Balatonőszöd between the shoreline and history

Balatonőszöd brings together the shores of Lake Balaton, a cycling route and a varied local history. When choosing a holiday rental, it is particularly important to know that access to the shore is not the same everywhere: the shoreline strip is about 2 km long, of which just over 500 m is designated as freely accessible shoreline. The remaining wooded shoreline includes a freely accessible beach and promenade, while most of the shoreline is closed off. If spending time by the water is a priority for you, bear these differences in mind when choosing your holiday rental.

Shoreline, cycling route and getting there

The Balatoni Bringa Körút cycling route runs through Balatonőszöd. This makes the town a good option for travellers who want to plan their holiday around a cycling route. When choosing accommodation, you can weigh up whether the shoreline, cycling or the town’s history should be the deciding factor for your stay.

By car, Balatonőszöd can be reached directly via Main Road 7 or via its own interchange with a roundabout on the M7, which branches off east of the town. The nearest railway station is in neighbouring Balatonszemes, about 2.3 km from Balatonőszöd. The nearest boat landing and marina are also in neighbouring Balatonszemes. If you factor these transport links into your choice of location, distinguishing between Balatonőszöd and Balatonszemes will help you find the right base.

Church and chapel

Balatonőszöd’s Reformed Church was rebuilt between 1845 and 1847; much of its original interior has been preserved. The Mária Chapel offers a different historical perspective: it was built in 1935 on the initiative of the Balatonőszöd bathing association, to designs by Károly Weichinger. The two buildings thus represent different origins and periods. If Balatonőszöd’s history is also a factor in your choice of location, you will find specific historical points of interest here, rather than just a shoreline setting.

Vineyards and local places of remembrance

The Szent-Donát Memorial is located in the vineyards of Balatonőszöd and is a work by artisan Rudolf Szedleczky. The relief depicts the saint with a bunch of grapes and a wine siphon. The Öreg-hegyi rest area was inaugurated on 20 August 2011; its creation was proposed by local winegrowers. Both sites point to the importance of winegrowing and local initiative in the town’s history. These details give you different points of interest if you would like to choose your stay for reasons beyond its location by the water.

Buildings and traces of local history

The Tiszttartó House is a Neoclassical building dating from the 19th century. Around 1810, it came into the possession of the Piarists and has since served as the residence of the estate’s steward. Balatonőszöd’s Jewish cemetery is at the end of Szabadság utca. It has two sections and contains notable 19th-century gravestones.

Another historic building is the listed granary. Built in the Baroque style in the second half of the 18th century, it is now in poor condition and can be reached from József-Attila Street. These different buildings make the town’s history tangible through specific examples: from the Neoclassical house to the cemetery and the Baroque granary. They add other points of interest to a stay by the shore.

A changing landscape

Balatonőszöd’s landscape has also changed: an area of about 20 hectares, formerly used for agriculture, has been submerged over the past ten years and has become a new habitat for aquatic animals. The town’s character therefore extends beyond its beach and promenade. As you plan your holiday, you can decide whether you would like to associate Balatonőszöd primarily with the shores of Lake Balaton, the cycling route, or its historical and landscape changes.

Discover more places

You can also explore Szantod, Kötcse, Teleki, Balatonföldvar, Nagycsepely, Szólád, Koröshegy and Balatonszárszó.

For the overview of the wider area: Balatonföldvári.