Budapest to Balaton: Hungary's Completed 205km Cyclist Route

Published: April 22 2023

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In 2017, the Hungarian cabinet announced the upgrade of the entire Balaton cycle route making it easier for cyclists to go around the lake. Despite the popularity of the project, it faced some resistance from locals, particularly at Zánka where residents were concerned about the peace of their streets close to the shore used as a promenade.

The Balaton cycle route was originally marked out in the early 2000s but left out a short section because of legal disputes. It took two decades for the cyclists to have complete access to the route due to this dispute, forcing them to make a detour to route 71.

Cyclists can ride the complete 205km through the balmy bike paths or hop into public roads suitable for cycling for a tour of the picturesque country.

What is the Balaton cycle route in Hungary? The Balaton cycle route is a 205km route in Hungary that allows cyclists to circumnavigate Lake Balaton using either bicycle paths or public roads suitable for cycling.

Was there any opposition to the upgrade of the Balaton cycle route? Yes, the project faced local resistance in Zánka, where many people feared for the peace of the streets near the shore that were used as a promenade.

When was the Balaton cycle route marked out? The Balaton cycle route was marked out in the early 2000s, but due to legal disputes, a short section was left out of the route for two decades.

Why did cyclists have to detour from the Balaton cycle route? Due to various legal disputes, a short section of the Balaton cycle route was left out, which meant that cyclists had to detour to route 71 for two decades.

Is the Balaton cycle route open to the public? Yes, the Balaton cycle route is open to the public and allows for cycling around the lake.