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Siófok is a town on the south coast of Lake Balaton. The charming little town is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Hungary. The population is around 35,000 people but in the summer season there is another 200,000 people being on vacation at the same time. The name of the city means Cape Sió (Sió is a river bringing water into river Danube).

Understand

Siófok sunset

Siófok is mostly famous of its huge nightlife and the never ending parties specially in the weekends. The town is often called "the partying capital of Hungary". But outside of the town centre there are many peaceful beaches and strands. The party season usually begins by the start of the summer break at schools and the end of the spring term at universities which is the end of June, early July. The last party events are on the final weekend before the start of school.

  • 1 Tourinform Siófok, Víztorony, Fő tér 11 (Bus station: 150m, Railway station: 350m, Harbour: 800m), ☏ +36 84 315355, +36 84 696236, fax: +36 84 310117, . Jun-Sep: M-F 08:00-18:00, Sa 09:00-13:00, Su ?; Oct-May: Monday closed and shorter opening time. The Tourist Information office staff-Hungarian and foreign language skills will inform you about accommodation, places of hospitality, transportation, events, attractions, events and services. Maps, guidebooks, tourist cards, free publications, and bookings for local tour programs, accommodation, tickets for events. Also there is a small gift shop. 

Climate

Siófok is on a fairly flat area at the south-east end of Balaton. As the north shore is quite hilly the wind usually hits the south coast bringing some random heavy storms usually in late June but other than that the climate is very hot all summer specially in August when the temperature can go up to 35 °C. People who don't like too hot weather can travel to the lake in May when it is not that hot but warm enough to jump in the water and to get suntanned.

People

Many tourists come to the city every summer (more and more every year). About 60% of the tourists come from Germany and there is a history of German tourism to Lake Balaton. Many school trips take place in the town with students arriving mostly from Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Poland and Slovakia.

Get in

Musical pavilon in Siófok

By plane

There is a small international airport in Sármellék about an hour away from Siófok with flights arriving from many European cities especially London, Zürich, Dublin, Stockholm, Berlin and Frankfurt. Budapest's international airports are about 150 km from Siófok.

By car

Siófok can be accessed directly from the M7 motorway (part of European Routes E65 and E71) or using national route 7, which is passing through the city.

By train

  • 1 Siófok Railway station, Siófok, Millennium park 1 /Kálmán Imre sétány 1 (City center), ☏ +36 84 310 061. Cash desk: daily 03:00-23:00; international cash desk: daily 06:40-19:30. There is a daily train between Venice and Budapest which stops at Siófok (and other cities like Ljubljana and Trieste, by Venezia Experss [formerly dead link] ). The southern shore of Lake Balaton is one of the most important and most visited town Siofok. Three directions as a railway junction, Budapest,Déli pályaudvar railway station, taking about an hour and forty minutes (faster with InterCity Express) all via Székesfehérvár east, Nagykanizsa west via Fonyód and Kaposvár (south) receives from passenger and freight traffic. The Intercity trains also stop in Siofok station, which the Budapest-Nagykanizsa line train. The station in the southern railway line was built in 1861, after the transfer in 1863. The railway station building in its current form, sometime in the early 1900s was built, which now has a beautiful renovated state Millenium park to admire. Millennium Park was opened in 1994, very cozy, beautiful parks, a lot of plants. And special beauty of the park is not only contribute to the sight of the train station, but the statues and also the evening floodlight. Services: café, e-ticket terminal, Budapest season ticket sale, luggage storage (daily 03:45-22:25, lockers opposite to the ticket cash desk). The international travel tickets, seat reservation and travel card can be paid in euros. The rest back to be paid in forints. Cash and credit card payment. 
  • 2 Szabadisóstó Railway Station, 8600, Baross Gábor u. 54 / B. (east), ☏ +36 40 494949. Daily 07:05-18:25. Domestic cash desk. Smaller station. 

By bus

  • 3 Bus Station (Autóbusz-állomás, Kapos Volán), Fő utca 71-81 (Right next to Railway Station), ☏ +36 84 310 220. Kapos Volán is the local bus company. OTP ATM (24 hr), plus CIB Bank ATM. 

