About Hungary.net

Lake Szelidi

How to get there ? From Budapest must ride to South direction on road No 51 at Dunapataj must turn to Ujtelek direction and after 3-4km the Lake will be on the left side of the road.

Lake Szelidi

The Lake Szelidi is a popular Danube backwater mostly used for bathing. It is can be found near to Dunapataj in the middle part of the country.

It is located in the Kiskunsag area (between Hungary’s two biggest rivers, the Danube and the Tisza up the Northern hills) which is flat land covered with mostly sand. It is known about many horse riding farms, spas, salty lakes, sand dunes, wine making among others. Huge parts of the area are part of the Natural reserve, mostly the salty lakes and the surrounding. Some parts of the area is quite abandoned, which makes it interesting to visit. The Lake Szelidi is the fifth biggest lake in Hungary, after the Lake Balaton (app. 600 km2), Lake Ferto (315 km2), Lake Tisza (127km2) Lake Velencei (26 km2). For the record there are app. 3805 lakes in Hungary.

The Lake Szelidi is app 4km long, approximately 150-200m wide, 3-4m deep, the total surface area is app 75-80 hectare. The Lake has a nice sandy beach. At the time of our
visit, there was basic facilities next to the shore like toilets and restaurants, which makes the stay quite pleasant.
There is a stage nearby as well. We visited the lake in 2009. The Lake is a natural protection area as well. Mostly there is no covering on the shore, cutted grass and sand, as it is usual in many places in Hungary. No big cities nearby, the biggest is Kalocsa with 16,000 inhabitants. As I see the Lake is not a “mainstream”
holiday place like the Lake Balaton, I think many Hungarians never visit the Lake. It is part of the huge competition inside the country (other lakes, spas, etc).
We found our holiday quite enjoyable, part of it we were with our friends, who knew the area very well. We participated in a Grape harvest as well. When we visited
the Lake there was many people there, but was not overly crowded, in August. I guess when the weather is not nice, not many people are there.

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The water

The water of the lake has a “velvety” feel, partly because of the salt content of the water. The lake is a salty lake with 1,5-2g salt/litre. The salt concentration can change in case of addition water supplies. The water is strongly alkaline.

Fishing

Fishing is possible as well, but when we visit in the main bathing season the whole lake was occupied by bathing people. Interestingly there are some huge fish is
caught in the Lake (carps and catfishes). For fishing daily ticket is needed, which can be bought at Dunapataj, Ordasi street in the renovated community house weekdays between 17-18h, saturday between 9-12 h. Sometimes there are fishing competitions in the Lake. Fishing shop is also can be found in Dunapataj, the Csukás fishing shop, Dunapataj, Vasut str 1, near the roundabout, in the center, from Budapest direction at the left side of the road.

Accomodation

There are some hotels and apartmans in Dunapataj and Kalocsa. Quiet village life this is how they advertise themself, which I found true. This place is not as popular as the Balaton or Lake Velence, which can be seen from the number of apartmans as well. We liked it very well. We stayed our friends, so I don’t know how hard or easy to find an accomodation in the main season(July-August). (Other times of the year I guess quite easy)

Things to do in Dunapataj and by the Lake

There is a Potter house in Dunapataj, which can be visited after setting an appointment.
There is a 2,4km Nature trail next to the Lake, which shows the formation of the Lake, the flora and fauna of the surrounding areas. The trail starts at the Szittyó
square at the Resort village area.

Things to do and see nearby

I would list what we saw and done, and mention some curiosities further.
The Danube is not far which is beautiful, and there are several ranches in the neighborhood, where we can saw some horses and interesting farm buildings.

The nearby city, Kalocsa also worth to visit. There is a nice garden there.

Little bit further in South, Hajos is an interesting cellar village, which is formed on the Danube breakline. There are 1200 cellars there.

