Head down to Balatonberény (Balatonberény) in 2025 for an automotive and lifestyle festival that’s much more than engine revving—think summer camp vibes, lakeside lounging, fine food, and a lineup of events and flavors to fill an entire long weekend. The Somogyi VW Summer (Somogyi VW Nyár) takes over the leafy grounds of Heron Campground (Kócsag Camping), where participants only need to show up; the organizing team promises to deliver a great atmosphere, a buzzing schedule, and the company of fellow car enthusiasts.
Where to Stay
The festival’s base, Heron Campground (Kócsag Camping), isn’t just for petrolheads. It’s especially welcoming for school groups, children’s and youth organizations. Field trips, summer camps, forest schools, and cycling tours find their home base here, right off the famous Lake Balaton cycling route. The camp keeps it simple but clean—expect 5-6 bed rooms, communal showers, washbasins, and restrooms, all separated for privacy and convenience. Up to 35 people can stay in a single session, making it perfect for groups. A dedicated kitchen and dining hall mean group catering is handled on request. The site is set in a shaded, grassy park that’s perfect for sports, outdoor games, and recharging between festival highlights.
For families or friends looking for privacy, there’s a lofted, air-conditioned apartment available to rent, sleeping up to 9+2 people, tucked 300 meters (984 feet) from Lake Balaton. This tranquil spot promises greenery, peace, and the option for everyone to have their own space after a day of fun.
Event Highlights All Year
If you’re making Balatonberény (Balatonberény) a regular retreat, events extend well beyond summer. In August, the State Founding Day celebration brings locals and visitors together, followed by the grape harvest festivities in September. Come late November and December, it’s all about Christmas: Advent preparations, markets, and a classic village Christmas, so you can return for something new every season.
Eat & Drink in Style
Lake Balaton isn’t all sausage and fried bread (lángos). The Helikon Hotel Restaurant (Helikon Hotel Étterem), perched on the Keszthely (Keszthely) lakeshore, puts both Hungarian and international classics on the table, with a focus on top-notch ingredients from the region. Anyone can join for an à la carte meal, or opt in for a Swedish table breakfast and dinner buffet.
Prefer more nuanced flavors? Brix Bistro in Hévíz (Hévíz) is a must, with an extensive wine list, top-shelf cocktails, desserts to remember, and live music every Friday and Saturday. Modern design and a passion for culinary adventures make this place as much an experience as a meal.
My Kitchen Studio 365 (Konyhám Stúdió 365) invites you to Fonyód’s (Fonyód) main square for a culinary journey with panoramic views of Lake Balaton—a place where flavors and good vibes meet for a distinctive, artsy dining adventure.
Looking for homestyle bites on a budget? The Hungarian eatery in central Gyenesdiás (Gyenesdiás) serves up traditional menus at wallet-friendly prices every day. Just a stroll from downtown Hévíz (Hévíz), another restaurant specializes in both Hungarian favorites and Italian classics—think thin-crust pizza and pasta—and fully caters to vegetarians and gluten-intolerant guests.
Wine Tasting Adventures
The region is a wine lover’s dream. Saint George Hill (Szent György-hegy) hosts boutique winemaking on a superb four acres, focusing—rare for the area—on red wines. Book a tour and two-hour, six-wine tasting in advance to get the best from this tiny, detail-focused cellar.
Family vineyards on Ábrahám Hill (Ábrahámhegy) farm two acres, producing varieties like Italian Riesling (olasz rizling), Rhine Riesling (rajnai rizling), Zeus (zeusz), Blaufränkisch (kékfrankos), and Pinot Blanc (pinot blanc). For something grander, an estate by the Bakony (Bakony) foothills sprawls across nearly 20 acres (8 hectares), with scenic views sweeping over both Lake Balaton and the extinct volcanoes of the Tapolca Basin (Tapolcai-medence). Here, classic and international grape varieties merge, and wine tastings—led by a sommelier—are offered in a stylish tasting house, perfect for both company events and intimate gatherings. Their specialty? Herbal wines with selected medicinal plants, said to have unique health effects, and barrel-aged spiced vinegars from their Syrah reds.
For a full historic experience, the 200-year-old Festetics wine cellar (Festetics pincészet) exudes old-world charm, enhanced by Bacchus-themed art and wood sculptures. The adjoining Bacchus restaurant (Bacchus étterem) serves a menu worthy of its surroundings—always in harmony with great wine and culinary artistry. Accommodation with breakfast is available if you want to linger a little longer over a glass.
Plan with Flexibility
Organizers still reserve the right to change dates or programs. For the latest updates or to arrange your stay, sending them an email is your best bet. However you schedule it, the Somogyi VW Summer (Somogyi VW Nyár) is ready to leave you with more than just automotive memories.
