# Keszthely The town of the Festetics Palace and its library, at the western tip of Balaton, about two hours from Budapest and 6 km from the thermal lake at Hévíz. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/hungary/keszthely · Revisado: 2026-11-12 Keszthely is at the western tip of Lake Balaton, about 190 km from Budapest, and is the town of the Festetics, the family of counts who filled it with culture: here in 1797 they founded the Georgikon, one of the first agricultural schools in Europe, and gathered in their palace one of the great private libraries of the country. Today you visit it for the Festetics Palace, for the lake and because 6 km away is Hévíz, the thermal lake where you can swim all year round. For a traveller leaving Budapest it is a long day trip by car or, better, a one-night break that combines palace, lake and hot water. ## Getting there from Budapest By car, on the M7 motorway, about 190 km and around two hours. Park near the palace or the lake. By train, from Budapest to Keszthely station, a considerably longer journey than by car. Buses to Hévíz leave from the station. From Spain you fly to Budapest and continue by car; Hévíz-Balaton Airport, 15 km away, has seasonal flights. ## What to see The day begins at the Festetics Palace, one of the largest in Hungary: more than twenty rooms with the life of the family and the Helikon Library. It is open all year; in winter, Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00. Around it, the palace exhibitions on carriages, hunting, the miniature railway and the nobles' travels, the bird park and palm house and the historic playhouse for children. From the palace, walk down Kossuth Lajos utca, the pedestrian street, to the lake: the Balaton Museum, next to the station, tells the story of the lake and its summers, and the lakeside promenade and pier is the place for the sunset. If you have the late afternoon free, 6 km away is the thermal lake at Hévíz. ## Where to eat and sleep On the pedestrian street, Klassz Kultbisztró, with a library and cocktails, also open on Sunday, and John's Pub, Monday to Saturday. To sleep, the Hotel Helikon, right on the shore, with a large wellness area and dogs up to 15 kg, or the Kristály Hotel, 200 metres from the lake. ## How much does it cost? WhatHow much Palace and one exhibition4,600 Ft (summer 2026) Palace and five exhibitions7,500 Ft One exhibition without the palace2,500 Ft Lakeside promenade and pierFree ## When to go From April to October, when the lake is alive. In summer Balaton fills up with Hungarians on holiday. In winter Keszthely is quiet, the palace opens Tuesday to Sunday and the hot bath at Hévíz makes up for everything. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Hévíz (a 5.0 km), Lake Balaton (a 51.5 km), Pécs (a 107.5 km) ## Qué hacer - **Festetics Palace and the Helikon Library** (2 h · All ages · Palace and one exhibition 4,600 Ft · with five exhibitions 7,500 Ft · reduced (ages 6 to 25 and over-62s) half price (summer 2026 prices)): What it is The Festetics Palace is the great house of the Festetics counts, the family that turned Keszthely into a centre of culture and agronomy. Kristóf Festetics began it in 1745 and it was extended over two centuries until it took its present appearance. The visit takes in more than twenty rooms with the furniture, portraits and life of the family, and the Helikon Library, the family's great library. Behind it opens the protected park. Opening hours and prices Winter (November to March): Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00; ticket office from 10:00 to 16:30. Closed on Mondays, on 1 November and from 21 to 25 December. Summer 2026 prices: palace and one exhibition, 4,600 Ft; palace and five exhibitions, 7,500 Ft; with the Fenékpuszta farm, 9,500 Ft. Reduced, ages 6 to 25 and over-62s: half. Parents with two or more children under 18: 50% discount. Check its website for the winter rate. Getting there Kastély utca 1, north of the centre. From the railway station, about a 20-minute walk along Kossuth Lajos utca. - **Festetics Palace Exhibitions: Carriages, Hunting, Miniature Railway and Travel** (1 h 30 · Families; the miniature railway, for children · One exhibition without the palace 2,500 Ft · two 3,800 Ft · reduced half price (summer 2026 prices)): What it is Around the palace, in buildings in the park, the Festetics Palace shows collections that are paid for separately or with the combined ticket: The carriage exhibition, in the former coach house in the park. The hunting exhibition and the historic railway model, in a new building behind the back exit of the park. Travels and adventures of the nobles, about the family's journeys. Prices One exhibition without the palace, 2,500 Ft; two, 3,800 Ft; reduced, half (summer 2026 prices). With the palace, from 4,600 Ft. - **Festetics Palace Bird Park and Palm House** (45 min · Families with children): What it is In the Festetics Palace park, the historic palm house and the bird park make a short visit with children. They are open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 16:00, in winter too. The palace park is open every day, from October to March from 5:00 to 18:00. - **Festetics Palace Historical Playhouse** (1 h · Children and families): What it is The Festetics Palace has a historical playhouse, the Történelmi Játszóház, designed so that children can get close to the history of the house by playing. