Heviz-Balaton Airport. Sad impressions

After reading the title of the note, it is logical to ask the question that first comes to mind: “Why are they sad?” Yes, really why? Many of you have probably heard about this small airport, which receives international flights, including from Russia. Someone already knows about it not by hearsay, but thanks to personal experience. The fact that the airport is located close to Lake Balaton and Lake Heviz and the resort of the same name makes it certainly attractive for tourists who want to relax here.

Let's remember a few historical facts. Since 1940, there was a military airfield here, near a place called Sharmellek. In 1957, an agreement was signed between Hungary and the USSR, on the basis of which Soviet troops (YUGV) were located on Hungarian territory from 1956 to 1992.

The Air Force of the Southern Group of Forces included, among other things, the fifth fighter aviation regiment, stationed near the village of Sharmellek. Full name of the regiment: "Fifth Guards Berlin Fighter Aviation Regiment Order of Bohdan Khmelnitsky." There was a Soviet military airfield here for many years.

Our military built a concrete runway at the airfield two thousand five hundred meters long, the so-called “concrete runway” several meters thick, which is still in use today. In those Soviet times, at this military airfield, in special hangars, Mig-21, -23, and later Mig-29 aircraft were based.

Naturally, all technical and support services, as well as the necessary infrastructure, were located here. Residential buildings for military personnel and their families, a school, a kindergarten, a store, a canteen, a club. It was a completely autonomous military base.

A railway line was opened to Sharmellek and aviation fuel arrived here without problems or interruptions, which is very important, because just one flight of a miga fighter can consume several tons of fuel. By rail, food was supplied to the base, spare parts and everything necessary for the autonomous life of the air regiment.

In the spring of 1989, in connection with the so-called unilateral reduction of armed forces, the gradual withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary began. In March of the following year, an agreement was signed on a specific date for the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary. According to the agreements between Hungary and the USSR, all personnel, equipment and equipment were to be withdrawn by June thirtieth.

Thus, in 1990, the history of the existence of the glorious heroic aviation regiment, which took part in the Berlin offensive summer operation during the Great Patriotic War and had many well-deserved military awards, ended. The personnel and all aircraft were withdrawn to the Nikolaev region, to a settlement called Martynovka. Then, very soon, the collapse of the USSR came...

After our military left, the Hungarians did not use the abandoned military base for a long time. Residential buildings and outbuildings gradually fell into deplorable condition. For the first few years, security was still organized here. When she was gone, buildings and residential buildings (windows, doors, plumbing) were simply stolen by local residents.

This is the unsightly state in which the former infrastructure facilities adjacent to the Heviz-Balaton International Airport, which is currently used for civilian purposes, are now in.

The road to Heviz-Balaton Airport does not leave the most pleasant impressions. Outside the car window, iron mesh fencing and barbed wire are lopsided, like drunken poles. And behind the fence of the exclusion zone are abandoned, shabby buildings without windows and doors, and bunkers covered with weeds and uncut grass.

You can get to Hungary from Moscow in many ways - by your own car, by train, by tourist bus. Air travel remains the most popular, because the flight takes about 2.5 hours. Of course, if you prefer direct flights.

We will talk about international Hungarian airports located in the area of ​​Budapest and Lake Balaton. Our focus is on transport links to nearby cities, services in terminals, base airlines and much more. All presented air terminals will be marked on the map.

Overview of international airports in Hungary

There are nine airports on Hungarian territory, five of which have international status. We list these air gates:

• Ferihegy (better known as Franz Liszt);
• Pec Pogan;
• Debrecen;
• Gyor-Per;
• Heviz-Balaton (aka Sarmellek).

Some of the airports presented accept direct flights from Moscow, while others are difficult to get to.

Here is a list of airlines whose services you can use to fly to Hungary:

• UTair;
• Aeroflot;
• Malev;
• Aerosvit Airlines;
• Lufthansa;
• Czech Airlines.

Franz Liszt Airport is the most popular among Russians.

Ferihegy and other airports

The leader in popularity among our compatriots is Liszt Ferenc Airport, which the Hungarians themselves call the strange word Ferihegy. Actually, Ferihegy is the area in which the airport was built.

