And as its English name lends itself to fun for punsters we’ve been served with Hungary and thirsty for a Magyar wine bus tour.
The Magyars have launched their first hop-on hop-off wine bus, on the shores of Lake Balaton in the north of the country.
With 22 wineries, two curated routes, award-winning wines and breathtaking Balaton views.
The 46° Balaton zeroes in on the Balatonfüred–Csopak wine region, which lies close to the 46th parallel north.
Which is the same prestigious European wine belt as iconic wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley.
Balatonfüred and Tihany have become two of the Mayars‘ most popular summer destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year.
Ferry traffic between Szántód and Tihany recently hit record numbers.
While Balatonfüred alone records more than 1.4 million guest nights annually.
Wine O’Clock
We have oenophile Virág Szabó to thank for the tour.
Virág has spent years of summers in Balatonfüred, yet repeatedly found herself visiting the same wineries.
Because many of the region’s hidden gems are difficult to access without a car.
While even short taxi rides from the vineyards can become surprisingly expensive.
“I saw a similar concept on the other side of the world, and immediately thought: why don’t we have this in Hungary?’ she shared.
The idea felt so simple, yet it solves such an obvious problem,” recalls Virág Szabó.
The Magyar Bus
The service operates four days a week — from Wednesday to Saturday — between mid-May and the end of September.
With a special route also planned for Pentecost Sunday.
Buses depart each morning from Vitorlás Square in central Balatonfüred and return there around sunset.
The “Old Friends” route runs on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Taking guests to some of the region’s best-known wineries across Balatonfüred, Aszófő, Pécsely, Balatonszőlős, Csopak, and Paloznak.
With buses circulating every 90 minutes.
Hidden Treasures
The ‘Hidden Treasures’ route operates on Fridays and Saturdays.
Offering a nearly 60-kilometre discovery journey through the rolling hills of the Balaton Highlands.
This route focuses on family-run wineries in villages such as Pécsely, Mencshely, Óbudavár, Szentantalfa, Tagyon, and Balatonakali.
With buses initially running every 120 minutes.
At the heart of the experience is the bus itself: a unique 1984 retro convertible DAF bus.
It features a covered front section and a fully open-air rear deck.
Just the ticket
For visitors staying in Tihany, a dedicated return shuttle service will also be available.
The transfer route includes five stops — including the Tihany ferry terminal.
Including transporting passengers from Tihany to Balatonfüred in the morning and back again in the evening.
Making the experience easily accessible both for southern shore visitors and guests staying in Tihany.
The 46° Balaton Wine Bus is designed as a full-day experience and is family-friendly, making it suitable for visitors with children as well.
Tickets became available from 8 May via the official website at 46balaton.hu.
Due to limited capacity, advance booking is recommended.
