Vonyarcvashegy on Lake Balaton’s north shore packs the calendar with culture, food, and lakeside fun in every season. Concerts, theater, festivals, the beach, and a long list of guided and optional leisure programs make this resort village more than a summer stop. With roughly 2,400 residents, streets climb from the Balaton shoreline up to the crest of the Keszthely Hills, where the panorama steals your breath and the town’s slogan lands perfectly: “Forest behind us, water in front of us.” Explore the village and beyond—there are hiking and excursion routes inside and outside the boundaries of this lakeside favorite.
December Highlights
December brings a blend of candlelit cellars and seasonal music. On December 20, the 200-year-old Festetics Helikon Taverna Cellar opens its doors for Open Cellar Days, an atmospheric deep dive into local winemaking heritage. The same day, a Christmas concert fills Vonyarcvashegy with festive sound. Return on December 21 for an intimate Advent performance by Klára Hajdu and Milán Szakonyi. On December 27, Open Cellar Days are back at the historic Helikon Taverna Cellar—if you missed the first round, this is your second chance.
Winter hikes also cut through the cool air: the Bejgli Hike on December 27 invites you to walk off the holiday cake across trails in the Keszthely Hills. Between December 20–21 and December 24–25, programming continues in a cozy, festive rhythm around town.
Kick Off 2026 on the Trails
Start the year with the New Year’s Toast Hike on January 1 in the Keszthely Hills. The winter series blends crisp air, forest silence, and celebratory sips—proof that Balaton’s north shore shines well beyond beach season. Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs, so keep plans flexible.
Stay Close to the Action
The Fészek Restaurant & Apartment House is 980 feet from Vonyarcvashegy Station and 1,310 feet from the lake. Expect a retractable outdoor pool and free parking. Each apartment features a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom with a shower, a TV, and a terrace facing the garden and pool. Anglers will find fishing within 1,640 feet, and water sports—surfing, kayaking, canoeing—about 1,970 feet away.
Looking for that classic pension vibe? The Jáger Pension sits in one of the village’s best locations, just 5 km from Keszthely, pairing modern comfort with the kind of personal atmosphere you only get in a private house.
Lakeside Rooms, Big Views
Only 490 feet from the shore, a 39-room holiday house offers en-suite bathrooms, balconies, and sweeping views of Central Europe’s largest lake. Rooms sleep 2, 3, or 4 and come with satellite TV, telephone, and fridge. A lavish buffet breakfast is included.
Zenit Hotel Balaton: Wellness with a View
Zenit Hotel Balaton**** sits near HĂ©vĂz, Keszthely, and the lakeshore, pairing a panoramic terrace with the Bock Bistro (Bock BisztrĂł) restaurant and an interactive wine exhibition. Expect elegant, modern rooms with lake views, connecting family options with direct garden access, suites, and premium suites. Families find an ideal setup: quiet, clean air, right beside Balaton Uplands National Park (Balaton-felvidĂ©ki Nemzeti Park), with playgrounds, outdoor games, a pool area with kids’ slides, and an indoor playroom.
Cellars, Bottles, and Balaton Heritage
At the more than 200-year-old Festetics cellar, the mood is as aged as the barrels, and the Bacchus Restaurant aims to match it with a thoughtful gastronomic lineup. The four-armed wood sculpture at the entrance and the Bacchus wall painting nod to the harmony of wine, food, and art. The nationally listed Helikon Taverna Museum and Cellar—part of Zenit Hotel Balaton****—preserves centuries of lakeside architecture beneath vaults that pour the best of the Balaton wine regions.
Papp and Sons Cellar (Papp és Fiai Borpince) and Csereze Wine Bar (Csereze Borozó) showcase Balaton Uplands (Balaton-felvidék) varietals, fusing tradition and modern techniques for quality barrel-aged wines. The winery produces both barrel and bottled selections for retail and wholesale and regularly pours at local and national events. Their ambition is simple: high consumer value, excellent quality.
Eat, Toast, Celebrate
Find Neapolitan-style pizza, tapas platters, soft drinks, refreshing mixers, Balaton wines, and playful cocktails—with apartments offering knockout views for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays with friends, or conferences. Terasz Restaurant & Pizzeria (Terasz Étterem & Pizzeria) in Vonyarcvashegy serves a wide food-and-drink selection, is kid- and dog-friendly, and fires crisp pies in a wood-burning oven right in the dining room. Under timber beams, fans keep the summer breeze going, while a playground in the front garden entertains the little ones. Open spring through fall for lovers of the Balaton summer.
Modern gastronomy meets local tradition on the hilltop—à la carte meals, family dinners, weddings, and special occasions where every moment feels like an experience.
