Siofok

Used to say as capital of Lake Balaton. Siofok is looking like a large city in summertime, where large number of tourist passing by, take a swim or have fun in any of the nightclubs, discos in the city. Siofok offers a buzzling summer atmosphere so in our opinion it is suits to younger tourists, but also a must see place if you are around Lake Balaton. There are very good connections from Siofok, since it lies on the crossroad of M7 highway from Budapest to Croatia, the trainline from Budapest and also has a busy harbour , where from you can go anywhere on Lake Balaton by boat. So Siofok also a good starting point to go discover surrounding cities and sights. You can find anything you need for a great summer vacation in Siofok, good hotels, nice restaurants, nightlife, wonderful sunrise over the lake balaton, easy transportation and shopping facilities as well. So why wouldn't you try? We also have some tour tips check it out.
Walk in Siofok A very interesting scenic spot is port of Siofok, from where the scheduled pleasure boats put forth. The busiest boat traffic occurs here on the Balaton. The monument erected to 100th 125th and 150th anniversary of steamboating of the Balaton stands in the park in front of building of the port. On the Northern part stands the statue of Vilt Tibor, title: Mermaid of Lake Balaton (1974). In the park next to it one of the sights of the city, Rose Garden can be seen, which revives again by the careful work of the gardeners. The end of the Cross lake swimming competitio is also here, that's why in 1997 the city put up a statue to Kalman Szekrenyessy, who was the first man who swam cross the lake. Port of the sailing boats, as well as one of the characteristic buildings of the town, the Meteorological Observatory, are located at the western pier. This observatory gives the first storm signal for the whole Balaton region. Yard of the station is decorated by Miklos Borsos's statue titled "Urania". Scenic spot of the port is still the Sio-lock being built together with it. Here a memorial tablet brings it to our mind that the first lock allowing regulation of water level of the lake has been made on the basis of Karoly Klein's and Laszlo Botka's designs in 1863. The old Sio and Hullam (Wave) hotels are situated on the front of the Petofi promenade, among ancient walls of which many noted writers and artists made their appearance. On the right side of the promenade we can fall in with popular walking place of siofok, the Jokai park. There are lots of people seeking for softening under the cool leafy boughs and shady trees. On several kilometer long shrubby promenades and on open beaches of extensive area of the 'Aranypart' (Gold Shore) the visitor finds thousands of people seeking for pleasures of summer, resting and recreation. But exceedingly beautiful eastern basin of the Balaton, with waving mounts of the opposite shore, also bursts upon the visitor's sight. Turning back on the Batthyany street we make our way towards the Martirok (Martyrs) street. In front of oldest and most beautiful building of the bathing establishment, on fence of the former Vitez boarding-house, a marble tablet designates Frigyes Karinthy's one-time summer house. The most universal-minded and one of the most fruitful Hungarian writers of the XXth century deceased in this house on 29th August, 1938. The villa standing on the corner of the Batthyany and Martirok street is famous for the fact that Mor Jokai spent last summer of his life here in 1903. The so-called Krudy villa is to be found towards the port at some meters from the building. The writer spent all his summers in this house from 1914 to 1919. Otherwise Gyula Krudy was bound by a memory for life to siofok, where every summer he was guest of one-time tenant of siofok bathing establishment, Gyula Varady. Here he became acquainted with and fell in love with Rozsa Zsuzsa Varady, who was 21 years younger than himself and whom he married later on. On other side of the Sio, going to Zamardi, we are on the so-called Ezustpart (Silver shore), where modern holiday houses and hotels have been erected, allowing recreation of many thousands of people. In front of northern side of the ten-storied building on the beach Laszlo Marton's statue titled "Woman's torso" has been placed (1970). Going backwards to the centre of town we can see educational complex and building estate of Foki-mount, as well as block of building of Hospital and Out-patients' department of siofok inaugurated in 1968. One of most beautiful, multiform statues of siofok, Imre Varga's work titled "Bygone days" is to be found in garden of the hospital. Still, Laszlo Peterfy's work titled "Figure of fountain" decorates the park (1970). In the centre of siofok on the Szabadsag square the 45 m high Water tower rises, which is one of the characteristic buildings of the town. To the South of the Liberty square on the Main square stands the City Hall and Cultural Centre. Here stands the bust of Imre Kalman, work of Meszes Toth Gyula (1961).

Imre Kalman, the world-famous componist was born in siofok. In the house where he was born a museum can be found, at Imre Kalman promenade 5.
The Main square is adorned by a fontain, which is the composition of Imre Varga, son of siofok. Its title: Birth of Venus (1988) From public buildings of siofok we see to rise the neo-Roman Parish-church, which has been built in 1903. Above its entrance door work of the international-famed painter-artist Endre Muzsinszki-Nagy (1886-1975) is visible. Neoclassic station paintings of the church were painted by Bela Buky (1928), while the triumphal arch, in the middle of which Patrona Hungariae is enthroned and receives homage of the Hungarian saints, is made fascinating by paintings of Gyorgy Leszkovszky (1938). Stained glasses of the church have been made in workshop of Miksa Roth. Based on dispositions of the 2nd Council of the Vatican sanctuary of the building has been rebuilt in 1980 according to scene designs of Gyorgy Osztie. The pastoforium is work of Gyorgy Madarassy goldsmith's artist. Behind the high altar there is visible magnificent work of a Tyrolean master of the XVIIth century, the bearded, thorn-crowned Christ inclining his head to the right. Largest organ of the whole Balaton-region is to be found also in the church. The three-manual and thirty six-register instrument was constructed by Frigyes Paulus organ-builder master according to drawings of Sandor Fabian cantor.
In the church organ concerts are organized every summer with appearance of well-known home and foreign artists. Under number 13 Kele u. we find the Presbyterian church built in 1923, while at the corner of Budai Nagy Antal and Szechenyi streets there is the stately synagogue inaugurated by Dr. Alfred Schoner chief rabbi on 12th June, 1986 (on the day of Erev Sovuausz).The new evangelic church designed by Imre Makovecz Ybl Prize winner architect can be found in the Oulu park (Oulu is Finnish sister town of siofok). This four-portal, upward- orientated building that holds 120 people and has wooden structure in 80% is the most beautiful and modern evangelic church of not only of the town but of the country. On the main street on the left bank of Sio quite close by the bridge there is a Lodging house, later called Fogas (Pike-perch) and Borharapo (Wine shop). This porched open-passage Baroque building is one of the most valuable architectural heritages of the inner town.

In the centre of the city, by the railway station the Milleneum park can be found. It is a good resting place for the citizens and for the tourists. Its land is 16.000 m2. Park was planned by Dr. Imre Jambor, professor of department of horticulture. The building begann in 1993, ended in 1994.