Activities & local attractions
We think the vineyard is a perfect place to kick back in the sun and relax, but the area offers a lot of various activities and sights. Here are some suggestions to get you started. Tapolca also has a tourist information office where you can find different pamphlets and tips.


The area in general
About Tapolca and the whole area in general:
www.tapolca.hu
www.1hungary.com/info/tapolca

Balaton Uplands National Park official website:
http://www.bfnpi.hu
and the Tapolca basin

About Badacsony, its beaches and basalt mountains:
http://www.badacsony.net


Hiking/walks
Csobánc offers many beautiful walks and hikes. On top of the hill you will find castle ruins from the 13th century and the climb up is very popular. Csobánc is but one of many volcanos dotting the Topolca Basin in Hungary’s Pannonia region. These volcanoes have been extinct for millions of years and offer good climbing and hiking possibilities, sometimes with the added bonus of a castle to explore on top. We love Hegyesd, which we call “The Little Prince”, with its tiny summit giving a 360 degree panorama. Tóti and Szigliget are also favourites.

About the castle atop Csobánc:
www.csobancvar.hu
www.kolumbus.fi

About the geology in the area and hiking:
www.summitpost.org


Sightseeing
There are other numerous sites to visit in the vicinity of Csobánc, not least many famous wineries as well as quaint villages such as Kekkút, Salföld and Szigliget.


Biking
Tapolca has several bike rental offices. Ask us for a good dealer!

Biking around the Balaton is a popular activity and theres is a bike lane almost all around the lake. A bike ride to the beach from Csobánc takes around an hour and is a great way to see the countryside.

We also love to bike on the country roads that connect the villages in the interior. You see so much more than from a car. The roads are not so busy and the landscape is rolling—just enough up and down to keep your pace going!


Tennis
Szigliget Tennis Club, right by the lake, has clay courts and a lovely clubhouse. Order your court here.


Horseback riding
There are several riding centres nearby, which offer arranged tours, riding instructions, steeplechasing and even a nice fox hunt! Gyula Vezér Riding Center in neighbouring Gyulakeszi offers instruction and tours in in English and German and is a good choice and close to home. Reiterhof Villám Lovaspánzio in nearby Diszel is a family-run riding school that offers both instruction and tailor-made tours. A little further off, on the way to the Balaton, is the Equital Horse Farm in Nemesvita.


Lake Balaton—swimming, restaurants, night life
The largest lake in Central Europe is a twelve-minute drive away. There are lots of beaches to choose from, but our favourites are Szigliget and Badacsonytomaj. The Balaton also offers all sorts of water sports, like sailing and wind surfing.

In addition to sunbathing and swimming, there are also a lot of restaurants around the lake. The nightlife can get quite lively, especially at the larger resort towns Siófok, Keszthely, and Balatonfüred. These are also beautiful towns to visit by day.

About the Balaton and the Balaton region:
www.balaton-tourism.hu


Markets
Every Sunday there is a market at the neighbouring town Kaptalantóti. It started out as a Farmers’ Market, now it has a little bit of everything. Sunday mornings until around 12.

For lovers of bric-à-brac, Tapolca’s flea market, run by the Roma, is fun to explore. A section is dedicated to more expensive items, such as antique jewellery. Tuesday to Friday, morning (read: dawn), until around 11. Go early if you want to find the best pics, go later if you really want a bargain.


Cuisine
Our favourite place is the Köviräg at the very pretty village of Köveskál. With its beautiful courtyard, it is a great place for lunch, or dinner on hot days. The restaurant is very elegant but, with its mini-playground, also caters to children. Plus for beautiful bathrooms!

The restaurants by the Balaton provide beautiful views of the lake and live gypsy music in the height of summer. Our Balaton favourites are in Badacsony: Bacchus and Borbarátok. Bacchus has an impressive wine cellar.


Wine tasting
On your own or with a guide, wine tasting is a great way to tour Balaton’s northern shore and see the area’s beautiful cellars and viticulture.


Thermal baths and spa
The nearby town Tapolca has a four-star spa hotel (Hunguest Hotel Pelion) where non-residents can come for the day. The town’s name actually refers to the thermal springs around the town, as the Slavic word “topulcha” means hot springs.
http://www.thermaltours.hu

Hévíz, a unique medicinal, thermal lake on the western part of the Balaton, is an hours’ drive away. It is fun soaking in the warm lake with an inner tube to keep you afloat on a cloudy day (image). Don’t worry about the rotten egg smell. It is the sulfur from the earth’s core and it is good for your skin!


Valley of the Arts
Every July, six villages in a small valley near Csobánc host a ten-day festival called “A Muvészetek Völgye”—The Valley of the Arts. It is a multi-faceted festival, with concerts, exhibitions, literary readings, etc, and market stalls selling a plethora of handmade goods. People come from all over Hungary to either join in on the fun or sell their wares, cook, or entertain. We especially love the ceramics and the food!
www.hungarystartshere.com


Primor Sándor Vineyard and beyond
The vineyard is a great starting-point for day trips and excursions. It is also great to combine with longer trips.
Budapest and Pécs are both a two-hour drive away; areas of both are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Vienna is a three-hour drive away. A day’s drive takes you to the Adriatic coast of Croatia and Italy.