2025.12.25. Thursday — Multiple venues, 8957 Csömödér. One standout event: the Christmas Holy Mass in Csömödér. But the season also opens the door to a string of escapes, bites, sips, and stays across Zala County, two hours from Budapest, where three borders brush shoulders and the forests feel endless.
Christmas in Csömödér
A festive Christmas Mass brings locals and visitors together in Csömödér on December 25. With the village wrapped in winter quiet and the forest railway nearby, it’s a simple, heartfelt anchor for a holiday that’s all about presence over presents.
Group Stays by the Forest Railway
Just 6.2 miles from Lenti, right by the Csömödér Forest Railway stop, a no-fuss lodge welcomes groups of up to 46. Rooms come in 4-, 6-, and 18-bed setups with bunk beds, each with its own bathroom with shower and toilet; larger rooms double up on bathrooms. It’s ideal for self-catering: the kitchen is fully equipped with cooktops, a dishwasher, microwave, and fridges, and you can order up to three meals a day if you’d rather skip cooking. Accessibility matters here too: there’s a dedicated accessible bathroom and toilet for guests with limited mobility.
A Different World in Zala County
Head deeper into Zala and you’ll find a retreat bordered by hundreds of hectares of untouched forest, where silence and birdsong do the heavy lifting. The kitchen has medals to prove itself, the bread is baked fresh in-house, the menu is always changing, and wines from around Zala keep the glasses honest. It’s the sort of place that convinces you to stay for one more course, then one more night.
Panoramic Wine Tasting Above Three Borders
Book ahead and there’s wine tasting with a view, outdoors or under cover, at a family-run winery working 6 hectares for 19 years. Perched at 984 feet on a single, parabola-shaped slope facing south–southwest above the Croatia–Slovenia–Hungary tri-border near Csörnyeföld, the estate grows Welschriesling (Olaszrizling), Riesling, Pinot Gris, Traminer (Tramini), Yellow Muscat, and Pinot Noir, plus the heritage Csóka grape. The curve of the hill collects the sun, the breeze keeps the grapes honest, and the panorama does the rest.
Lenti: Thermal Waters, Hotel Comfort
In Lenti, the Denis Hotel and Restaurant sits just 492 feet from the year-round thermal bath, next to the campsite. It pairs straightforward, comfortable rooms with a kitchen that doesn’t cut corners, and a dedicated event hall for gatherings any time of year. It’s the easy answer for wellness weekends and spa-warm evenings.
Time Travel in the Kerka Valley
Also in Lenti’s Kerka Valley, a guesthouse (panzió) promises a dash of medieval flair with modern comfort. Expect plush rooms, a kitchen heavy on roast aromas and local flair, and a wine list that leans into regional character. If your heart has a soft spot for the Middle Ages, this is the experience to chase—playful, indulgent, and just detached enough from everyday life.
Rooms, Restaurant, and Accessibility
For guests after variety, another Lenti spot combines lodging and a restaurant that swings from Zala classics to international plates and modern dining. There’s an accessible room for guests with limited mobility. Rooms come in two price bands: Building A, the original guesthouse (panzió) above the restaurant, offers air-conditioned rooms, each with its own bathroom outfitted with a shower cabin and hair dryer. Straightforward, practical, and made to keep you out exploring most of the day.
Sweet Breaks in Letenye
In the heart of Letenye, a cozy confectionery café offers a soft landing for morning espresso, midday cake, or an after-work scoop of gelato. It’s easy to reach by car or public transport, with an interior that feels warm and intimate against an outdoor terrace shaded and lined with oleanders. Expect classic pastries, specialty coffees, loose-leaf teas, and freshly blended fruit smoothies. It’s the kind of place where time slows and conversations unspool.
On the Lenti Wine Hill
High on Lenti’s postcard-perfect wine hill, with sweeping views over the spa town, a family-run guesthouse makes a deliberate business out of making people happy. The team’s mission is simple: keep guests so comfortable they come back. That means attentive service, easygoing charm, and the sort of panorama you’ll want to toast at golden hour.
Csárda Comfort Near Zalaegerszeg
Closer to Zalaegerszeg, in Bocfölde just 1.9 miles from the city and nestled in the Zalai hills, a family-run csárda and guesthouse (panzió) operates year-round with only eight rooms. Think intimate rather than bustling—perfect for people who love their rural escapes quiet, their portions generous, and their hosts close at hand.
Why Csömödér and Around Work in Winter
Between a Christmas Mass that feels rooted and real, a lodge ready for big family groups, wineries that pour the region into your glass, and thermal baths that melt the chill out of December, Csömödér and Zala County stack the deck. Add cafés for sweet breaks, inns with hearty kitchens, and hills that pull your gaze to the horizon, and the holiday practically plans itself.
