Zalakaros turns into a winter playground as Karos Korzó rolls out a string of festive programs spanning Advent, New Year’s Eve, and the first chills of January. Families and friends can dive into weekend magic with fairy-tale performances, joyful Christmas shows, and an ice rink that keeps the holiday spirit in motion. Each weekend promises fresh surprises, shared moments, and that warm, twinkly atmosphere everyone craves during the long evenings of winter. The hub: 8749 Zalakaros, Szőlő Street (Szőlő utca) 16, with the highlight date set for Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Key Dates and What’s On
– January 26–31, 2026: Jégre mindenki! Skating for all at the Karos Korzó ice rink. Whether you’re lacing up for the first time or carving figure eights, the rink is the heartbeat of the week.
– January 31, 2026: Férfinapi jótékonysági bál – a Men’s Day Charity Ball to close out January with music, dancing, and a good cause.
– February 7, 2026: Retro Carnival Party – bold colors, throwback beats, and carnival vibes to punch through winter’s gray.
Sleep Steps from the Steam
Hotels cluster above and around the famed Zalakaros thermal complex, with terraces peeking out toward the spa just 318 feet away. Expect four pools across the properties: three indoor and one outdoor, plus a covered wellness zone featuring a 12-person infinity-edge jacuzzi; a jet pool filled with purchased thermal water from the city spa; a fun pool with water features; and a bracing ice plunge for the brave.
AquaTherm Hotel sits near the Medical, Thermal and Adventure Spa (Gyógy-, Termál- és Élményfürdő), with a wellness oasis that includes a whirlpool and sauna, and 22 rooms plus apartments. Another standout sits in one of Zalakaros’s quietest corners, just a 3-minute walk from the Adventure and Medical Spa, offering a year-round outdoor thermal pool heated even in winter alongside its indoor spa and wellness wing.
Families gravitate to Boni Family Wellness Hotel (Boni Családi Wellness Hotel) in the town center, close to restaurants, events, and sights yet set in a relaxing green zone. Only about 492 feet from the wildly popular Granite Medical, Adventure and Beach Spa (Gránit Gyógy-, Élmény- és Strandfürdő) and its 22 pools, the hotel doubles down on water fun with its own tiled experience pool, Finnish and infrared saunas, and a salt room.
Prefer independence? A fully equipped downtown apartment house offers four separate 538‑square‑foot units with a closed parking lot and a private garden for grilling. Each apartment sleeps up to five (the fifth is a child on an extra bed). Another green, quiet option offers separate entrances for 4‑person units, kitchenettes with a fridge and microwave, and a private bath and WC; two apartments can be connected on request, with extra beds available. Forrás Hotel (Hotel Forrás), right by the Zalakaros Spa and a short stroll to the center, features 37 double rooms and 10 family apartments, many air‑conditioned, with balconies, Wi‑Fi, TV, phone, and an elevator across its three floors. Friskó Guesthouse and Restaurant (Friskó Panzió és Étterem), expanded in 2016, sits near the spa for an easy, restful stay, while Fürdő Hotel places guests just steps from the famed complex with family suites and straightforward, quality services. For woodland calm, Chestnut Guesthouse and Restaurant (Gesztenyés Panzió és Étterem) brings forest‑edge serenity, a large terrace with a pool, and attentive service.
Eat, Sip, Stay Late
My Grandfather’s Wine Bar (Nagyapám Borozója) channels old‑world charm with a cozy interior, garden seating, Hungarian wines and pálinka, homemade goat cheese, country ham, charcoal‑grilled dishes, oven‑baked specialties, and live Gypsy music. Open daily May through October, 17:00–22:00. Saint Urban Wine Bar and Guesthouse (Szent Orbán Borozó és Panzió) also welcomes guests in Zalakaros with local flavors and warm hospitality.
Organizers reserve the right to change dates and programs.
