Tihany between lavender, volcanic landscapes and history

Tihany combines a landscape shaped by water and volcanic formations with walking trails, lavender culture and places with a long history. When planning your trip, you can consider these highlights separately: some sights are located along described routes, while others are part of a guided tour or visitor centre. This makes it easier to decide which aspects of the town interest you.

A landscape between the lake and volcanic cones

Lake Balaton, Külső-tó and Belső-tó shape the landscape of Tihany. The two inland lakes formed in the craters of former volcanoes, where rainwater collected. Around 50 geyser cones are still visible on the peninsula. The largest is the Aranyház geyser cone. Its name comes from the yellow lichens growing densely on it.

The Tihany Landscape Protection Area covers 1,658 hectares and is now a landscape unit within the Balaton Uplands National Park. Bozsai Bay and Külső-tó are the two strictly protected areas within the landscape protection area. Tihany thus brings together a variety of landscape features: inland lakes in former craters, visible geyser cones and designated strictly protected areas.

Walking trails and special things to see

The 4.7 km Legenda Circuit is a walking route that starts at Tihany’s ferry terminal and passes, among other places, Echo Hill, the Benedictine Abbey and the Barátlakások. At Echo Hill, shouted words are reflected back from the northern side of the abbey, about 300 m away. The sound takes approximately two seconds to travel back and forth, covering almost 700 m. Along with the sights mentioned, the route therefore offers an unusual acoustic experience.

The Lóczy Nature Trail takes hikers past seven stations, each associated with a sight. The Levendula Circuit starts at the Lavender House and ends at Lavender Tihany and its distillery. Along this route, visitors can learn about Hungarian grey cattle and ground squirrels introduced by the Balaton Uplands National Park. Encounters with the animals may vary depending on the season. When choosing between the routes, you can compare the 4.7 km circuit and its sights with the seven-station nature trail or the Levendula Circuit, with its endpoints and possible wildlife sightings.

Barátlakások and the Benedictine Abbey

The Remetetelep, locally known as the Barátlakások, consists of cells carved into the rock face on the eastern side of Óvár, as well as a chapel and a refectory. Orthodox monks of the Greek rite established the complex between the 11th and 14th centuries. The caves are carved into 20-metre-high basalt tuff; after a rockfall in 1952, only three of the cave group remain visible. The Remetetelep is considered the only relatively well-preserved hermit settlement in the Carpathian Basin and Central Europe.

You can explore Tihany’s Benedictine Abbey on an exclusive guided tour. It includes a detailed tour of the Baroque church and a visit to the crypt of King Andrew I. The programme also includes a tasting of various monastic products: King Andrew liqueur at 40% alcohol and Queen Anastasia at 35%; in winter, Father Gellért’s herbal tea; in summer, lavender and lemongrass syrups; and salted snacks from the abbey.

Discover lavender at visitor centres

The Lavender House Visitor Centre introduces visitors, through a short film and an interactive exhibition, to the volcanic landscape, the centuries-long coexistence of people and nature, and the lavender culture that grew out of it. The centre also offers an adventure park and craft programmes. It thus combines topics related to the landscape and lavender with other visitor activities.

The Lavender Tihany Visitor Centre invites visitors to explore an exhibition about lavender and its processing, as well as Tihany’s lavender distillery. The distillery produces trademarked lavender oils. If you plan to visit, check the current visiting arrangements in advance.

When looking for a hotel in Tihany, you can start by considering the focus of your trip: walking trails and landscapes, lavender culture or historic places. The sights and routes offer different ways to explore each of these interests.

Discover more destinations: Balatonfüred, Aszófő, Balatonudvari, Vaszoly, Balatonszolos, Örvényes, Balatonakali, Óbudavár.

For the broader travel overview: Balatonfüred.