High season kicks off at Lake Balaton: here’s what to expect

The extended school year has delayed the start of the high season by a week. However, the warming weather and record-breaking heat suggest that it will last longer this year, with busy weekends potentially extending into September at Lake Balaton.

The average price of admission tickets to bathing facilities in Hungary has increased by 15 percent. The timing of these price hikes varies, with some facilities implementing them at the start of the peak season, while others have not yet done so, reports Világgazdaság.

Hungary boasts over 400 aquatic facilities, including swimming pools and temporary, locally managed beaches with just one or two pools. Of these, approximately 200-220 are considered tourist attractions and are open year-round, featuring both indoor and outdoor units.

No new bathing facilities have opened this year at Lake Balaton or countrywide. However, the renovated bath in Csorna, situated between Kapuvár and Győr, has been unveiled, and a significant reconstruction and extension have taken place in Makó, as reported by the general secretary of the bathing association.

Hotels with spa facilities, including several spa complexes, have also been inaugurated this year in various parts of the country. These hotel developments are typically located near attractions that significantly influence travel decisions and are close to bathing spots.

Price changes for beach tickets and restaurants during the high season

One positive aspect of this high season is the decrease in inflation, the stabilisation of energy prices and the absence of COVID-19 or other pandemics, making planning more predictable. “Ticket prices have increased differentially, by an average of 15 percent compared to last year, but not all at once. Some sooner, some later, but everyone has now started to raise prices,” said Zoltán Balogh, secretary general of the Hungarian Bathing Association.