In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Hungary
Siófok
Go for 2–3 nights in Jul–Aug if you want beach plus nightlife; outside summer it is a quiet lakeside town and one night is enough.
Siófok is the busiest resort on Lake Balaton's south shore: a 15 km strip of beaches, a party strip around Petőfi promenade, and a rail junction 1 h 40 min from Budapest. It is a summer town — in July and August the population swells by hundreds of thousands, and the season closes with the school holidays.
- Country
- Hungary
- Best months
- Jun–Aug; May and Sep for warm water with fewer crowds
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (closed, cold, few services); late Jun storm risk
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- HUF
- Money
- Currency is the Hungarian forint (HUF, Ft). Cards are widely accepted in Budapest.
- Daily spend
- Budget Ft 12,000–20,000 excl. bed · Mid Ft 20,000–35,000 excl. bed · High Ft 35,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Yettel, Telekom and One (Vodafone) sell prepaid SIMs; passport needed.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112 · Ambulance 104 · Police 107 · Fire 105
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Standard continental two-pin plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurant without service charge: 10–15%, said as you pay.; Restaurant with szervízdíj: Nothing extra.; Taxi: Round up.; Bath masseur: HUF 1,000–2,000.
- Water
- Tap water is safe. Restaurants sell bottled water; ask for 'csapvíz'.
- Toilets
- Public toilets often charge HUF 200–400; carry coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | Ft 600–1,200 |
| Goulash soup or a main course | Ft 2,500–5,000 |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can from a shop | Ft 900–1,500 / Ft 400–600 |
| Beach entry (paid strands) | Ft 1,000–2,500 |
| Local bus ride | About Ft 600 |
| Taxi across town | Ft 4,000–6,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | Ft 3,000–6,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- SOB · Hévíz–Balaton Airport (Sármellék)
- About 1 h by road; seasonal European routes — check the current schedule
- BUD · Budapest Ferenc Liszt International
- About 150 km (93 mi); train or bus to Siófok takes 2–3 hAbout 93 mi (150 km); train or bus to Siófok takes 2–3 h
Typical fares
- Budapest Déli → Siófok, train
- about 1 h 40 min; InterCity faster — check the timetable
- Local bus, one trip
- about Ft 600
- Taxi across town
- Ft 4,000–6,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town runs about 15 km (9.3 mi) along the shore, so walking covers only the centre. Local buses cost about €1.50 a trip; bicycles rent for about €8 a day and mopeds about €15. Four train stops sit on the Budapest–Nagykanizsa line, but few trains stop at all of them, so check times before relying on the train to cross town. Taxis are a flat seasonal rate, roughly €10–15 a trip.The town runs about 9.3 mi (15 km) along the shore, so walking covers only the centre. Local buses cost about €1.50 a trip; bicycles rent for about €8 a day and mopeds about €15. Four train stops sit on the Budapest–Nagykanizsa line, but few trains stop at all of them, so check times before relying on the train to cross town. Taxis are a flat seasonal rate, roughly €10–15 a trip.
See and do
Known for
- Lake Balaton south-shore beaches
- Petőfi promenade nightlife
- Water Tower and Tourinform
- Imre Kálmán Memorial Home
- Sailing and windsurfing
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Balatonfüred | Train along the south shore, or ferry across the lake in season | About 1–1.5 h |
| Tihany | Ferry from Siófok harbour to Tihany, then bus or walk up to the abbey | About 1.5 h |
| Hévíz | Train to Keszthely or Hévíz-Balaton airport area, then bus; or drive the M7 | About 1.5–2 h |
| Keszthely | Train west along the south shore | About 1.5 h |
| Fonyód | Train west along the south shore | About 40 min |
| Zalakaros | Train to Nagykanizsa then bus, or drive the M7 | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Centre / Petőfi promenade
- Walk to the main beach, bars and the station; loudest at night in Jul–Aug.
- Aranypart and the west beach strip
- Beachfront hotels and apartments, 10–20 min walk from the centre.
- Szabadifürdő / Szabadisóstó (east)
- Quieter, family beaches, Galerius spa; own train stop on the Budapest line.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Jó napotyoh nah-pot |
| Thank you | Köszönömkur-sur-nurm |
| How much is it? | Mennyibe kerül?men-yee-beh keh-rool |
| The bill, please | A számlát, kéremah saam-laat keh-rem |
| Can I pay by card? | Tudok kártyával fizetni?too-dok kaar-tyaa-vaal fee-zet-nee |
| Where is the beach? | Hol van a strand?hol van ah shtrand |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Jó napot, handshake; avoid: First names with elders
- Names: Family name first when written; avoid: Assuming the second name is the surname
- Toasts: Eye contact; avoid: Clinking beer glasses with older people
- History: Listen; avoid: Joking about Trianon or 1956
- Home visit: Shoes off; flowers or wine; avoid: Refusing food repeatedly
Scams and watch-outs
- In Jul–Aug the centre is a party strip: expect noise until late, and book a room away from Petőfi promenade if you want to sleep.
- Late June can bring sudden heavy storms off the lake; check the forecast before renting a boat or paddleboard.
- Many restaurants, shops and spas outside the centre close or run short hours from October to May.
- Agree the taxi fare or check the meter before you get in; rates change each summer.
Siófok is a safe resort town; the real risks are summer heat, lake storms, drink spiking and bar bills on the party strip — keep an eye on your drink and ask the total before you order.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Siófok yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Lake Balaton south-shore beaches
- Petőfi promenade nightlife
- Water Tower and Tourinform
- Imre Kálmán Memorial Home
- Sailing and windsurfing
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Siófok, revision 5323328 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5323328
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/siofok). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.