansive views of the lake. Don’t forget to grab a bottle of the local wine as a souvenir from Tihany.
Ferenc Pince Csárda
Address: Tihany, Cserhegyi utca, 8237 Hungary
Website: Ference Pince
Opening hours: Thu - Mon: 12pm - 10pm (closed on Tue & Wed)
19. Have food at Miska Pince Csárda
Miska Pince Csárda is another interesting place to taste traditional Hungarian cuisine. The restaurant is run by an elderly couple and they serve the authentic tastes of local foods that you would start feeling like you are at your grandmother’s home. They serve the best pancakes and fish soup in town. The interiors of this restaurant will make you feel at home and they offer a very friendly service.
Miska Pince Csárda
Address: Tihany, Kiserdőtelepi út 6, 8237 Hungary
Website: Miska Pince Csárda
Opening hours: 12pm - 9pm (daily)
20. Buy gifts from Tihanyi Levendula Bolt
If you are looking for a good place to do souvenir shopping in Tihany, the Tihanyi Levendula Bolt is the best place to go. The store has a Levendula gallery where you can learn all about the culture and the history of lavender plantation in Tihany. There is also a gift shop where you can buy handmade soaps, soap stamps, and other lavender based products. The manufactory has the Bittera Gyula Laboratory where all the fancy soaps of the shop are being made with original extracted lavender scent.
Tihanyi Levendula Bolt
Address: 8237 Tihany, Batthyány u. 18th
Website: Tihanyi Levendula Bolt
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
21. Relish desserts at Ice cream Erzsike
Taste the mouth-watering flavors of ice cream available anytime at the Ice cream Erzsike in Tihany. Although there are a lot of ice-cream vendors on the streets of Tihany the Ice cream Erzsike is the best and healthiest option of it all. They have unique ice-cream flavors like green tea, ginger and forest fruit. They also use stevia sugar. There are plenty of flavors of ice cream go crazy over picking one.
Ice cream Erzsike
Address: Tihany, Pisky sétány 7 // 2 perc sétára a parkolótól, 8237 Hungary
Website: Ice cream Erzsike
Opening hours: 10am - 7pm (daily)
22. Visit Extreme Adventure Park Balatonfüred
Another challenging place that is located in the outskirts of the town is the Extreme Adventure Park Balatonfüred where you can enjoy the thrill and challenge of obstacle solving. The place has a huge 17-meter (55.7 feet) climbing tower, 144 obstacles, and a forest skill track. This is a place for thrill-seekers as well as kids. There is a specially created bike school for kids in the park. There is also an option to rent bikes at the park. They also offer an obstacle course at this park. Enjoy the tingling feel of adrenaline rushing through your veins.
Extreme Adventure Park Balatonfüred
Address: Balatonfüred, HRSZ 051/5, Tihany felé a körforgalom után jobbra, 8230 Hungary
Website: Extreme Adventure Park Balatonfüred
Opening hours: 9am - 7pm (daily)
23. Enjoy at Kalandsziget - Tihany Kalandpark
If you are someone who loves a challenge the Kalandsziget - Tihany Kalandpark your place to go. This place has a lot of adventure activities amidst the natural canopy of trees. Feel the rush of adrenalin as you go on the high-altitude cableway, artificial rope bridges, 60 different obstacles, giant tree climbing challenge, sliding track and much more. Along with a bunch of adventures, spending fun-filled moments with family and friends in the lush green hilly forests provides visitors the best peace and relaxation.
Kalandsziget - Tihany Kalandpark
Address: Tihany, Lepkesor 31, 8237 Hungary
Website: Kalandsziget - Tihany Kalandpark
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 6pm
Tihany: a place that has something for every visitor
Tihany is a town of history, joy, and scent. If you love history, the town is filled with monuments, museums and the centuries-old church to add food for your thoughts. If you love adventure, hit the hill trails or the wetlands to know what it is like to be out in the wild. There is something for everyone visiting this tiny little town on the banks of Lake Balaton and that is what makes it the most-visited tourist town in Hungary.
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