Tapolca’s renewed Market and Market Hall is rolling into 2026 with color, crowds, and easygoing community vibes. Market days fall every Tuesday and Friday from 6:00 to 12:00, while the hall’s shops keep longer hours Monday through Saturday. Expect a lively mix of local producers, artisanal goods, and a steady rhythm of returning regulars and curious newcomers.
Opening Hours
Shops and hall: Monday–Friday 6:00–17:00, Saturday 8:00–12:00. Market days: Tuesday and Friday 6:00–12:00. Local producers’ market: every Saturday 7:00–13:00. Dates on the calendar include January 6 and January 9 in Tapolca, both tied to ongoing market activity and open-hall offerings; weather and programming are subject to change.
Historic Estate, Hands-On Help
A restored 18th-century landmark manor—complete with granary, farm buildings, and a servants’ house—welcomes helpers to a sprawling garden with a small lake. Professionals and volunteers are working side by side; for non-specialist help, accommodation and meals are provided, balancing effort and time. Think Lake Balaton (Balaton), the Bakony, and wine. If you arrive without plans to pitch in, you can still get a bed, but you’ll need to contribute to meals. Tasks are announced as needed; the granary is already finished.
Stay by the Mill Pond
On the banks of Mill Pond (Malom-tó), a former watermill turned hotel accommodates 48 guests at once. The team also plans and runs family and corporate events, turning the mill-town charm into seamless gatherings with a waterside backdrop.
Pelion: Park, Passage, and Healing Cave
Hunguest Hotel Pelion sits in the city center inside a 4-hectare park, right above a therapeutic cave accessed directly via a covered corridor. The karst cave beneath the hotel features a special microclimate that has soothed respiratory illnesses, asthma, and allergies for decades. Quiet, dim light, and the unique cave air combine to calm and heal.
Apartments and Guesthouses
A tastefully furnished apartment house in the city’s western district at 15 Tavasz Street offers four apartments and five rooms. Mónika Guesthouse, near the city center in a tranquil spot, features a three-room suite with a large living room, kitchenette, and two bathrooms, plus two double rooms and a separate apartment—comfortable for 12+3 guests.
Sweets, Wine, and Farm Life
At Borostyán, childhood dreams meet reality: fluffy creams, birthday cakes, cooked ice cream, and homemade strudel under shady trees. On the Badacsony wine slope, a family organic estate has crafted natural, artisanal wines for over 20 years. The new wine terrace pairs tastings with a knockout panorama. They combine viticulture with animal husbandry—visitors can meet the livestock. Book ahead for an estate tour with tasting.
Eats Around Town
La Pergola Pizzeria fires up 60 kinds of wood-fired pizzas and serves Hungarian favorites, international dishes, and Italian pastas. They cater to groups in a garden and private rooms. Pelion’s Orchidea Restaurant—famed for its timber-dome ceiling and 300-seat space—rolls out weekly specials under an accomplished head chef. Next to the Cave Lake, an impressive, guest-friendly restaurant blends Hungarian cuisine with global flavors. Tópart Restaurant (Tópart Étterem) on the lakeside offers a cozy, family feel with reliably high-quality food and drink.
Local Beer Legacy
The Balaton Uplands’ first craft brewery, Stari, has been brewing premium small-batch beers for nearly 30 years. From classic pale, dark, and wheat to red ale and on-trend IPAs, there’s a style for every palate. Fruit fans get 30% real-fruit brews: tangy sour cherry, sweet strawberry, dusky plum, tart blackcurrant, and orange–grapefruit aged on a wheat base. For non-drinkers, Stari 0.0 has been pouring since 2021.
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
