Alsóörs, an idyllic village on the northern shore of Lake Balaton, is an excellent starting point for exploring the surrounding countryside. Below are some exciting hiking opportunities in and around Alsóörs, where you can experience the perfect harmony of natural beauty and relaxation.
The beautiful lakeside beaches, traditional wine cellars and a rich variety of cultural events make it an ideal destination for those who want to spend a relaxing time on the shores of Lake Balaton. The Balaton Riviera offers a wide range of attractions and excursion sites, which can be easily explored on foot or by bike. We have gathered the most important ones for you, so that you only have to decide which one to discover first during your holiday.
The amphitheatre in Alsóörs is a unique cultural site on the shores of Lake Balaton. The open-air amphitheatre offers stunning views of the lake and is the ideal venue for outdoor events, concerts or even cultural events. The atmospheric venue, intertwined with its natural surroundings, hosts a variety of programmes that enrich the experience of visitors in the magical landscapes of Alsóörs.
According to legend, this romantic spot got its name because King Matthias drank from the well. The King's Well is a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers. It is easily accessible on foot and by bicycle. It is only 4 km from Alsóörs, just follow the signs of the blue hiking trail.
If you start this hike, there are a few things to keep in mind: raincoat, backpack, hydration and map are essential for hiking.
Make sure your clothing is appropriate for the weather, layered and comfortable.
It is important to pay attention to the choice of footwear so that the soles of your shoes do not slip.
There is a rain shelter, a fire pit and a small clearing for picnicking and relaxing. After 100 metres from the well, you reach the spring, where you will find clean, drinkable water.
The Mill Valley stretches between Lovas and Felsőörs. A pleasant walk along the shady hiking trail in a beautiful, tranquil setting along the stream leads from Lovas up one of the valley's side branches to Felsőörs. Descending to the banks of the lovely Lovasi Séd, you can observe freshwater limestone rapids.
The prehistoric paint mine at Lovas is unique in Europe. The fame started in 1951: a unique prehistoric paint mine in Europe, the only one of its kind in the world, in Africa. In 1951, during the construction of Highway 73, the Macko quarry in Lovas was opened. During the mining of the dolomite, strange, large animal bones were found, which were put aside by the forester in charge of the work and later brought to the then Bakony Museum, now the Dezső Laczkó Museum. The carbon isotope C 14 test results date the finds to 11,750 years old. In 2010, a room was set up in the cellar of the village hall in Lovas to display a small fragment of the finds. Of course, all these objects are copies, as the originals are in the National Museum. There is a permanent exhibition in Lovas, and anyone who would like to visit it can make an appointment with Katalin Kovácsné Kasza, archaeological technician, on the telephone number on the cellar door. One of the oldest known mines in the history of mankind is located on the outskirts of Lovas, above Királykút, and is open to the public.
The Forrás Hill is a former quarry site on the slope of the Balaton highlands in Upper Ores, which contains geological, paleontological and stratigraphical features of international importance. In the geological exhibition area, the fossilized remains of the Triassic Sea sediments and the Earth's volcanic activity, hundreds of millions of years old, can be seen.
A signposted geological site shows the location of the Fountain Hill, west of the site. A paved path leads to the first explanatory sign indicating the site, which also gives further directions. The trail leads to a set of well-built steps leading down to a considerable depth, and from here to the roughly horizontal valley section, which with its spectacular rock outcrop is a kind of foyer to the actual site. Here, several boulders show the process of free-surface cubic weathering typical of dolomite rock. At the end of the section is the second explanatory plaque. Slightly rising ground leads on to the actual demonstration site. Here, the long stratigraphic display area is protected from the weather by a half-roofed canopy. Although there are warnings that rock samples should only be collected in designated areas, there are currently many illegal excavations on the frontal plane of the site, which interfere with easy visibility. A third explanatory plaque is located at the end of the site. The site is open to the public and can be accessed as a short excursion with easy field walking.
On the Balaton Riviera you can enjoy an unparalleled panorama from several lookout points! It's worth taking a rest and admiring the scenery as you cruise around Lake Balaton, admiring the distance you've left behind.
On the top of the Somlyó Hill above Alsóörs, the lookout tower, renovated in 2015, offers a magnificent panorama. You can enjoy breathtaking views from Balatonalmádi to Tihany. The lookout can be reached by several routes, which are signposted in the village. From the nearest car parks it is a 10-minute easy walk to the lookout.
The Csákány Hill, which borders the village of Csopak from the north, and the park forest have always been a popular destination for hikers and holidaymakers, and with the increased tourist traffic due to its proximity to the shores of Lake Balaton, it has become even more so in recent times. The wooden lookout tower on the top of the hill, built in 1972, offers an unrivalled view of the Bakony and the eastern basin of Lake Balaton.
From the lookout tower on Csere Hill you can enjoy an unrivalled view of the surrounding villages and, on a clear day, you can even admire the south coast from the top.
The lookout's predecessor was built in 1935 according to the plans of Jenő Gulyás Padányi. The lookout was built of Perm red sandstone and can proudly bear the title "The first lookout built of stone in the Lake Balaton Highlands". The lookout was renovated in 2001, when it reached its current height of 11.5 metres.
The lookout can be reached from Alsóörs from Endrődi Sándor Street following the blue tourist sign.