Ferihegy is located in the southeast direction of Budapest. You will be separated from the city center by 16 kilometers. According to the IATA system, Franz Liszt is coded BUD, according to the ICAO system - LHBP. The online scoreboard can be viewed on the official resource www.bud.hu. Information phone: +361 296 70 00. And here is a list of Franz Liszt's base airlines:

• Solyom - Hungarian Airways;
• Travel Service Hungary;
• Travel Service Airlines;
• Wizz Air.

Within a radius of three kilometers from the airport there are about a dozen budget hotels with a three-star level of service. Ferenc Liszt consists of three terminals, with the first accepting exclusively Schengen flights. Most of the restaurants, cafes and shops are concentrated in complexes 2A and 2B, so it is better to move the long wait for the flight there. Here you can choose traditional souvenirs, and we have already told you what to bring from Budapest.

You can get to the city in several ways:

1. Railway. Trains run between the capital's Western Station and Terminal 1. The interval is 25 minutes. Ticket price is around 3 euros. You can purchase a ticket on the platform, in the terminal building or from the conductor.
2. Shuttles, buses and minibuses. Every 10 minutes, bus number 200E leaves for Budapest. Arrival point is the Köbana - Kispest metro station. As for the shuttles, they stop near each terminal (in front of the entrance).
3. Taxi. You do not need to pre-order. Go to the parking lot near the main terminal and you will be happy. The fare is 15-18 euros.

Hungarian shuttles are analogues of our minibuses. If you don’t want to overpay for taxi drivers’ services, you can order a shuttle directly to the hotel of your choice. Minibuses operate around the clock, and you can book one of them on the resource www.airportshuttle.hu. It's better to work together on this.

You can order a minibus just for yourself and pay 20 euros. Or you can chip in with other passengers (the total amount will not exceed 30 euros) and get where you need to go for pennies.

Here is a list of services in airport terminals:

• currency exchange offices (nine points);
• car rental;
• free Wi-Fi;
• 24-hour bars and restaurants;
• ATMs;
• storage rooms;
• free carts.

Another large airport terminal is located near the town of Debrecen. Distance – 6 kilometers. According to IATA, Debrecen has the code DEB, according to ICAO - LHDC. Reference number: +36 52 521 192. The online scoreboard is presented on the official Debrecen resource: www.debrecenairport.com.

The airport terminal is considered the “eastern gateway” of Hungary, as it is located in close proximity to the borders of Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. Charter and regular flights are accepted here.

The best way to fly to Debrecen is through Bremen and Munich. The airport is also connected to Turkey, Bulgaria and Egypt. The city can be reached by taxi and regular bus.

Within the airport you will find:

• three-star hotel;
• travel agencies;
• banks;
• the shops;
• first aid station;
• cafes and restaurants;
• convenient parking.

The last international airport in this section is Pecs Pogany. The name of the airport, you see, is quite strange. The airport terminal is located nine kilometers from the town of Pecs. Charter flights arrive here extremely rarely. The airport is used for private air transportation. The information desk answers at the number: +(36 72)52 6140. Official resource: www.airport-pecs.hu. Tourists get to the town by rented cars and taxis. Read the conditions in our previous article.

If we summarize the information received, we can draw a simple conclusion - only Debrecen and Franz Liszt deserve attention. These airports are easy to reach and have good connections with nearby settlements. There is a good selection of airlines whose services you can use.

Hungarian airports on the map

We have marked all the airports discussed above on the map of Hungary, so choose the optimal route and suitable hotels. The Heviz-Balaton air terminal occupies a special place, but we will write about this place in the next section.

The final destination is Lake Balaton

The balneological resort of Heviz, as you know, is located not far from Lake Balaton, so you need to fly there through one “air gate”. Heviz is popular far beyond the borders of Hungary. The lake is fed by a powerful underground spring, so the water is renewed daily.

If you’re tired of getting healthy, you can give up on Balaton. Information about treatment at Lake Balaton. Sármellek Airport is located next to Balaton and Heviz, and it serves both of these tourist destinations.

Sármellek is 15 kilometers from Lake Balaton. A kilometer from the terminal is the cozy village of Sharmellek, after which the air terminal is named. Moscow planes arrive in Heviz-Balaton every week.

There is a distance of 10 kilometers between the airport and Heviz. Well-thought-out transport links make it easy to come to this balneological center. The airport is connected to Heviz by regular buses and taxis. If desired, you can rent a car. The base airline is Lufthansa. According to IATA, the airport is marked with the code SOB, according to the ICAO system - LHSM. You can contact the information desk at: +36 83 355 500. The arrivals/departures board is presented on the official resource: www.hevizairport.com.

