Fonyód: Sipos Hill, Vár Hill and parking

Fonyód is a resort and port town on the southern shore of Lake Balaton. From the lookout towers on its two neighboring hills, Sipos Hill and Vár Hill, you can see the lake’s western basin and the volcanic witness hills on the opposite shore. If you’d like to add panoramic views and local history to your lakeside visit, it’s worth setting aside some time for the town.

If you’re arriving by car, it’s also a good idea to check the parking information in advance, so that once you arrive you can focus on the harbor, the lookout towers or Bélatelep.

Sipos Hill and Vár Hill: Fonyód’s two lookout towers

Fonyód’s skyline is defined by the two highest hills on the southern shore of Lake Balaton, which rise side by side. There is a lookout tower atop both Sipos Hill and Vár Hill, so either makes a great destination if you’d like to see the area around the lake from above. Looking north, you can take in the western basin of Lake Balaton and the volcanic witness hills of the Balaton Uplands, including the easily recognizable Badacsony.

The view is interesting beyond the lake, too: looking south, you can see the meadows and wetlands of Nagy-Berek. The two hills make Fonyód recognizable along the shore even from a distance. Set aside some time to visit the lookout towers rather than squeezing them in between lakeside activities.

Harbor, ferry station and the lakeshore

Fonyód is a port town, and many people take a boat from its harbor to the other side of Lake Balaton. The area around the ferry station is worth visiting even if you’re not continuing your journey by boat: from here, you can carry on walking to Fonyód’s lakeside attractions. A row of shops runs between the ferry station and Panoráma Beach, making this stretch a pleasant part of a lakeside stroll around the town.

On the shore, you’ll find Kiss István’s double nude sculpture, which has become a symbol of Fonyód. The memorial to Antal Lányi, the first person to fly across Lake Balaton, is also located here. If you’d like to see several attractions in a short time, it’s worth planning a single walk that takes in the harbor and the sights along the shore.

Bélatelep and the villas along Szaplonczay Promenade

Bélatelep played an important role in Fonyód’s development as a resort. The creation of the neighborhood was initiated by Dr. Manó Szaplonczay, who persuaded the owner of the wooded area on Vár Hill to divide the land into plots for holiday homes. A row of villas was built along the promenade later named after Szaplonczay, recalling the town’s history as a Lake Balaton resort.

If you’d like to learn something about Fonyód’s history as well as enjoy the lakeshore, Bélatelep is a good choice. You can combine a visit to the neighborhood with the Fonyód Museum, which is also located here. The promenade and museum together make for an outing that takes in both the old holiday resort and the local history of the area.

Fonyód Museum: local history and Lake Balaton’s wildlife

The Fonyód Museum is located in Bélatelep, on Bartók Béla Street, in a former villa that once housed a cinema. Its permanent local history and ethnographic collections offer an insight into the town, but the museum is about more than the settlement’s past. Visitors can also learn about the flora and fauna of Lake Balaton and the importance of nature conservation.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, so it’s worth considering a visit even if you’ve been to Fonyód before. The building is a former villa, linking the site to the history of Bélatelep as well. After exploring the promenade, you can continue getting to know the town and its natural surroundings from a different perspective here.

Pheasant Park and the remains of the castle

You can discover an older layer of Fonyód’s history in Pheasant Park. Here you can see the ramparts of the former Fácános Castle’s pile-built structure, the excavated castle moat and the foundation walls of the church that once stood inside the castle. The site is interesting because you can learn about the castle’s past not only from written accounts: its surviving and excavated remains can also be seen in the park.

The memory of Fonyód Castle is also kept alive through the town’s events. At a commemoration associated with the Fonyód Summer Festival, the castle’s former defenders are honored, with demonstrations by horsemen and archers dressed in period costume at the restored Fácános Palisade Castle. If you’d like to add a historic site to your visit alongside the lookout towers and lakeshore, include the park in your itinerary.

Parking in Fonyód

Hourly rates are the same in Fonyód’s paid parking zones, but the zone boundaries and applicable paid parking periods may vary. Before parking your car, check which zone you’re in and what conditions apply to that location. The parking zone finder can help.

Mobile parking is a convenient option if you’d like to pay by phone before a lakeside walk or a museum visit. Start your parking session after arriving and checking the relevant zone.

8640 – Fonyód, Fürdő Street: HUF 500/hour
8641 – Fonyód, Hunyadi Street: HUF 500/hour (Monday to Saturday, 08:00–16:00)
8643 – Fonyód market parking lots (Blaha Street and Gáz Street): HUF 500/hour

The rates are based on data from National Mobile Payment Plc. and were valid when this article was published.

Tip: Plan to explore the harbor, ferry station and lakeside attractions on one walk. If you’re arriving by car, check the zone and payment conditions when choosing where to park on Fonyód’s parking page.

Once you’ve parked and checked the conditions that apply at your location, you can start parking online from your phone in just a few taps, without a parking meter, cash or installing an app. Then you’re ready to set off for a walk along Fonyód’s lakeshore or up to the lookout towers.

Last updated: 27. 10. 2026.