Hegymagas is small, volcanic, and buzzing. All year, the village leans into the moody magic of Saint George’s Hill (Szent György-hegy), the basalt-capped hill that shapes its wines, its views, and its calendar. Spring and summer bring wine terraces, food pop-ups, and hikes along vine-striped slopes. Autumn swings into harvest parties and panoramic tastings. In between, intimate community events keep it all personal, walkable, and charming. The 2026 season is already spilling over with markets, terrace openings, winery visits, and a cult-favorite weekend that runs, literally, until dawn.
When and where
Dates run from Friday, April 3, 2026, to Sunday, April 26, 2026, across multiple venues in and around Hegymagas (postal code 8265). The vibe doesn’t stop there: the local calendar pushes into May and June with weekly markets and the iconic “Saint George’s Hill Until Dawn” (Szent György-hegy hajnalig) weekend. Organizers reserve the right to tweak dates and programs, so keep an eye out for updates. Accommodation, food, and drink options are available locally, and many venues take bookings in advance.
Hello, terrace season
Szevasz terasz! – Várnak a borteraszok Hegymagason runs April 3–26 and basically opens the gates to wine-terrace season. Think fresh releases, light bites, long views over Lake Balaton, and that spring feeling you only get on a hillside of sun-warmed stone. It’s the perfect time to catch the region before summer crowds arrive, with wineries pouring by the glass and offering tasting flights that showcase the hill’s volcanic edge.
The Hegymagas Market
The Hegymagas Market (Hegymagasi Piac) is where the Badacsony region’s flavors meet basket-ready shopping. Buy direct from local producers, taste your way through cheese, cured meats, honey, seasonal veg, and baked goods, and stash small-batch pantry treasures. Market dates stack up across spring:
– April 25, 2026
– May 2, 2026
– May 9, 2026
– May 16, 2026
More dates follow as the season unfolds. It’s a locals-meet-visitors scene with easygoing energy and very snackable browsing.
Save these dates
– May 23, 2026: More events rolling out in May — expect terraces, tastings, and vineyard strolls.
– June 6–7, 2026: Szent György-hegy hajnalig. The hill’s signature all-nighter returns. Wineries throw open their cellars, food trucks and kitchens keep pace, and tastings stretch under starry skies. You walk from cellar to cellar, glass in hand, with music and chatter weaving through the vines. It’s as Balaton as it gets.
Stay awhile
Kovács Guesthouse is open all year in Hegymagas, offering an easy base for market mornings and terrace sunsets. Families and small groups can also find rooms in winery guesthouses on the hill’s southern slopes, where vineyard views start right outside your window.
Meet the makers
– A boutique, red-focused winery farms 2×2 hectares (about 9.88 acres) on Saint George’s Hill (Szent György-hegy) — tiny on purpose. The name nods to the scale, and the philosophy is laser attention from vine to bottle. Unusual for the region, the spotlight is on reds. Cellar tours run by appointment; a six-wine flight covers the estate’s top bottles in a two-hour tasting.
– A family winery and agritourism project cultivates 20 hectares (about 49.42 acres) on the hill’s southern side. Stay in on-site guesthouses and drink right where the grapes grow — a farm-to-glass immersion in volcanic terroir.
– One of the hill’s smallest cellars goes full artisan, crafting delicate, handmade wines from distinctive local varieties. Tastings promise the kind of atmosphere that lingers long after the last sip.
– Gilvesy’s volcanic wines fly the flag for Saint George’s Hill (Szent György-hegy)’s basalt backbone. Founded by Róbert Gilvesy in 2012, the Vinotheque sells during opening hours and by appointment, with delivery options available. Tastings are arranged on request.
– Horváth Cellar (Horváth Pince) has welcomed wine lovers since 1996 on the hill’s southern side, now tending 18 hectares (about 44.48 acres). Modern winemaking meets tradition, with select wines aged longer in oak for added depth.
– Nyári Cellar (Nyári Pince) sits 200 meters from Tarányi Cellar (Tarányi Pince) and Lengyel Chapel (Lengyel-kápolna). It’s all about the view, plus both draft and bottled wines. Tastings available with booking.
– The Saint George’s Hill (Szent György-hegy) estate’s Vinotheque opens daily, all year. From spring to autumn, the on-site Viridárium kitchen powers up, feeding the gastro and wine crowd in a renewed estate center that hums from lunch to late afternoon.
How to do it right
– Book tastings and cellar tours ahead, especially on weekends and festival dates.
– Plan a terrace crawl during Szevasz terasz! and set aside time for a market morning — producers love to chat, and samples often lead to memorable bottles.
– For Szent György-hegy hajnalig, wear comfy shoes and carry a light jacket. Nights on a hill can turn cool even in June.
The fine print
Events may change. Organizers reserve the right to adjust dates and programs. But the essentials hold: Hegymagas brings the good life to a volcanic hill — glass by glass, view by view, season after season.