By the way, eleven kilometers from Sarmellek there is another popular resort town - Keszthely. You can get there by taxi or bus that stops opposite the terminal. If your goal is resorts, and you have limited time left to explore the capital’s attractions, then find out the main interesting places you will be able to visit.

If you don't like the rare direct connection from Sarmellek to Moscow, you can choose one of the connecting options:

• Dusseldorf;
• Hamburg;
• Leipzig;
• Dresden;
• Berlin.

Another way to travel from Sharmellek is by rail. You have two stations to choose from – Balatonszentgyorgy and Keszthely.

Important point: Sarmellek Airport has a seasonal schedule. This means that flight arrivals will differ in spring-summer and autumn-winter.

We plan the optimal route from Moscow

Hungary becomes popular among Muscovites in the fall (September-October) and at the very beginning of winter (December). It's strange, but true. At this time, it becomes much more difficult to get tickets.

Flights from Wizz Air and Aeroflot depart daily to Budapest. Planes take off from Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports. Our compatriots more often choose:

• Belgrade;
• Minsk;
• Prague;
• Munich;
• Warsaw;
• Copenhagen.

As for Balaton and Heviz, the best offer so far remains direct flights from UTair. You can fly one way for 109 euros. A round-trip ticket will empty your wallet by 209 euros. True, this is a basic fare that does not include various airport fees and taxes. You need to focus on 14-15 thousand rubles - this is the full cost of air tickets. UTair flights depart from Vnukovo on Sundays.

And now the news of the day. Another company operating direct flights between Moscow and Lake Balaton is Yakutia. The program is charter, the planes take off from their native Vnukovo. When returning from vacation, don’t forget to buy gifts for your loved ones, what souvenirs to bring from Hungary.

Direct flights from Moscow are operated by Wizz Air and Aeroflot.

If you want to save money, here are some useful tips:

1. Buy tickets in advance (and both ways).
2. Choose connecting routes.
3. Keep an eye out for the best deals (they pop up on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Tuesdays).
4. Track promotions.
5. Fly economy class.
6. A good solution is charters and low-cost airlines.

Summarize. Hungary offers its guests five international air terminals, but only three are suitable for ordinary Muscovites. These are Franz Liszt, Heviz-Balaton and Debrecen (to a lesser extent).

The best option is to settle in the vicinity of Lake Balaton, and visit Budapest on short visits, visiting the many attractions. By the way, domestic flights operate between Franz Liszt and Heviz-Balaton, so Budapest can be considered as a connecting link. Have a nice trip!

You can find more information on the topic in the section.

Last fall I had the opportunity to accompany my aunt to Lake Heviz for treatment. The lake is a large beautiful reservoir with healing water. The resort of the same name is also located here. I have been to Hungary several times, I really like the thermal springs of Budapest, Eger and Miskolc. But I didn’t have a chance to visit Lake Balaton. I heard that Hungarians love this huge lake, because it is the only “sea” in their country. And I had to figure out how to get to this beauty myself. I accompanied a far from young aunt, who often did not feel very well. Therefore, I first had to understand all the nuances and options for our movements in great detail. This helped us a lot in our moves. Maybe it will help you too. So, let's go!

Heviz International Airport – Balaton

The city of Heviz and its miraculous thermal lake are located near Lake Balaton, just nine kilometers away. The nearest airport where planes with tourists who want to get treatment in Heviz arrive is called Heviz-Balaton. Until 2005, it was a military airfield and was called after the village next to which it is located - Sharmellek. Locals often still call it that way. The airport has detailed information that may be useful when planning your trip.
It was here that I learned from the schedule that there are flights to Heviz from Moscow. And then on search sites I specified a route through this airport. You can search and buy tickets in advance, for example. But, unfortunately, there are very few flights to this airport. In addition to the air carrier Utair, which flies once a week on Sundays, and only from July to October, the remaining carriers are German: Lufthansa and Germania. Therefore, many tourists get to this resort through.