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, later than the palace itself: handy at the end of the day. - **Balaton Museum** (1 h 30 · All ages): What it is The lake museum, next to the station, tells the whole story of Balaton: its formation, nature, fishing and summer holidays, with a section on Hungarian holidays in the 1970s and 1980s. It covers more than 700 m² with about 10,000 objects. In winter 2026–2027 it adds temporary exhibitions: "Balatoni retro", until 30 April 2027, and Christmas decorations from 14 November to 30 January. Visiting Múzeum utca 2. Telephone: +36 83 312 351. Check hours and prices on its website before you go. - **Lakeside Promenade and Pier at Keszthely** (1 h · 2 km · All ages; flat · Free): The walk Keszthely is at the western tip of Balaton, the largest lake in central Europe. From the centre, walk down through Helikon park to Mikus Gyula sétány and the pier, which juts out into the water: it is the best place in town to watch the sun go down over the lake. In summer the boats leave from here and the beaches open; in winter the promenade is quiet. ## Dónde comer - **John's Pub** (Bar, Keszthely, €€). Qué pedir: Pub food and a beer after the palace. - **Klassz Kultbisztró** (Restaurant, Keszthely, €€). Qué pedir: The weekend brunch or something to share with a cocktail. ## By car: Keszthely by Car, About Two Hours from Budapest on the M7 By car, Keszthely is about 190 km from Budapest on the M7 motorway along the southern shore of Balaton, with an electronic vignette. With a car you combine the Festetics Palace and a bath in the thermal lake at Hévíz, 6 km away, in one day. The budget is per person per day, with accommodation, food and petrol. Presupuesto orientativo: 80–150 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir if you're driving - **Hotel Helikon** (Spa hotel): The place The Helikon has stood on the shore of Balaton, in Keszthely bay, for more than fifty years and has just been renovated: 176 rooms, from standard to suite, a large wellness area with saunas, a gym, a tennis centre, an à la carte restaurant and a bar. It is a superior four-star and has programmes for children and families. Practical details Admits dogs and cats up to 15 kg, for 13,000 Ft a night per animal. It is about 10 minutes' walk from the station and the pier, and about 20 from the palace. There is a day spa for non-residents. - **Kristály Hotel** (Hotel): The place The Kristály is a four-star hotel about 200 metres from the shore of Balaton, between the centre and the lake. It has deluxe rooms, a wellness area with a jacuzzi and sauna, a restaurant, function rooms and a lounge bar with a terrace from which you see the sunset. Who it is for For those who want to sleep between the palace and the lake and do everything on foot. Ask when booking about parking and pets: its website lists them among the services without giving conditions. ## Car-free: Keszthely Without a Car, by Train and Bus Without a car, you reach Keszthely by train from Budapest, a long journey, and then everything is on foot: the palace, the pedestrian street, the museum and the pier are less than 20 minutes apart. To Hévíz you go by bus from the station. It is better with one night. The budget is per person per day, with accommodation, meals and tickets. Presupuesto orientativo: 75–140 € por persona y día. ### Dónde dormir without a car - **Hotel Helikon** (Spa hotel): The place The Helikon has stood on the shore of Balaton, in Keszthely bay, for more than fifty years and has just been renovated: 176 rooms, from standard to suite, a large wellness area with saunas, a gym, a tennis centre, an à la carte restaurant and a bar. It is a superior four-star and has programmes for children and families. Practical details Admits dogs and cats up to 15 kg, for 13,000 Ft a night per animal. It is about 10 minutes' walk from the station and the pier, and about 20 from the palace. There is a day spa for non-residents. - **Kristály Hotel** (Hotel): The place The Kristály is a four-star hotel about 200 metres from the shore of Balaton, between the centre and the lake. It has deluxe rooms, a wellness area with a jacuzzi and sauna, a