Camping in Hungary

With its gently rolling hills, dense forests and the famous Lake Balaton, Hungary offers ideal conditions for camping. Pure relaxation is guaranteed at Lake Balaton, for example, a true bathing paradise and the top destination for a beach holiday with the family or your dog. Other recommended destinations include the banks of the Danube, the region around the metropolis of Budapest and the endless steppes, which are perfect for exciting horseback rides.

Camping in Hungary: All important information at a glance

Hungary is a popular destination for camping holidays, especially for families. Lake Balaton in particular is a true paradise for leisure fans and sports enthusiasts. Parents with children, party-goers and sailors all get their money's worth here.

There are a number of well-equipped campsites on the shores of Lake Balaton with pitches for motorhomes and caravans in lakeside locations. As a rule, there are also bungalows, mobile homes or bungalow tents for glamping enthusiasts to rent.

The campsites near the many thermal springs in Hungary are also extremely popular. Here you can combine family camping with a relaxing visit to the local thermal baths. The campsites near the spa town of Hévíz are particularly recommended - the nearby healing lake is the largest thermal lake in the world. The campsites and camping accommodation are generally well equipped and offer every comfort for holiday guests. Gas connections and connections for electricity and water are standard, as well as a wide range of leisure activities. In the high season, many campsites have an entertainment team and dogs are often allowed.

Campsites in Hungary

Here is a selection of the most popular campsites in Hungary.

Balatontourist Camp Sunshine

Beautiful family campsite on the northern shore of Lake Balaton. The spacious and well-kept pitches offer pitches for motorhomes and caravans, as well as mobile homes and rental tents. The beach is gently sloping and therefore particularly child-friendly, and there is also a wide range of leisure activities and many opportunities for water sports.

Castrum Camping Keszthely

Beautiful 4-star campsite in Keszthely, the oldest town on Lake Balaton and home to many sights and cultural treasures. The campsite is a true bathing paradise and offers a large swimming pool and a paddling pool for children. There is also a marina nearby from which you can set off on sailing trips on Lake Balaton.

Camping Rosengarten

A small, family-run campsite in Bad Hévíz, not far from the famous Hévíz thermal lake. The pitches are mainly on terraces and have electricity. Disposal facilities are available for motorhome drivers. Dogs are allowed on the site and a number of wellness services are available if required.

Types of camping

The many different camping options in Hungary cater for true nature lovers as well as luxury enthusiasts and wellness seekers.

Nature camping

Nature camping is a real trend, especially along the Danube and in the national parks on the banks of the great river. Holidaymakers spend the night against a dreamlike backdrop and can take a deep breath in the dense forests. Many campsites in Hungary have their own bike and canoe hire facilities.

Camping with a dog

There are numerous dog-friendly campsites throughout Hungary. Dog owners can take their pets for a walk along the dog beaches on Lake Balaton and make use of the facilities offered by the campsites. Many campsites offer fenced-in dog meadows, drinking troughs and much more.

Camping with wellness

Hungary's health resorts stand for a high-quality wellness programme not only in the thermal baths. Many campsites also specialise in a wellness offer and cook healthy meals for their guests, operate natural saunas and pamper them with massages.

5-star camping

Luxury and camping can be easily combined in Hungary. The many extras include spacious pitches, extensive service and guided leisure activities such as horse riding, cycle tours, city tours, gourmet meals and wellness.

How to get to Hungary

The quickest way to reach Hungary by motorhome from central Germany is via Austria. Travellers from southern and western Germany should first head for Salzburg and buy a vignette for the toll after crossing the border. In the city of Mozart, it is worth making a short stopover to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress and learn more about Austria's musical culture.

The journey then continues to the capital Vienna and through Burgenland to Lake Balaton. If you want to see the Danube, simply follow the river from Vienna via the Austrian A4 motorway or via the M1 motorway on the Hungarian side. The route leads to Györ, Tatabanya and Budapest, among other places. A detour to the pilgrimage town of Esztergom is also worthwhile.

