Tranquil Pines Rose Garden Cottage

It's around half an hour's drive from here to the closest edge of Lake Balaton's lovely 197-kilometre shoreline, which is bordered by beaches all the way around and surrounded by volcanic hills and thermal spa resorts. The town of Siófok is the closest lakeside settlement worth stopping off at if you fancy exploring the lake's perimeter: you can spend your time sampling local eats and tipples among the many bars, restaurants and cafés that line its popular Petőfi walkway, or getting stuck into sandside games at its kid-friendly beach. If you're after somewhere alongside the lake with even more splendid views, do yourself a big favour and drive the (highly scenic) 80 minutes it takes to get to Balatonfüred. Settled into the hills of the lake's northern shore, this spot has somewhat of a more serene vibe than partyish Siófok, is surrounded by hills carpeted with vineyards and nature-filled marshes, and crisscrossed by the walking routes of the Balaton Uplands National Park.