December Sundays on Lake Balaton now come with a built-in adventure: a fast boat or leisure cruise to Badacsony, a minibus hop to the beloved Káptalantóti Artisan Market, and an afternoon of vineyard or arboretum wandering with tastings. It’s all bundled, timed, and bookable in advance—just bring curiosity and a warm jacket.
How the day unfolds
Pick your launch point. From Fonyód, the day starts on a fast boat skimming to Badacsony. From Balatonfenyves, climb aboard the Szent Benedek leisure boat for a gentler ride across the lake. Both routes land in Badacsony, where a minibus whisks you to the Káptalantóti Market (Liliomkert Piac) for 1.5 hours of shopping and free time. Think produce, artisan cheeses, breads, oils, honey, ceramics, textiles, vintage finds, and steaming market food—this is the Balaton region’s Sunday social scene.
After the market, choose your afternoon. Option one: the Folly Arboretum and Winery, a hillside botanical wonder with cypresses and lake views on clear days, plus a 90-minute window to wander and taste—three beverages included, either syrups or wines. Option two: back to Badacsony for a two-stop wine immersion with Istvándy and Laposa—both offer three-wine tastings per winery, strolling between volcanic slopes, terraced vines, and modern tasting rooms that made Badacsony’s name.
Timing, prices, and what’s included
From Fonyód with the fast boat:
– Base program (boat to Badacsony + minibus to market + 1.5 hours’ market time + return logistics): 9,000 HUF per person, about 24.8 USD.
– Add the afternoon (either Folly Arboretum with tasting or the Istvándy + Laposa double tasting): 16,000 HUF per person, about 44.1 USD.
From Balatonfenyves with the Szent Benedek leisure boat:
– Base program: 12,000 HUF per person, about 33.1 USD.
– With afternoon add-on (choose one of the two): 21,000 HUF per person, about 58.0 USD.
All programs run Sundays with departures at 10:00 and returns by 15:00. The afternoon tastings happen within that window, so there’s no rush-hour scramble back across the lake. The program runs only on pre-arranged, pre-booked dates and needs a minimum number of participants to go ahead: at least 10 sign-ups for the Fonyód fast-boat plan and at least 15 for the Balatonfenyves leisure-boat plan. Individual bookings are pooled to hit the minimum. Scheduled public services are not subject to the headcount rule.
Upcoming dates
Mark your calendar for winter market magic on:
– 2025.12.07. – Fonyód
– 2025.12.14. – Fonyód
– 2025.12.21. – Fonyód
– 2025.12.28. – Fonyód
More dates will be added as the season fills. The contact person is József Tóth, available by phone for bookings and details.
Why Káptalantóti Market (Káptalantóti Piac) in winter?
Because this market doesn’t hibernate. It shifts into a cozy mode: warm mulled drinks, jars and loaves to carry into the holidays, knitwear and gifts, and locals catching up over hot plates. The minibus drops you right into the lane of stalls, and 1.5 hours is enough to browse, nibble, chat, and buy—with time left to slip into a tasting and still make the boat back.
Two irresistible afternoon paths
Folly Arboretum and Winery is the serene choice. You get 90 minutes among world-traveled conifers and Mediterranean-feel plantings, viewpoints across Balaton, and a tasting flight of three—go soft with syrups or lean into three wines. It’s family-run history wrapped in botanical calm.
The Badacsony wine duo is the bold option. Istvándy is known for tradition with a modern pulse—think structured whites and region-first narratives—while Laposa brings sleek architecture, high-terraced panoramas, and crisp volcanic minerality. Each pours three wines, and together they map the basalt backbone that defines Badacsony’s style.
Where to stay, eat, and linger
Make a weekend of it in Fonyód. Accommodation ranges from a historic-feel manor to modern apartments with lake views:
– Boros Kastély Vendégház: a peninsula-like outpost within the Nagyberek protected area. Sleeps 26 in 10 freshly renovated en-suite rooms, including 2-person and two-room 4-person terrace suites. Views sweep over the Fonyód hills and nature reserve. Organizes sailing, boating, and wine programs—great for groups, trainings, and company events.
– Funoldi Vendégház: a calm spot in one of Fonyód’s prettiest quarters, also suitable as a conference center.
– Family apartments: top-floor, separate-entry flats with kitchens, dining rooms, bathtubs, two WCs, and big enclosed yards with grills, swing seats, cauldron setups, sandbox, pool, and parking.
– Air-conditioned Fonyódliget apartment near the free beach: 40-square-meter, two-bedroom space on a fenced, landscaped plot. Accepts SZÉP Card.
– Year-round separate-entry apartments on the south shore: panoramic views across to the north shore, American-style kitchen comfort, one minute from the lake.
– Zöldkert Vendéglő in the Fonyód-liget Holiday Park: leafy, quiet setting with pension-style apartments for solid on-site stays.
– Hotel Balaton in the town center: 100 meters to the lake and marina, 250 meters to the beach, capacity for 50 guests. Rooms include showers, minibars, cable TV, and fire safety systems; apartments add mini-kitchens.
Hungry? Konyhám Stúdió 365 sits on Fonyód’s main square with a knockout Balaton view, promising an experience where mood and flavor meet. For a quick bite or a warm-up, Barbakán serves grilled sandwiches, pastries, homemade lemonades, coffee specials, and draft beer—soft-serve and slushies in summer, cozy interiors in winter, plus free Wi-Fi.
Booking basics
Reserve in advance, pick your boat route, choose your afternoon add-on, and keep an eye on those Sunday times. The lake does the heavy lifting; you just float across, shop, sip, and glide back with a bag of market finds and a new favorite Badacsony wine.
