One of the longest and most breathtaking beaches in Fonyód, our little Copacabana. If you put a little sea-side feeling into the Lake Balaton day, the Arpad Coast will have a good chance of convincing you. There will be no ocean waves, and the role of Mount Sugarglass will continue to be played by Badacsony, but long-lasting waterfront, runners, cyclists and people walking in the sunset will indeed give it a very different atmosphere than a traditional surrounded beach.
The Árpád coast is located in Fonyódligett and is officially recognised as the longest free beach at Lake Balaton. The coastline follows the water for about 1,200 meters. It is not wide, but rather a long green strip of eight to ten meters between the road with limited traffic and Lake Balaton. The advantage of this is that almost everyone here gets a place right next to the lake. There are no really back lines: you put the towel down, and a few steps into the water.
Maybe that's why the whole thing is a little smoother. The crowd doesn't gather around a single entrance, it dissipates nicely on the more than one kilometer of shore. Even on a busy summer day, there is a good chance you can find your own little beach slice to watch Lake Balaton and the other side. If one part is too crowded, you walk 100 meters and start another world.
The water is gradually, slowly deepening and warming up quickly in the summer, so it's also a good choice for families with little children. Some parts of the beach are more shadowy, other days are the main role. You might want to walk through a shorter stretch before you build a final camp on the first free square meter. If you come all day, the garden umbrella or beach tent here is not a bad idea.
There are four playgrounds on the beach, several sanders and volleyball courts. The playgrounds are separated from the road by fences or hedges, so children can't run out of speed to traffic. At the end of Niklai Street, the spectacular beach slide is nine meters tall and 96 metres long. His operation may depend on the water and season, but when it's useful, it's hard to walk past him without children starting negotiations immediately.
Two bathrooms, showers and dressing rooms serve the long beach; children's bathroom and baby-mama rooms are also located on the beach. There are several buffet, ice cream and restaurants available, including a water bike, kayak, surf and SUP. Since the beach is over a kilometer long, not all services will be right next to your towel. This is something to consider when choosing the place: if you come with a baby, it is more practical to set up near one of the bathrooms and playgrounds.
In parallel to the coast, there is a 1250 metres long rectal runway with rubber cover. This is not just a summer set: it is also used in spring, autumn and even milder winter days. There are few places to run the morning kilometers so that you can have Lake Balaton and Badacsony by your side. The track is also a comfortable promenade, which separates sunbathing by the water and rest under the trees on the road.
It's going to be the Arpad Coast tonight. The beaches are slowly going home, the walkers, the runners and those who would just sit somewhere to watch the sunset. The long beach becomes a real age. You don't need a special program, an entry or an exact arrival time: you leave one end and go as far as you please.
In the middle of Árpád coast there is Café Kamilla, which has been part of the summer in Fonyódgöld since 1992. It's not a sudden show of fashion season anymore, it's an orientation point. The locals talk about it like a geographical object: we meet at the Kamilla, before the Kamilla or something after the Kamilla.
You can sit down for coffee, cold drinks, ice cream or something fast, but we like it mainly because of the spruce. We do not claim that the view of Lake Balaton is scientifically justifiable in improving wine and soda, but sitting on the terrace of Kamilla there can be quite strong evidence besides theory. The offer and opening up may vary outside of season, but in summer the place is a natural part of the Árpád coast.
The use of the beach is free and available throughout the year. With a car, you can find parking places in the vicinity of Niklai Street; there are about 100 free seats available, but on summer weekends they can quickly fill up. It is even easier by train: the Fonyódliget stop is about 150 metres from the north-east end of the coast and the further parts of the beach are within a few minutes' walk. The Balaton bicycle road is practically passing by the beach.
According to official 2026 tests, bathing water has an excellent annual qualification. The beach is organized and equipped, but its character still does not belong to a modern beach complex. If you want to find everything around one central building, choose the Panorama. However, if you are more important to space, the long waterfront, the runway, freedom and always find yourself another small part, the Árpád coast is difficult to beat.
Our Copacabana. Less samba, more spruce, and the background is given by Badacsony.
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