A Sunday escape on Lake Balaton with boats, wine, and a beloved countryside market? That’s the plan. Every Sunday, boats leave the south shore for Badacsony, then a minibus whisks you to the Káptalantóti Craft Market for a leisurely shopping spree. After that, you choose your own adventure: an arboretum visit with tastings or a Badacsony wine tour featuring two standout cellars. Dates run from February into March, and the whole day runs roughly 10:00 to 15:00 with add-ons in the afternoon.
Two Ways to Sail: Speedboat or Pleasure Boat
Option one: Depart from Fonyód by speedboat. Land in Badacsony, continue by minibus to the Káptalantóti Market, and enjoy 1.5 hours of browsing and free time. Price: about 25 USD per person (9,000 HUF). Runs every Sunday, departure at 10:00, back by 15:00.
Option two: Depart from Balatonfenyves aboard the Szent Benedek pleasure boat. Same flow: arrival in Badacsony, minibus transfer to the market, 1.5 hours to shop and wander. Price: about 33 USD per person (12,000 HUF). Also Sundays, 10:00 to 15:00. Both versions operate only with advance arrangement and confirmed booking.
Afternoon Add-Ons: Trees or Terroir
After the market, pick one of two afternoon extensions.
– Folly Arboretum and Winery: 1.5 hours of free time in the gardens, with a tasting of three syrups or wines along the way.
– Badacsony wine duo: visits to Istvándy and Laposa wineries, with three wines poured at each cellar.
From Fonyód, the day with an add-on costs about 44 USD per person (16,000 HUF). From Balatonfenyves, the package with the add-on is about 58 USD per person (21,000 HUF).
Minimum Headcounts and How It Works
The Fonyód speedboat program runs with at least 10 participants; the Balatonfenyves pleasure boat needs at least 15. These thresholds can be reached by combining several individual bookings. The headcount rule does not apply to scheduled public services on the lake, but this curated program only launches on pre-agreed, pre-ordered dates and times. Questions and bookings go through the organizer’s contact person, József Tóth, by phone.
Upcoming Sundays
Mark your calendar for Sunday runs starting 2026.02.08 in Fonyód, and continuing 2026.02.15, 2026.02.22, and 2026.03.01. Additional dates are expected to be added to the schedule as the season unfolds.
Stay the Night: South Shore Picks
If you’re turning the day trip into a weekend, Fonyód and its surroundings offer a cluster of stays, many repeated across listings but worth flagging:
– Boros Kastély Guesthouse (Boros Kastély Vendégház): Sitting like a peninsula in the heart of the Nagyberek nature reserve behind Fonyód Hill, this elegant guesthouse hosts up to 26 people and doubles as a training or corporate venue. Ten freshly renovated ensuite rooms include two-person units and two-room terraces for four, with views over the Fonyód hills and the protected wetlands. Sailing, boating, and wine-tasting programs can be arranged for groups, families, and friends.
– Funoldi Guesthouse (Funoldi Vendégház): An easygoing guesthouse in one of Fonyód’s prettiest areas, ideal both for relaxation and as a conference center.
– Quiet attic apartment: Separate entrance, three rooms (two doubles and one triple), kitchen, dining room, bathroom with tub, two toilets, staircase. Large fenced yard with grill, swing bed, cauldron setup, sandbox, pool, and parking. That peaceful panorama doesn’t hurt either.
– Air-conditioned apartment near Fonyódliget free beach: A 40-square-meter, two-bedroom apartment in a gated, landscaped plot on a calm cul-de-sac, about five minutes from the lakeshore. Accepts SZÉP Card.
– Separate-entrance apartments with panoramic views: Open year-round on the south shore in Fonyód, facing the north shore hills.
– American-style kitchen apartment with north-shore panorama: One minute from the lake, welcoming guests who want that Balaton view baked into their mornings.
– Zöldkert Restaurant (Zöldkert Vendéglő) and pension apartments: Inside the Fonyódliget Resort Park, the restaurant sits in a green, quiet setting, with pension-style apartments providing comfortable stays on site.
– Hotel Balaton: Right in Fonyód’s center, just 328 feet from the lake and marina, and 820 feet from the beach. Capacity for 50 guests, with rooms offering showers, minibars, cable TV, and fire detection systems; apartments add kitchenette convenience.
Where to Eat and Sip
– My Kitchen Studio 365 (Konyhám Stúdió 365): On Fonyód’s main square with knockout Balaton views. More than a restaurant, it aims for an experience—artful flavors, a lively atmosphere, and a culinary journey for those who love to chase new tastes and small joys.
– Barbican (Barbakán): In the town center, pouring draft beer and coffee specialties, serving grilled sandwiches, Fornetti pastries, and classic cakes. Summer brings soft-serve and slushies; winter means a cozy interior. Free Wi‑Fi completes the chill factor.
Good to Know
– Duration: 10:00 to 15:00 for the core program; afternoon add-ons extend the day.
– Pricing snapshots: Fonyód route about 25 USD basic / 44 USD with add-on. Balatonfenyves route about 33 USD basic / 58 USD with add-on.
– Transfers: Boat to Badacsony, minibus to Káptalantóti Market, then onward to tastings or the arboretum if chosen.
– Tastings: At Folly, choose three syrups or wines; at Istvándy and Laposa, expect three wines per cellar.
The Market Mood
Káptalantóti’s market is a weekend magnet on the north shore: seasonal produce, small-batch syrups, cheeses and salamis, ceramics, textiles, flowers, and that irresistible Balaton rhythm. With 1.5 hours to play, there’s enough time to fill a tote bag, sip something local, and still snag a snack before the next leg. Then it’s either the serenity of Folly’s treetops and terraces or Badacsony’s basalt-flanked cellars pouring the region’s bright whites. Either way, Sunday sorted.
