Tihany walking tour & city guide

The village

The twin-towered Benedictine Abbey, founded in 1055, overlooks the lake. Thatched-roof houses line the streets, and the Echo Hill is famous for its echo.

Lavender

Tihany is known for lavender, which blooms purple in June and July. Hiking trails lead around the inner lake and to the Golden House geyser cone.

A day in Tihany

Start at the twin-towered abbey, whose crypt holds the tomb of King Andrew I and whose founding charter, from 1055, contains the earliest surviving written words in Hungarian. From the abbey terrace, the view over Lake Balaton is breathtaking. Then walk through the village's lanes, past thatched houses and craft shops.

In the afternoon, follow the hiking trails across the peninsula to the Inner Lake and the Golden House, an old geyser cone. In June and July, the lavender fields bloom purple, and you can pick your own lavender at certain farms.

Good to know

Tihany is a nature reserve, the first in Hungary, with volcanic hills and rare plants. It is about two hours from Budapest. A ferry crosses from Tihany to Szántód on the southern shore.

The village gets busy on summer weekends; weekdays and early mornings are calmer. In autumn, the vineyards and forests turn golden, and the village feels peaceful.