The Benedictine Abbey of Tihany rolls into the new year with a full slate of cultural and spiritual programs that go beyond church walls. From rosary gatherings and holiday Masses to a beloved rooftop evening series and a sparkling winter lineup around the peninsula, the calendar caters to believers and culture lovers alike. The fan-favorite Attic Evenings keep drawing crowds year after year, and 2026 starts with a warm glow across Tihany.
January begins with prayer and music
On January 2 and 3, the Abbey welcomes visitors for the Rosary and Holy Mass. Each evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Rosary, followed by Mass at 6:00 p.m. in Tihany. It’s a calm, candlelit way to ease from the holiday rush into a more reflective pace.
Post-Christmas Sunday services
January 4 marks the Second Sunday after Christmas. Two Masses anchor the day: a 7:30 a.m. early service and a 10:00 a.m. late-morning Mass, both in Tihany. The Abbey’s hilltop silhouette, overlooking Lake Balaton, remains a soulful backdrop for wintertime worship.
Weekday worship and Epiphany
January 5 brings a weekday Mass in Tihany, leading straight into one of the season’s highlights on January 6: the Feast of the Epiphany. The day starts at 8:00 a.m. with a student Mass for the Tihany Benedictine School. In the evening, the faithful gather at 5:30 p.m. for the Rosary and at 6:00 p.m. for the solemn Epiphany Mass with the blessing of water, a tradition that adds a spiritual flourish to winter’s depths.
Winter lights and outdoor fun
Tihany’s winter scene is busy beyond the Abbey. The Tihany Light Magic runs December 20 to January 4, bathing the peninsula in festive light. For families and explorers, an outdoor playful tour called In Search of Tihany’s Hidden Treasures runs December 29 to January 4, turning the village into a riddle-filled trail.
Ferry by light across the water
The seasonal show continues on the water. From January 1 to 4, and again January 5 to 31, take the light ferry between Tihany and Szántód, a luminous commute that turns the short hop over Lake Balaton into a storybook glide.
Save the date: The 7th Tihany Benedictine Ball
Circle January 24 for the 7th Tihany Benedictine Ball, a winter social tradition that brings locals and visitors together. The date appears across the calendar with a flourish, a nod to an elegant evening that keeps the Abbey’s community spirit alive in midwinter.
Stay with a view—and a warm welcome
Lodgings in and around Tihany run the gamut, often with those coveted views of the Inner Lake, Lake Balaton, and the Abbey’s towers. One guesthouse hosts travelers in a two-room attic apartment plus a separate room, and can even accommodate larger groups; SZÉP cards are accepted. A modern family house near nature offers rooms with baths and apartments, a living room with satellite TV, a well-equipped kitchen, and balconies that open to unforgettable panoramas. Capacity: 10 guests. Other guesthouses promise year-round comfort in the peninsula’s historic old village, some with secure parking, rustic thatched charm, and bike rentals for scenic family rides. Several apartments in romantic peasant houses feature separate entrances, central gas heating, cable TV, and all-season comfort.
Learn the land
The Balaton Uplands National Park Directorate runs a forest school tasked with showcasing the Tihany Peninsula’s natural and cultural treasures. The area earned a prestigious European Diploma in 2003, a testament to its unique geology and heritage. Right on the Balaton shore, the Balaton Limnology Institute guesthouse offers 17 air-conditioned rooms—two suites, eight doubles, seven triples—for up to 42 guests, with tubs in suites, showers in rooms, plus a fridge, TV, and landline. Wi-Fi is available.
Family-friendly and lakeside
In Tihany’s newer quarter, a family-run inn sits near the Inner Lake—300 meters away—beloved by anglers. The adjacent Family Leisure Park entertains all ages with outdoor wooden games, mini-golf, and skittles. The Lavender House, the National Park’s visitor center on the Inner Lake shore, welcomes guests year-round.
Tastes of Tihany
The Abbey’s own products take center stage in refreshed offerings: distinctive local sweets, Father Gellért’s herbal teas, King András and Queen Anastasia herbal-lavender liqueurs, and TICHON monastic beers. Around the village, kitchens champion old-school Hungarian flavors, from homestyle plates and wood-fired oven specialties to grilled favorites, hearty cold platters, and regional wines. The Fogas Csárda (Fogas Inn), 300 meters from the Abbey on the village’s north side, serves tasty dishes and Balaton wines year-round, with a terrace overlooking the Inner Lake.
Panoramas and fine sips
Above the lake, Echo Hill stuns with a 240-degree view across Balaton’s eastern basin and the Abbey—a must-stop since it was named Lookout Point of the Year in 2013. The 100-seat terrace hosts family lunches, sunset dates, even engagements and weddings, with flexible setups and tailored menus. The Echo Residence Luxury Hotel’s restaurant adds a Mediterranean vibe, seating 50 inside and 50 more on a panoramic terrace, blending traditional and inventive seasonal dishes.
Cafés, gelato, and a noble wine order
A cozy café serves breakfasts, coffee, cakes, sandwiches, and both soft and spirited drinks, welcoming kids and dogs all year. A local pilgrimage-style gelateria churns 24 specialty flavors—additive-free, artisan, and natural—including gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free, and vegan options. Meanwhile, Tihany’s wine order preserves the peninsula’s viticultural heritage and promotes cultured wine enjoyment as a draw for visitors. Its flagship is the Tihany Cabernet, a jewel-toned wine whose richness and elegance capture the character of the Tihany hills.
The organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
