Vonyarcvashegy on the north shore of Lake Balaton packs the calendar with culture, food, wine, concerts, theater, and easygoing beach time, plus both guided and DIY outdoor adventures. The resort town and its surroundings are worth exploring on foot: trails run from the lakefront right up into the Keszthely Hills, where wide panoramas open over the water and forests. With around 2,400 residents and streets climbing from the shore to the ridge, the vibe is summed up by the local motto: “Forest behind us, water in front of us.”
December highlights
Circle mid-December for a trio of seasonal anchors. On December 13, the historic 200-year-old Festetics Helikon Taverna Cellar opens its doors for Open Cellar Days in Vonyarcvashegy, while Winter Hikes in the Keszthely Hills kicks off the same day with an Advent-themed trek. December 14 brings the 3rd Advent Candle Lighting to town, a community moment wrapped in lights and calm. On December 20, the Helikon Taverna Cellar welcomes visitors again with more pours and stories, and on December 21 jazz vocal duo Klára Hajdu & Milán Szakonyi perform an Advent concert in Vonyarcvashegy.
After Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, return on December 27 for a double: Open Cellar Days at the Festetics Helikon Taverna and a Bejgli Hike in the Keszthely Hills that toasts the season’s favorite pastry with fresh winter air. The program rolls into the new year on January 1, 2026, with a New Year’s Clinking Hike, a brisk step into January with celebratory sips along the trail.
Stay by the shore, steps from the train
Fészek Vendéglő és Apartmanház sits 980 feet from Vonyarcvashegy railway station and 1,310 feet from the Lake Balaton shore, offering a covered outdoor pool and free parking. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with shower, TV, and a terrace facing the garden and pool. Anglers will find fishing within 1,640 feet, while water sports including windsurfing and kayaking/canoeing are about 1,970 feet away.
Guesthouses with a view
Balaton, guesthouse, lodging—book into the Jáger Guesthouse (Jáger vendégház) for a lakeside break. Set in one of the most beautiful spots in town, 3.1 miles from Keszthely, it mixes modern comfort with the personal feel only a private house can offer.
An additional holiday house just 490 feet from the shore features 39 rooms with bathrooms, toilets, and balconies that open to sweeping views over Central Europe’s largest lake. Rooms sleep two, three, or four and come with satellite TV, telephone, and fridge. Room rates include a lavish buffet breakfast.
Zenit Hotel Balaton and Helikon Taverna
Zenit Hotel Balaton**** is the wellness choice with a lake-view terrace, standout dining at Bock Bistro (Bock Bisztró), and an interactive wine exhibition space. Rooms are elegant and modern with Balaton panoramas; connecting family rooms with direct garden access, suites, and premium suites make relaxation easy. The setting—on the edge of Balaton Uplands National Park in a quiet, forested area near the water—is ideal for families. Little guests get a playground, outdoor games, a pool area with kids’ pool and slide, plus an indoor playroom.
The more than 200-year-old Festetics Cellar and the Bacchus Restaurant pair centuries-old atmosphere with a culinary lineup meant to satisfy serious palates. A four-branched wooden sculpture at the entrance and a Bacchus mural inside set the tone: wine, gastronomy, and art in harmony. The Bock Bistro Balaton restaurant, part of the internationally known Bock Bistro family since February 2014, lives by a simple rule: dishes should reach the table in the best form for eyes and palate, paired with top-quality wines—elegantly, without fuss. The flavors are consistent, and gluten- and lactose-sensitive guests are covered.
Cellars, wines, and tastings
Papp and Sons Wine Cellar (Papp és Fiai Borpince) and the Csereze Wine Bar pour the grapes typical of the Balaton Uplands, blending traditional and modern winemaking to craft barrel-aged quality wines. The 200-year-old, nationally protected Helikon Taverna Museum and Cellar—part of the Zenit Hotel Balaton complex—preserves centuries of lakeside architecture under vaulted ceilings, where the best of the Balaton wine regions are lined up for tasting.
Local winemakers aim for high-value barrel and bottled wines, merging heritage and contemporary techniques, with bottles available both retail and wholesale. They show up at local and national events, too, so expect to find them at major tastings and fairs.
Eat, sip, celebrate
Menus in town range from Neapolitan-style pizza and tapas boards to soft drinks, Balaton wines, and specialty cocktails. Planning a wedding that people will never forget? An anniversary surprise, a birthday blowout with your best friends, or a conference? You’ll find the space—and some apartments with knockout lake views.
Terasz Restaurant & Pizzeria (Terasz Étterem & Pizzeria) in Vonyarcvashegy hosts guests big, small, bigger, and four-legged, with a wide food and drink selection and a playground. The star: crisp pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven set right in the dining room. Under the timber roof, fans keep the air moving so even hot days feel easy. From spring to autumn, it’s a go-to for Balaton summer lovers.
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