How to get from Balaton Airport by train

Heviz does not have a direct train connection. The nearest train station is in the neighboring town of Keszthely, which is 10 km from Heviz. So, if you travel from the airport to the city by train, you will have to change trains in any case. From the airport we take the train to Keszthely and change to a bus to the center of Heviz. Conveniently, the train station in Keszthely and the bus station are located on the same square.
Keszthely is a city on Lake Balaton, very popular among tourists. Trains arrive in this city from different parts of Hungary and other countries. The train arrival schedule at the station can be viewed on the official website of the railway service.
In general, Keszthely is a small city, but there is something to see here. Here, by the way, is the most beautiful palace in Hungary - the Festetics estate. So a transfer in this city can be combined with an excursion to the palace.
To get from Keszthely to Heviz, you need to take a regular bus or use a taxi. Buses depart from Keszthely central bus station to Heviz quite often. On this website you can check the time of departure, arrival at the final destination and the bus route. By the way, the buses themselves do not have a flight number; look carefully at the signs on the windshield, which indicate the name of the final stop. The drive to Heviz is only 15-20 minutes.

Fare

On the website of the Hungarian Passenger Railways you can find out the current fares, as well as discounts and promotions that are valid at this time. For example, MÁV-START travel between the two stations closest to Heviz-Balaton airport, Keszthely and Balatonszentgyorgy, costs 310 forints (just under 1 euro) in a 2nd class carriage and 390 forints (1.5 euros) in a first class carriage.

Buying tickets

On this one of the popular Hungarian carriers Volan you can buy a bus ticket from Keszthely to Heviz. When paying, you must indicate the email address to which your purchased ticket will be sent. You can also pay the fare directly on the bus to the driver in cash.

How to get from Heviz-Balaton Airport to Heviz by bus

You can also take a bus from Heviz-Balaton Airport to Heviz. Transport connections are good here. You can get from the airport to the city by regular buses. There is a bus stop right outside the airport terminal. The platform must have a schedule indicating the departure time and the final destination of the bus. The only inconvenient thing is that the buses do not have numbers; you have to look at the signs on the bus where it goes.

Fare

The cost of travel by bus from Sarmellek station to Heviz is from 300 forints to 450 (1-1.5 euros), depending on whether it is a direct flight or the bus will call at Keszthely.

Buying a ticket

Bus tickets can be purchased from the driver if you board at stops along the route, or at the bus station ticket office if you board at the final stop.

How to get by taxi from the airport to Heviz

The most convenient way to get to the city from the airport is by taxi. Since the distance from the airport to the city is small, only 9 kilometers, even with a modest budget you can afford such a comfortable transfer. You can use a taxi call website, or you can negotiate with the hotel to send a taxi for you. I wrote a letter to the hospital and they organized a taxi for us when our flight arrived. We paid 2500 forints (8 euros). When ordering a taxi, you need to clarify how many people will be traveling and what class of car you want.

Car rent

If you are a happy owner of an international license and drive a car well, it is very convenient to rent a car. Then it will be possible not only to quickly and comfortably get from the airport to Heviz. To be honest, Heviz is, well, a very quiet and very calm city! For retirees and for health improvement, it’s definitely good! But if I had to stay there for even a week, I can’t imagine what I would do. And when you have a car at hand, you can explore the entire nearby region without any problems. For example, go for a walk to Lake Balaton.
Although the airport terminal is small, you can rent a car on site. But, of course, it is better to do this at home, in advance. Go to a search site, preferably several. For example, you can take a look. Choose a machine by color, size, cost, study the rental conditions. And at the airport you just need to get into it and go on a journey.
Have a comfortable trip everyone!

Hévíz-Balaton Airport (SOB) is of international importance. It is located in the village of Szarmellek (Hungary). It ranks second in importance after Budapest Airport. It is also an important air gateway to Hungary. It is worth noting that this airport is seasonal. It operates in spring and summer, when a large number of tourists arrive at lakes Balaton and Heviz.

Hotels near Heviz Balaton Airport

Each of the city's guests can choose one of the hotels near Balaton Airport according to their capabilities and go on vacation immediately after arrival. All complexes offer excellent living conditions, comfortable and cozy rooms, various amenities and a variety of recreational options.

Within a radius of several kilometers there is a five-star hotel near Sarmallek airport - Lotus Therme Hotel & Spa. Nearby there are four-star hotels: Kolping Hotel Spa & Family Resort, Danubius Health Spa Resort Aqua All Inclusive, as well as three-star hotels: Hunguest Hotel Helios Superior.

When going on vacation, we recommend that you think through everything down to the smallest detail. It's best to think about booking rooms in advance. You can book a hotel near Sarmallek International Airport in Heviz through our online booking service The Planet of Hotels.