The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Hungary:
Lake Balaton
Balaton is Central Europe's largest lake, and its shore towns keep vacationers coming back. Quite frankly, the lake is not all it's cracked up to be: It's crowded, overdeveloped, and expensive. In July and August, lodging prices skyrocket around Lake Balaton; in winter, everything seems to shut down completely. The resorts on the southern shore, especially Siófok, lure the largest crowds with their warm, shallow waters and glitzy nightlife, but they're really the least attractive part of the lake. The more subdued northern shore is rich in volcanic soil (which makes good wine) and history (which makes good sightseeing), and northern towns such as Balatonfüred have class. Between the lake and Budapest, Székesfehérvár is a handy, historic hub. An efficient system of trains and buses moves tourists around the lake. The most scenic (if slowest) way to travel, though, is on MAHART ferries (tel. 01/118-1743), which serve 22 towns around the lake from mid-June to mid-October.
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