The distance from Munich is around 700 kilometres. Frankfurt am Main is just under 1,000 kilometres away and Berlin 900 kilometres from the destination.

From eastern Germany, there is a beautiful route via the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This route takes you past Prague and Bratislava. In both countries, the tolls are lower than in Austria.

Destinations in Hungary

Enchanting lake and river landscapes combined with vast steppes are the backdrop for a holiday on a campsite in Hungary. Lake Balaton, one of the largest lakes in Europe, and the Danube loops are popular holiday destinations for campers.

The valley floor of Tatabánya near the Danube is also worth a visit. There is also plenty for visitors to discover in Hungarian cities such as Budapest, Györ and Debrecen. Sights and culture await holidaymakers in the centres, while outside the city centres, wide steppe landscapes and lush meadows invite you to go on excursions. Nature reserves such as Duna-Dráva and Kiskunsági are ideal for exploring.

Lake Balaton

Lake Balaton or Lake Balaton is the largest inland lake and one of the most important steppe lakes in Central Europe and a real highlight for holidaymakers. Camping in Hungary offers the best conditions for a varied and relaxing holiday on the edge of the lake. Popular holiday resorts such as Siófok, Balatonfüred and Keszthely offer a wide range of leisure activities in summer, from sailing tours to surfing and kitesurfing. Young holidaymakers are usually drawn to the festivals and discos on the southern shore.

Budapest

Even though Budapest is a large and lively metropolis, there are a surprising number of campsites in Hungary's capital. You can park your caravan on the banks of the Danube and on the many islands along the river and combine relaxation in the countryside with sightseeing in the city centre. Budapest is also famous for its many spas and holiday resorts on the banks of the Danube.

Duna-Ipoly National Park

Between Szentendre and Esztergom is the Duna-Ipoly National Park, one of Hungary's Danube loops. The area is ideal for rowing and kayaking. Visegrád on the Danube bend is known for its green forest landscapes and the impressive Renaissance royal palace.

Thermal springs and spas

A camping trip to Hungary would not be complete without visiting a hot spring at least once. There are over 130 thermal springs in Hungary. Most of them are located in the western part of the country. The most popular and best-known spas in Hungary include

• Héviz Spa
• Eger Spa
• Sárvár Spa
• Bük Spa
• Hajdúszoboszló Spa
• Zalakaros Spa

Target groups

Camping in Hungary offers advantages for a wide range of target groups. Lakes and steppes are a temptation for active leisure activities, especially for parents with children and couples looking for an action-packed holiday. In addition, spas and party towns round off Hungary's varied offer.

Families and children

For many holidaymakers, Lake Balaton is a must for children. The lake is a paradise for young and old bathing holidaymakers alike, as the water is pleasantly shallow and warms up quickly in summer. In some places you can walk up to 100 metres and further into the water. Children can splash around safely and extensively in Lake Balaton.

Couples

Well-known spa towns such as Esztergom, Érd, Hévíz, Kehidakustány and Cegléd are ideal for a romantic camping holiday in Hungary. They tempt you to relax in mineral baths, saunas and with massages. Adventure-loving couples will experience hours of fulfilment rowing together on the Danube.

Party fans

The holiday resort of Siófok on Lake Balaton and the party metropolis of Budapest with its many inexpensive clubs and bars are popular places for young party guests. It is now popular to travel to Hungary together in a motorhome and enjoy the wild culture and nightlife.

Weather and best time to go camping in Hungary

For a camping holiday in Hungary, the months from mid-May to the beginning of October are the best time to travel to this Central European country. In late spring, holidaymakers can expect temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius. However, the water in Lake Balaton is still relatively fresh at this time.

If you would like to go swimming, it is best to travel in June, July or August. Then the temperatures in the air rise to over 25 degrees Celsius and in the water to around 22 degrees Celsius. The period from May to October is ideal for travelling to the Danube and for traditional horse riding in the steppes.

In central Hungary, temperatures in spring and autumn are between 17 and 22 degrees Celsius. In midsummer, temperatures reach around 30 degrees Celsius.