Tihany rolls into 2026 with a packed calendar of culture, sport, and lakefront adventures on Lake Balaton. From winter trail races and sweet-tooth weekends to ferry rides through glowing nights and classic Benedictine (bencés) elegance, the peninsula mixes nature with tradition and a serious love of food and wine. The whole area hums year-round with exhibitions, concerts, theater, the famous Lavender Festival, and a slew of guaranteed and optional leisure programs. Hikers, culture-seekers, families, and weekenders—this is your cue to explore both the village and the trails beyond its borders and get to know the Tihany Peninsula through its events, flavors, and landscapes.
January Highlights
Circle January 17. That’s when the Tihany TRAIL tears across the peninsula in a winter showdown for trail runners and Nordic walkers. Expect frosty paths, coastal vistas, and a community vibe that makes the cold worth it. Also on January 17, Aranygaluska Weekend sweetens the Rege Confectionery (Rege Cukrászda) at the Abbey with the classic Hungarian pull-apart dessert—golden, nutty, and warm enough to melt the chill.
All month long, from January 5 to January 31, catch the Light Ferry between Tihany and Szántód. It’s a simple ride turned seasonal spectacle—gliding across the lake after sunset with the shoreline lit up like a postcard. If you’re building a bigger winter plan, keep an eye on January 24 for more local happenings, including the 7th Tihany Benedictine Ball (VII. Tihanyi Bencés Bál), where tradition meets a night of music and elegance.
Plan Beyond January
The region doesn’t stop when the frost does. From January 1 through December 31, the “Balaton Programs 2026” (Balatoni programok 2026) banner ties together festivals, nature walks, tastings, and cultural stops around the lake. Late 2025 shades into early 2026 as well, with December dates stretching to January 18—ideal if you’re rolling your holiday break into the new year.
Stay Your Way
Tihany’s lodging comes with views, character, and a variety of price points. One guesthouse welcomes visitors in a two-room attic apartment plus a separate room; the property can host larger groups and accepts all three SZÉP cards. Another family home set close to nature offers year-round comfort: en-suite rooms or apartments, a living room with satellite TV, and a well-equipped kitchen. Balconies open over the Inner Lake, Lake Balaton, and the Abbey church, with space for up to 10 guests.
Prefer an intimate vibe? Several charming guesthouses in the historic old village bring rustic, reed-roofed architecture and warm hospitality. Expect enclosed parking, comfy outdoor seating, and even on-site bike rentals to spin off on family rides. For independence, six separate, fully self-contained apartments—each with its own entrance, central gas heating, cable TV, and full comforts—make winter or summer stays easy.
If a hotel is more your speed, there’s a standout on the north shore named for Aquilo, the Roman god of the north wind. It’s the only hotel on this stretch that gazes across to Balatonfüred and its rolling hills—a view worth waking up to. The on-site active tourism center lines up sailing and small-boat rentals to help you explore beyond the beach. Meanwhile, a quiet pension in Tihany’s newer neighborhood sits 300 meters from the Inner Lake—paradise for anglers. Families gravitate to the nearby Family Leisure Park with outdoor wooden games, mini-golf, and bowling. Drop into the Lavender House Visitor Center (Levendula Ház) on the lake’s edge for a deep dive into the national park, open year-round.
Right on the water, the Balaton Limnological Institute (Balatoni Limnológiai Intézet) guesthouse offers 17 air-conditioned rooms—two suites, eight doubles, and seven triples—sleeping up to 42. Suites come with bathtubs; other rooms have showers. You’ll find refrigerators, TVs, and landlines in rooms and Wi‑Fi throughout.
Nature and Heritage
The Balaton Uplands National Park (Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park) Directorate runs a “forest school” (erdei iskola) introducing the Tihany Peninsula’s nature and cultural history. The peninsula earned a European Diploma in 2003, and this is the place to understand why—from volcanic cones and echoing hillsides to abbey bells and lavender fields.
Eat, Sip, Repeat
Start at the renewed selection from the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany (Tihanyi Bencés Apátság): monastic products, signature local sweets, Gellért’s herbal teas, King Andrew’s (András király) and Queen Anastasia’s (Anasztázia királyné) herb-lavender liqueurs, and TICHON abbey beers. When hunger hits, one legendary spot pairs classic Hungarian cooking with a 240-degree panorama from Echo Hill (visszhang domb)—Lake Balaton’s eastern basin and the Abbey in one sweep. Named “Viewpoint of the Year” in 2013, its 100-seat terrace is a favorite for family lunches, sunset dates, and even proposals and weddings, with flexible setups and tailored menus.
Fogas Csárda, on the village’s north side about 300 meters from the Abbey, keeps its doors open all year with hearty plates, Balaton wines, and a terrace over the Inner Lake. Craving rustic comfort? Another tavern leans into home-style flavors and a showpiece wood-fired oven where many dishes finish right before your eyes. Across town, Echo Residence’s terrace brings a Mediterranean vibe to an exclusive 50-seat restaurant with a matching 50-seat à la carte terrace and a menu that shifts with the seasons—from traditional comforts to inventive new tastes.
Cafés do their part with breakfasts, coffees, cakes, sandwiches, and soft or spirited drinks in a family- and dog-friendly setting. For a pilgrimage of another kind, the local gelato spot serves 24 flavors of additive-free, handcrafted ice cream made only with natural, premium ingredients, including gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and vegan options.
And then there’s the Wine Order of Knights (Borlovagrend), the local wine brotherhood. Their mission: preserve and pass on the Tihany Peninsula’s viticulture and winemaking traditions, promote cultured wine enjoyment, and turn food and wine into a draw that lifts Tihany’s reputation. Their flagship? Tihany Cabernet—rich, elegant, irresistibly aromatic, a jewel-toned echo of the peninsula’s hills.
One Last Note
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs—so check details before you go, then dive in.