By boat

  • 4 Port of Siofok, Krúdy sétány 2. Erste ATM near Ship Station (Mártírok útja 11. phone: +36 40 222222) 

Get around

Map
Map of Siófok

Siófok may not have a huge population, but in the summer it is capable of hosting hundreds of thousands of people. As most of the visitors are interested in the Lake Balaton, the city has a length of almost 15 kilometers. The most practical way of getting around is using a bicycle or a moped, which can be rented in Siófok for €8 or €15 per day, respectively.

Siófok has a local bus system; the local transportation company charges ~€1.5 per trip. As the city has four train stops along the Budapest-Nagykanizsa railroad, it is very common to take the train from one end of the city to the city center or to the other end. It is probably the fastest way, although it takes quite a planning as trains stopping at each of the stations are a bit rare.

Taxis have a flat rate which changes from summer to summer. €10-15 per trip is general.

See

Fő tér (Main Square) with Water Tower
  • 1 Visitation of Our Lady Church (Sarlós Boldogasszony templom), Siófok, Fő u. 57 (Centre). Church service (Jul-Aug) Sunday and holidays 09:00, 10:00, 19:00; M-F 07:00, 19:00. Winter: Sunday and holiday 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 18:00; M-F 07:00, 18:00. Visitation of Our Lady Church is a Roman Catholic Church. This is one of the oldest buildings in town. Built in neo-roman style in 1903. Above its entrance door a work of the international-famed painter-artist Endre Muzsinszki ­Nagy (1886-1975) is visible. Neoclassic station paintings of the church were painted by Bela Buky in 1928, while the triumphal arch, in the middle of which Patrona Hungariae is enthroned and receives homage of the Hungarian saints, is made fascinating by paintings of György Leszkovszky in 1938. Stained glasses of the church have been made in the workshop of Miksa Roth. Based on dispositions of the 2nd Council of the Vatican sanctuary of the building has been rebuilt in 1980 according to scene designs of Gyorgy Osztie. The pastoforium is work of a Tyrolean master of the 17th century, the bearded, thorn crowned Christ inclining his head to the right. The largest organ of the whole-Balaton region is also to be found in the church. The instrument was constructed by Frigyes Paulus master organ-builder according to drawings of Sandor Fabian cantor. In the church there are organconcerts organized every summer with appearance of well-known domestic and foreign artists. Garden: here can be see the Szűz Mária (lit. the Holy Mary) sculpture made by Kling József. The stone statue was erected in 1989. 
  • 2 Lutheran Church (Református templom), Siófok, Fő u.220 (Oulu park) (Close to Hotel Janus), ☏ +36 84 310 549, fax: +36 84 310 549. Church service: Sunday and holidays 09:30, 10:00. Imre Makovecz, an architect who has fused the traditions of vernacular architecture with the most modern techniques, designed this truly unusual Lutheran church. As in most of the architect's other buildings, wood, as a natural building material, is dominant. The tower is crowned with a Cross that emerges from the Tree of Life, symbolising that the Cross of Golgotha is not a sign of death rather one showing the path to eternal life. The church has four entrances and 150 seats. The angel wings above its main entrance protect those who enter. Above the east-facing altar László Péterffy's Statue of The Resurrected (A feltámadott) can be seen. 
  • 3 Emmerich Kalman Memorial Home (Kálmán Imre emlékház), Siófok, Kálmán Imre sétány. 5 (near to R.S.), ☏ +36 84 311287, . M closed, Tu-F 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00, Sa 10:00-13:00, Su 10:00-14:00 (Jun-Aug). On the 105th birth anniversary of Imre Kalman, in 1987, a museum was opened in his birthplace in Siófok. The museum's permanent exhibition was held in the ground floor. In the internal corridor can be seen the contemporary Siofok, the mood of the last decades of the 19th century is affected the visitor, where in the summer writers, artists, musicians rest at this bathing place, turned their back on the big city life to get ready to their work. Subtitles: Hungarian, German Ticket prices: Adult Ft 500, reduced Ft 250. Emmerich Kálmán Memorial House (Q15122506) on Wikidata 
  • 4 Museum of Egg (Tojásmúzeum), Szücs utca 9. 
  • 5 Mineral museum Siofok (Ásvány múzeum Siófok), Siófok, Kálmán I. sétány 10 (Near the Railway Station), ☏ +36 84 350038, +36 20 5325257, . The Carpathian Basin Minerals exhibit: Hungary's largest and finest private collection can be visited city in the center of Siofok since June 1986. Around 3000 minerals can admire in over fifty cabinet in five halls. Each rooms contains minerals from different locations as Hungary, the World, the Uplands (Slovakia), Cavnic (Maramures County, Rumania) and Transylvania. One of the highlight of the exhibit is the collection of mine flower of Transylvania. Only Hungarian subtitle. 
  • 6 Sio Canal (Sio Csatorna). 
  • 7 The Villa Jókai, Siófok, Batthyány u. 2. (Close to Port). The villa was built by Dávid Braun in 1897. The villa’s name reveals that it is connected to the life of one of Hungarians most romantic writers, Mór Jókai. In the year 1903 Jókai spent the last summer of his life in this atmospheric villa in Siófok as a guest of the house owner. Mór Jókai frequently stayed in Siófok and he processed the experiences during the shipping from Siófok to Füred in his novel “Aranyember” (lit. Golden man). The villa served until the end of World War II as a summer residence. - After the War, the house served as a police station, as a music school and also as a centre for the region of Pannonia. In 1995 the house fell back into the hands of private property. 
  • 8 Water Tower, ☏ +36 30 2448888. Jun–Sep: daily 09:00–24:00; Oct–May: M closed, Tu-Th 10:00-17:00, F 10:00-21:00; Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 10:00-17:00. Here is also the Tourinform. 
  • Rose garden

