Balatonberény: Swimming, Cycling and Nature

Swimming and Cycling

Balatonberény’s public beach has a lido shoreline, a playground and a children’s pool. There are also table tennis, streetball, Teqball, sandy sports courts and an adults’ pool. Water and activity facilities are all available at the same public beach; if you are planning a beach day with a range of activities, you can take this combination into account when choosing your destination. Electric bicycles can be charged free of charge at the entrance. Mobile phones can also be charged for free at three solar-powered streetlights along the paved path. If you are counting on a particular charging or sports facility, check the latest beach information before your visit.

The public beach is next to the Lake Balaton cycling path and can be reached via side road 7119, which branches off from main road 7. West of the town center, a sign on the Lake Balaton cycling path points to the turnoff for the naturist beach. At the beach, visitors can use a covered bicycle parking area, an e-bike charging station and a bicycle service post free of charge. This provides clear directions to both the public beach and the cycling-path sign for the naturist beach.

Balatonberény’s naturist beach is considered the only naturist beach on Lake Balaton. It is set in a park-like green area, discreetly surrounded by reeds, and offers a natural bathing spot. It also has a shallow shoreline and Lake Balaton’s largest constructed circular sun terrace. This makes it a distinct focus when choosing a holiday destination, alongside the public beach’s sports and pool facilities.

Protected Shoreline Nature

On the eastern side of Balatonberény lies the 1.55-hectare Csicsergő Peninsula, which is locally protected. About ten percent of the peninsula is designated as Natura 2000. The area is mostly made up of willow-poplar floodplain forest, reeds and grassland. Otters have appeared several times along its shores; the peninsula is a popular destination for amateur and professional photographers, as well as day-trippers.

A boat harbor and a sailing harbor are located on the southern and western sides of the Csicsergő Peninsula. Nature, the shoreline and the harbors give the town other specific points of interest beyond its swimming facilities. If you are considering Balatonberény as a place to stay, you can think about whether swimming and cycling, the protected landscape or culture will shape your holiday.

Church and History

The medieval origins of Balatonberény’s Roman Catholic church make it a special attraction for experts and interested visitors alike. In the garden of the Church of St. John the Baptist stands a statue of Saint Vendel, erected in 1793 in fulfillment of a vow. He is the patron saint of shepherds and farmers. In the northern part of the garden is a Lourdes grotto, which Halász Zoltánné had built in fulfillment of a vow to the Virgin Mary. It was designed by Dragonits Tamás and consecrated in 1993. The two monuments commemorate different vows in the same church garden: the statue recalls Saint Vendel, and the grotto the Virgin Mary.

This way, you can choose your destination according to the kind of holiday you want, rather than reducing Balatonberény to just one type of stay.

In the broader South Lake Balaton destination, the Dráva Active Tourism Network includes water-tourism stops along its section in Somogy County. This adds a regional perspective for travelers looking beyond Balatonberény to the wider destination.

More places: Szentkirályszabadja, Balatonszolos, Balatonszepezd, Fonyod, Balatonmariafürdö, Kapolcs, Badacsonytomaj.