Hévíz

Hévíz is a spa town in the Lake Balaton region of Hungary, about from Keszthely.

Understand
The town is located near Lake Hévíz, the world’s second-largest thermal lake, but biologically the biggest active natural lake. Its temperature is affected by the combination of hot and cold spring waters, coming from underground. The water breaks out from a spring cave, at approximately 410 liters per second, with a temperature of. The biological stability of the lake is shown by the temperature of the water, which has not changed for years, and even on the coldest winter days doesn’t drop below. That makes bathing possible in the lake year round. In the summer, the water temperature can reach.

The lake's healing properties have been well known for centuries people lived here even at the end of the Stone Age. The foundation of bath culture was laid by the Romans in the 2nd century. According to an ancient legend, the Holy Virgin wrung a spring by the appealing prayer of a Christian nurse. The nurse wanted to heal an invalid child. The hot water of the lake breaking out from the depth and the steaming mud cured the weak child completely. The legend stems from the Roman age and the mentioned child was definitely the East Roman emperor Flavius Theodosius who declared Christianity to the official religion in his own empire in 391. That is the wrung spring that feeds the worldwide particular lake of Hévíz from that time.

Egregy is part of Hévíz. It gives a real village atmosphere. The beautiful Roman-style Church of Egregy was built in the 13th century, during the rule of Árpád. Behind the church are the picturesque vineyards where one can taste the delicious local wines, for example the „Egregyi Grinzing”. There are cosy restaurants where local delicacies are offered in a homey atmosphere. Each year Egregy celebrates its grape harvest, this is a time for eating, drinking and having a lot of fun.



By train
The closest train station is in Keszthely. From Budapest-Déli pályaudvar, you can travel by train to Keszthely train station, then transfer to regional buses towards Hévíz. The whole journey from Budapest to Hévíz takes 3 hours and costs.

By bus
Direct buses from Budapest-Népliget are available six times a day. The journey takes 2.5 hours and costs. More frequent buses are available from Keszthely. The journey takes about 15 minutes and costs.

Get around
First of all on foot and by cycle. There is no local public transport service. You can use the regional buses operated by Volánbusz.

Further afield
In Alsópáhok:

In Zalaapáti:

In Zalacsány:

In Zalavár:

Events
Official events:

Budget
In Hévíz:

In the surroundings:

Mid-range
In Hévíz:

In the surroundings:

Splurge
In Hévíz:

In the surroundings:

Sleep
Visitors can choose from lot kind of accommodation opportunities. According to the different demands there are 25–30 hotels, 25–30 guesthouses, 100–120 private accommodations and one camping place.

Budget
In Hévíz:

In the surroundings:

Mid-range
In Hévíz:

Splurge
In Hévíz:

In the surroundings:

Connect
Hévíz's postal code is H-8380, and its telephone area code is 83.



Go next

 * Gyenesdiás – resort village at Lake Balaton east
 * Keszthely – town with historical downtown east
 * Pacsa – small town southwest
 * Sümeg – town with castle north
 * Vonyarcvashegy – resort village at Lake Balaton east
 * Zalakaros – town with famous thermal spa south
 * Zalaszentgrót – town with thermal bath northwest