Further afield

  • 9 Kőröshegyi viaduct (Kőröshegyi völgyhíd) (Somogy county, between Zamárdi and Balatonszárszó, south of Kőröshegy neighborhood). This is an viaduct on the M7 motorway, the longest bridge of Hungary. Runs parallel to the southern shore of Lake Balaton. It was opened to traffic on August 8, 2007. The bridge is 1,872m long and the highest point on the ground level 88m, and the width of more than 23m. The highest pillar of bridge is 80m, the lowest is 18m. 120 meters the longest distance between the two neighbour pillars. Inside of the giant pillars are hollow, in two of them include elevator. 

Do

  • Coke Club (the old Coca Cola Beach House) the main beach resort is the #1 attraction in town. The place offers many activities for visitors to do something more than just being on the sun. These activities include beach volleyball (organised amateur championships as well), swimming pool, streetball court, tennis, ping-pong, water polo and volleyball in shallow water, live concerts on the main stage, excersise shows on the main sandy beach, bars, restaurants, dancefloors all around the resort.
  • Free access beaches are usually less crowded. Families tend to like these better. These are usually less noisy.
  • Galerius Thermal Spa and Wellness Centre Siófok-Szabadifürdő, Szent László utca 183. In the summer of 2006 the thermal spa was opened to put Siófok onto the map of wellness centres in Hungary. The spa was named after the Roman Caesar Galerius and is opened all year. The complex is provided with water from Nagyberény which is circa 15 km to the south from Siófok. Guests enjoy bathing and relaxing in the warm (33-37°C) geothermal water that comes up from 1091 m deep, known for its positive effects on the skin and the bones.
  • 1 The Imre Kalman Cultural Centre (Kálmán Imre Kulturális Központ), Fő tér 2 (It can be found in the centre, next to the Watertower), ☏ +36 84 311855, fax: +36 84 506762, . Cash desk opening hours: M-F 12:00-18:00, and during events. Closed Sa Su, except during events.. This is the biggest cultural institution of Siófok. The Cultural Centre is suitable for theater performance, cultural display, conference organisation. The establishment satisfies demand of the guests and inhabitants with different festivals, musical genre and fine arts. - In front of the institution is the worldfamous sculpture, Imre Varga’s statuepark: Czóbel Béla (painter), La Charogne (by poem of Charles Baudlaire), Professor. Afore the entrance is a half-length portrait to find of Imre Kalman by Gyula Meszes Tóth (1997) and the hydraulic engineer, József Beszédes by Tamás Vígh (1963). It was placed on it’s actual place in 1999. 
  • Have a breakfast watching over the new main square of the city, then take a walk to find the local goods and souvenirs.
  • Get on a boat to see Siófok from another perspective, and visit Balatonfüred or famous Tihany.
  • There are several annual sailing races for those preferring competition. For boat rentals go to Siófok Marina to the west from the main port. An 8-m yacht from about Ft 30 000/day.
  • Kite surfing, . Very popular on Lake Balaton -- there is a beach where everyone can have a go after a quick lesson. For more information get in touch with the providers info@kiteline.hu. 
  • Open Air stage (Szabadtéri Színpad), Jókai park 5.. Jókai park is a pleasant park. In the summertime tourists bustling around Petofi promenade where has been placed a monument, by the Kossuth Prize-winning sculptor Imre Varga, which depicts Gyula Krudy, Hungarian writer and journalist, chariot sat. For tickets ask at Imre Kalman Cultural Centre. 
  • 2 Millenium Park, Kálmán udvar (Next to the Station). 24/7. Free. 
  • Wakeboarding