In Kecel, there is a huge outdoor Military museum. It is located in 3 hectare, there you can see almost any pistol, rifle, machine gun used in Hungary, and airplanes
(SZU22, MiG 15,17,19,21,23) and helicopters as well. It is located in Kecel, Rákóczi u industrial area

More pictures

Flowers at Dunapataj

Delegyhazi lakes

Click to see in 1200 pixel
Delegyhaza is a smaller settlement about 27km from Budapest in South direction. Around 3700 people live here. The biggest attraction is the gravel lakes there. There are 12 lakes (or more) with a total area of 300 hectare. Some of the lakes are used for bathing others for fishing and there is a lake for naturists as well. These lakes were formed as a side effect of gravel digging. As this industry is continuing newer lakes are formed as well. Delegyhaza is not the only place in this region with such industry, there are many places like this around started from Budapest’s South border. Fishermen and bathing people like the result though, there are many lakes in this region.

Infrastructure

When we visited the place several years ago, there was not much infrastructure. The grass and the shore was well kept, but not many other facilities, or restaurants. If you want bathing and swimming the Rukkel lake between Bugyi and Taksony has much better service, but in hot sunny days there are many people there. The Delegyhazi lakes are more natural, there are huge spaces, and not many people (sometimes there are many people here as well).

Places to visit

Most people go for the Nomad shore where you can find the biggest beach. Most pictures were taken there. There are dedicated fishing lakes as well.

Other things to do and see in Delegyhaza

There as an old Wild Pear tree in the city, which is said to 400 years old. The locals like the tree very much. The tree is about 6m tall, app. 80cm wide at the lower parts, and now both of the main branch of the tree is supported with a steel structure. There is a horse riding opportunity in the nearby farms. The Piroth Castle / Country house is also found in Delegyhaza, which now serves as a House of culture.

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Other things to do and see nearby

The above mentioned Rukkel lake is one option with huge slides, and relatively good service. This is also a gravel pit, smaller than the ones in Delegyhaza, but has many restaurants, benches, and facilities. For fishermen there are plenty of options, there are lakes everywhere in the Region and there is the Soroksari Danube branch as well for fishing. The Soroksari danube branch is a 53km long mostly narrow (50-60m, at the Southern end it is more wide) branch of the Danube. It starts at Budapest and goes to South direction. Both sides and the numerous islands are covered with weekend houses. It is one of the most popular fishing place in Hungary, at least in the past.

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Th text on the wall of the building is “Open air disco” I think it is from the 80’s.

Domony valley lake Hungary

Domony valley located app. 47km from Budapest in North-East direction. It is famous partly for this bathing lake on the pictures. (Other interesting place is the equestrial farm of the Lazar brothers, in front of the lake). It is very close to the city called Godollo, which is famous about the Castle of the former Governor Sissy (Empress Elisabeth (1837-1898) wife of Habsburg Franz Joseph governor of Austro-Hungarian Empire ). The lakes is surrounded with forests on every side.

How to get there

From Budapest all the way on road No 3 or 30 (same road not the highway started from the Örs vezér square next to Arkad shopping mall) all the way through every settlement (Kistarcsa, Kerepes, etc), after Godollo, leaving Gödöllő very near must turn leftwards after go app. 1km on the road, until when we see the beach. The last part of the road is a dirt/sand road. The whole trip from Budapest is less than an hour in good traffic situation.

Entrance fee

There is an entrance fee, which is around 6-7 EUR for adults (1990 HUF, 2016 aug) (Not every lake has an entrance fee in Hungary, most of them free), the afternoon ticket is little cheaper.

There is a nice sandy shore where the children can play. The Lake is not big I guess about 2-3 hectare is the surface area of the water, and quite shallow near the shore. In hot weather in summer there can be many people on the shore. The shore is not as huge as in many other places in Hungary. Behind the shore there are several buffets and even a library. There are many toys on the beach for the small children to play with.

There is a small slide in the water, for some extra cash.

The sunset ends the show.

The visiting of the lake is a one day program, there is no hotels there as far as I know.