The narrow-gauge railway has been running from Balatonfenyves through Nagyberek (Marshland) since the '50s. Originally, the narrow-gauge railway running on 76-cm-wide rails was used as a farm railway mainly for load and passenger transport as it used to belong to Balaton-Nagybereki State Farm. Still now it transports passengers day by day to the small thermal bath in Csiszta-puszta and to the other villages behind the marshland. Tourists are welcome here. In summer an old steam-engine is coupled to the small trains enriching the service..

Lake Balaton is about 10 kilometres wide and 78 kilometres long. Generally its depth is between 3 and 4 meters, which means there are shallow shores for the joy of children. As motor-boats and ships with the exception of certain ferry- and boat-lines are not allowed to run on the lake, Balaton - being an untouched area from this point of view - is considerably suitable for swimming, surfing and sailing. River Zala coming from the south-west across the Small Balaton National Park is mostly worth of mentioning among the rivers which flow into the Balaton. The various pump-systems, among others also the one of Hubertus Agro-Industrial Company, pump the water of marshland from the deep areas to the Balaton. The only canal is the Sió Canal with a dam. The affluents are regularly checked. The quality of their water has been excellent for years. You can discover the particular atmosphere of the 'Hungarian Sea' if you go on a boat trip.

Small Balaton, which used to belong to Balaton Bay, is part of the National Park today. If you are a nature-lover, we suggest that you should make a picnic and visit this wonderful paradise of birds. The buffalo reservation can be found next to it. A little walk to the herd of these ancient, calm animals gives you enduring experience.

Occupying 4.5 hectares (109.78 acres) the largest natural warm-water lake in Europe is situated in Hévíz, which can be visited after a half-hour's driving to the north-west from Balatonfenyves. In summer water temperature is 32-33 oC (89.6 Fo-91.4 Fo), in winter 24-26 oC (75.2 Fo-78.8 Fo), so the many-thousand-year's old thermal bath is suitable for bathing in the whole year round. Due to its high sulphur-containing water, it is particularly good for treating rheumatic disorders but healthy people can also enjoy it. Minerals in the water mg/litre: 25 Na+, 9,6 K+, 0,13 NH4, 87 Ca2+, 37 Mg 2+, total cations:158 mg/litre 27 Cl-, 0,12 Br-, 0,023 I-, 1,3 F-, 63 SO4, 353 HCO3, 2.5 S, total anions: 447 mg/litre. For more details you can contact the State Rheuma Hospital and Clinic in Hévíz.

To the north-west from Balatonfenyves it takes you half-an-hour by car to get to Keszthely, where you can find a good selection of museums to visit. The most famous one is Festetics castle, built in 1745, which was the residence of the Festetics family descending from Croatia.The particularly precious family library containing more than 90,000 books in good condition can be seen beyond the numerous rooms with their original furniture. The monumental sporting-gun and trophy collection can also be admired here.

Earl Festetics became famous mainly for developing agriculture. In the 18th century he founded the Georgikon, the first agricultural school in Europe offering high standard education. The school was housed in Georgikon Museum of today, on the former estate of the family, where the comprehensive collection of the most different technical achievements of agriculture can be seen. It is worth paying a visit to Balaton Museum where you can learn the colourful history of the origin of Lake Balaton, as well as that of the biology in the lake and in the neighbourhood. It is worth mentioning the Doll Museum where you can admire the reduced shell-built

Driving on the road No7 towards Siófok, shortly before Zamárdi you can find Szántódpuszta, the farmstead museum lying opposite Tihany monastery. It is worth visiting the traditional farm-yard with its original buildings. Also here in the different aquariums you can see the fishes living in Lake Balaton, which, last but not least, for children can be an exciting opportunity to watch.

Tihany-peninsula, which can be visited by the only ferry of the Balaton, is worth paying a visit. From the Abbey on Óvár Hill there is a fantastic view to the eastern part of Lake Balaton. The peninsula has got some Mediterranean features - among others lavender is grown here.

Returning home we suggest that you should choose the road No71 towards Keszthely along the shore. Szigliget lies half-way or so. In this picturesque small village you can find the ruins of a fortress and lots of thatched houses reconstructed with care and affection. The botanical garden in the old park unfortunately can be seen only between 12 and 2 p.m.

From Balatonfenyves it is about 1 hour by car to get to Sümeg castle, which is in rather good condition. In summer there are tournaments here every day. The steep path to the castle and the wide view to the surroundings demonstrate vividly that it used to be a fortress.