Events

Traditional Hungarian food made by locals can be tasted if you come in August, when the Bogrács fesztivál (Cauldron festival) takes place. Several different types of goulash, Hungarian fish soup are just a few of the dishes you want to give a chance to.

Buy

Aerial view of the harbour

ATMs and Banks

  • 1 Budapest Bank ATM, Siófok, Fő tér 6 (Outside Sio Plaza). 24 hours. Languages: Hungarian, German, English 

Stores

  • 2 Hernyo Shopping Centre, Semmelweis utca 2. 
  • 3 Market Hall-Siófok, Siófok, Vámház. u.. Try for some fresh food, also K&H Bank ATM 
  • 4 Penny Market (Penny Market diszkontáruház), Vak Bottyán utca 4 (Center), . Daily. Discount store chain. 
  • 5 Sio Plaza (Sió Pláza), Siófok, Fő tér 6.. Shopping center with Erste ATM 

Eat

  • 1 Amigo Restaurant and Pizzeria, Fo Utca 99. Not a Mexican restaurant despite the name. Open all year round - great pizzas from a wood fired pizza oven. Hungarian dishes too. Very reasonably priced. 
  • 2 McDonald's, Vak Bottyán utca 2. Fast food. Outside is a OTP ATM (Zúgó u. 1, available 24 hours) 
  • Sándor Restaurant, Erkel Ferenc utca 30. If you feel like having a traditional Hungarian meal with friendly service then this is the place to go. The restaurant can be found just outside of the town centre. It offers party service as well and it has been voted into the top 100 restaurants in Hungary in 2002. 
  • Mala Garden hotel and restaurant, Petőfi sétány 15./a. This place is a special design hotel and restaurant. On the menu you can find Hungarian specialities and Asian foods as well. The whole building and the interieur has been inspired by the modern architecture of Bali Island. 
  • Marcipán Café and Confectionary offers petit déjeuner, cakes, coffees at a reasonable price in the very heart of the city. Address here. [dead link]
  • 3 Pap Wine cellar (Pap Pince), Balatonszabadi, Petőfi S. u., ☏ +36 70 3399 883, . A small restaurant (cap. 20 person). Try some Hungarian food on a half covered garden place. Hungarian, German. Price level: Middle-class / average. 
  • 4 Strand Snack Bar (Strand Büfé), Deák Ferenc sétány 15-17 (On the Lakeshore). 

Drink

Café Móló, Szent István sétány 1. . Café Móló is one of the most popular bars in Siófok. It's not the cheapest place so it is mostly visited by people over the age of 25. There is a sandy beach right in front of the restaurant so you can enjoy the sunset whilst having a colourful cocktail.
Bacardi Music Café, Petőfi sétány 5. . During the day this terraced place is a cocktail bar and osteria. When the night begins they open the dancefloor in the back and it often ends up in great parties.

