Swimming

People usually start swimming in the Balaton in May and by June the water and the weather can be very warm.  The lake bottom is sandy and is gently shelving on the Balatonboglar side.  Because the water very gradually gets deep, there are large shallow areas for children to play safely.  The water in the Summer is warm enough to stay in all day.  It is the ideal playground for children and the ideal place for adults to chill out lazing about on lilos.

The major swimming competition of the year is the swim across the Balaton, starting at Revfulop and finishing in Balatonboglar, 5.2 kms away.  The race usually has about 11000 - 13000 competitors, many from swimming clubs in Hungary and abroad.  Yachts are anchored along the route to support tired swimmers, there are safety boats and the army, police, fire and ambulance services are all there to give a helping hand.

In order to preserve the cleanliness of the water, the only motor boats allowed on the lake are ferries, the water authorities and the police.  Yachts may use their engines only to get in and out of marinas.