restaurant, function rooms and a lounge bar with a terrace from which you see the sunset. Who it is for For those who want to sleep between the palace and the lake and do everything on foot. Ask when booking about parking and pets: its website lists them among the services without giving conditions. ### Servicios - **Keszthely Railway Station**: Trains to Budapest and buses to Hévíz · Next to the Balaton Museum, 10 minutes from the lake ## By plane: Fly to Budapest and Drive to Keszthely, or Fly to Hévíz-Balaton For Keszthely you fly to Budapest-Ferenc Liszt (BUD), with direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona, and continue by hire car, about 200 km via the M0 and the M7. Closer is Hévíz-Balaton Airport (SOB), in Sármellék, about 15 km away, with few, seasonal flights: check before you go. From Budapest, most people do it as a break of one or two nights with Hévíz. ### Dónde dormir if you're flying - **Hotel Helikon** (Spa hotel): The place The Helikon has stood on the shore of Balaton, in Keszthely bay, for more than fifty years and has just been renovated: 176 rooms, from standard to suite, a large wellness area with saunas, a gym, a tennis centre, an à la carte restaurant and a bar. It is a superior four-star and has programmes for children and families. Practical details Admits dogs and cats up to 15 kg, for 13,000 Ft a night per animal. It is about 10 minutes' walk from the station and the pier, and about 20 from the palace. There is a day spa for non-residents. - **Kristály Hotel** (Hotel): The place The Kristály is a four-star hotel about 200 metres from the shore of Balaton, between the centre and the lake. It has deluxe rooms, a wellness area with a jacuzzi and sauna, a restaurant, function rooms and a lounge bar with a terrace from which you see the sunset. Who it is for For those who want to sleep between the palace and the lake and do everything on foot. Ask when booking about parking and pets: its website lists them among the services without giving conditions. ### Servicios - **Keszthely Railway Station**: Trains to Budapest and buses to Hévíz · Next to the Balaton Museum, 10 minutes from the lake ## As a family: Keszthely with the Family Keszthely has a palace designed for children too: carriages, a miniature railway, birds and palms and a historical playhouse, plus the lake ten minutes away. ### What works best The palace exhibitions, above all the miniature railway The bird park and palm house The historical playhouse, open until 18:00 The lakeside promenade and pier ### Sleeping Hotel Helikon, with family rooms and children's programmes Kristály Hotel, with wellness ### Eating Klassz Kultbisztró, with brunch at the weekend John's Pub, informal ### Bear in mind The palace and its exhibitions close on Mondays Parents with two or more children under 18 get a discount at the palace ### Qué hacer as a family - Festetics Palace and the Helikon Library - Festetics Palace Exhibitions: Carriages, Hunting, Miniature Railway and Travel - Festetics Palace Bird Park and Palm House - Festetics Palace Historical Playhouse - Balaton Museum - Lakeside Promenade and Pier at Keszthely ## With young children: Keszthely with Small Children With small children, the best of Keszthely is in the palace park and on the shore: birds, palms, miniature trains and a flat walk beside the water. ### What works best The bird park and palm house The miniature railway in the exhibitions The historical playhouse The pier, to watch the ducks and the lake ### Sleeping Hotel Helikon, on the shore ### Eating Klassz Kultbisztró ### Bear in mind The palace rooms are long for the youngest: choose one exhibition ### Qué hacer with young children - Festetics Palace Exhibitions: Carriages, Hunting, Miniature Railway and Travel - Festetics Palace Bird Park and Palm House - Festetics Palace Historical Playhouse - Lakeside Promenade and Pier at Keszthely ## Consejos ### Combine Keszthely and Hévíz Palace in the morning and thermal bath in the afternoon, 6 km away. ### Don't go on a Monday The palace and its exhibitions are closed. ### Choose one or two exhibitions Seeing the whole complex takes the entire day. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How long does it take from Budapest to Keszthely? Around two hours by car on the M7; by train, considerably more. ### Can you do it in a day from Budapest? By car, yes, with a long day; the comfortable option is to stay one night and add Hévíz. ### What is there in the Festetics Palace? More than twenty rooms of the family, the Helikon Library, the park and exhibitions on carriages, hunting, the miniature railway and travel. ### Is Hévíz far? 6 km, about 10 minutes by car or bus. ### Is it worth going with children? Yes, for the miniature railway, the birds and the playhouse in the palace.