Top sights and things to do in the town
In a small landlocked country, Hungary, at Keszthely, on the western shores of Lake Balaton, the Guesthouse Felho remembers the first time you heard the expression from the German tourists: Zimmer frei. A vacation here has always been about nice food, good wines, and fun in the sun. Decades go by, but Keszthely retains that edge. Today, getting the most out of a Lake Balaton vacation means plenty of rest and the perfect balance between fun and purpose.
The historic downtown of Keszthely is absolutely worth a walk. Starting from the Main Square, after visiting the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Hungarians, you can reach the park of the Festetics Palace on the pedestrian zone of Keszthely, which evokes the atmosphere of the early 20th century. On the way, the 15th -century baroque building with yellow walls and vines, the Pethő House, is sure to catch your attention, through its open gate it is worth walking in and admiring the baroque arcades of the first floor.
The park of the Festetics Palace can also be visited free of charge with dogs all year round, the beautifully kept park is open during daytime. It is recommended taking the time to see the permanent exhibitions of the palace, however, if you want to see all the exhibitions, it is better to take a full day to the program. The palace is in a very beautiful condition not only outside but also inside and the related exhibitions are all interesting. Our personal favourite is the historical model railway exhibition, which is one of the largest in its class in Europe.
From the Main Square, through the shady Helikon Park, you can reach the pavilions on the lakeside and the tourist dock, where there is also the ferris wheel and the selfie point. From the dock, excursion boats available to the directions of Balatongyörök and Badacsony, and there are also one-hour cruises in the Bay of Keszthely.
A great destination to walk your dog is the old Pine Alley. This roughly 6 km long row of trees, consisting of nearly 900 black pines, stretching between Keszthely and Fenékpuszta, is unique in the country.
In our town, many museums are waiting for those interested in exhibitions. The Balaton Museum expects families all year round with its uniquely rich collection and interactive, child-friendly demonstrations. The Folk Doll Museum, accessible from the pedestrian zone, presents nearly five hundred dolls dressed in national costumes, as well as models of boats, székely gates and folk houses for those interested in Hungarian folk culture. In the immediate vicinity of Keszthely, in Fenékpuszta, the Kis-Balaton Visitor Center, opened in 2020, awaits those interested in nature, presenting the formation, history, fauna and flora of this valuable aquatic world in an interactive way for the joy of children.