Clubs

Sleep

  • [dead link] Hotel Agro, Siofok-szabadifürdő, . Hotel that can host 200 people, close to the Galerius Spa. from €15/night/person. 
  • 1 Hotel Azur, Vitorlás utca 11, ☏ +36 84 501400, fax: +36 84 501427. A modern, family friendly hotel. Twin for one/two persons €55/110, double for one/two persons €49/98, suite for two/three persons €150/226. Local tax: Ft 400 /night/person (18+ years old). Parking fee: Ft 1500/night/car. Two-course lunch Ft 3500 per person (mid-season prices). 
  • Caesar apartments and rooms, Vitorlás u. 9. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Apartments and cheap rooms in the city center 200 m from the beach. 
  • 2 Hotel Janus (Best Western Janus Boutique Hotel & Spa), Siófok, Fő utca 93 (Center), ☏ +36 84 312546, +36 30 5006315, fax: +36 84 312 432, . A four-star Best Western unit. 18 rooms and 9 suites. Room Ft 18 000-27 000, suite Ft 23 000-42 000. (updated Dec 2014)
  • Siófok Hotel Lidó (Siófok Hotel Lidó), Siófok Petőfi sétány 11, ☏ +36 30 9666042. Check-in: 10:00, check-out: 14:00. Family-owned hotel at the beach with lake view from hotel room at an affordable rate in Siofok €18. 
  • 3 Hotel Molo, Vitorlás utca 16 (Lakeshore next to Hotel Yacht Club), ☏ +36 84 310 047, . In high season rooms only with half board in other time optional, weekend, single supplement Low season from Ft 8300, mid-season from Ft 10 500, high season Ft 20,000 (per person, extra bed Ft 4500-11500 depending on season, age and catering. 
  • Pater family hotel with apartments, Siofok Kinizsi u. 11, . 2 swimming pools, air-conditioning, restaurant at the beach entrance in the city center. from €15/night/person. 
  • Solero Hotel in the centre, Siofok Batthyany str. 25, . Centrally located accommodation with wellness possibilities nearby. €14-27/night/person. 
  • 4 [dead link] Hotel Yacht Club, Restaurant & Bar, Vitorlás utca 14 (Behind Hotel Yacht Club), ☏ +36 84 310 084. Wellness spa. Low season/mid-season/high season. Single room Ft 12200-13800/Ft 13500-14 700/Ft 15700-16 600; Double for one person 14 400/15 300/19 900; Standard twin Ft 9200/10 700/11 200; Deluxe double 11 000/12 200/15 800 (prices of weekends are higher 10-15%); Family room for two person 12 950/13 950/17 500. Adult extra bed and breakfast (apartment also) Ft 6 000/7 000/8 000; Surcharge breakfast for children 6-14 years old Ft F6 000/8 000/10 000, Half Board Ft 4 000/4 000/4 000, Full board (3-course lunch) Ft 6 500/6 500/6 500. 
  • Hotel Két Korona Conference and Wellness, H-8624 Balatonszárszó, Csárda utca 20, ☏ +3684363115, . Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. The family hotel consists of 76 rooms, including superior double rooms, standard double rooms, standard family rooms and superior suites. from €40/person/night. (updated Mar 2015)

Stay healthy

Connect

Cope

Siófok postal code is H-8600.

Religious services

  • 5 Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church (Szent Kereszt templom), Siófok, Darnay tér, ☏ +36 84 310 484. Church service: May-Jun: Sa 18:00; Jul-Aug: Sa 18:00, Su 08:00; Sep-Oct: Sa 18:00. The church was built in 1998. 
  • 6 Szent Kilit Roman Catholic Church, Siófok, Asztalos u. 4, ☏ +36 84 322977. Church service: Tu Th at 18:00, Su at 11:00. The church was built in 1801-1804. 
  • 7 Reformed Church, Kele u. 10-13 (Center), ☏ +36 84 311 017. 
  • 8 St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church (Szent Lőrinc római katolikus templom), Siófok, Szépvölgyi u., ☏ +36 84 310484. Church service: Sunday at 09:00. The church was built in 1995. 
  • 9 St. Peter - St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church (Töreki Szent Péter - Szent Pál római katolikus templom), Siófok, Töreki u, ☏ +36 84 310484, fax: +36 84 310484. Church service: On the first Sunday each month: at 14:00. The church was built in 1990. 

Go next

  • Fonyód — another bigger resort town on the southern lakeshore
Routes through Siófok
Nagykanizsa ← Fonyód ←  W  E  → Székesfehérvár → Budapest


This city travel guide to Siófok is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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