Balatoni Hajózási Ltd (BAHART) officially ended its 179th passenger season on 2 November, reporting 2.326 million travellers on its ferries and passenger boats so far this year, 53,000 more than in the same period last year and already exceeding the 2024 annual figure. The company says the results reflect the ongoing rise of tourism around Lake Balaton.
Passenger boats welcomed 901,000 travellers, nearly 38,000 above the previous high, while ferry crossings reached 1.425 million, 15,000 more year-on-year. Scheduled intercity routes, expanded family discounts and the increasing number of cyclists using boat services were the main drivers of growth. Scheduled lines transported over 664,000 passengers, a 7.3 per cent increase compared with 2024, with the Fonyód–Badacsony and Siófok–Balatonfüred–Tihany routes again topping demand.
New investments supported by more than 6 billion forints in government funding also contributed to rising popularity. The Tomaj and Balaton catamarans, introduced last year, continued to draw heavy usage, nearly 251,000 travellers on the Fonyód–Badacsony route alone, including more than 124,000 on the Tomaj.
Cycling tourism around the lake is booming as well: BAHART boats carried 54,000 bicycles this year, a 22 per cent rise and ferries handled 144,000 bikes, up 8.5 per cent.
The company highlighted successful new measures launched in 2025. Family ticket users more than doubled from 82,000 to 171,000. Digital ticketing also surged. 177,000 passengers bought tickets online or via vending machines, up 30 per cent. Sightseeing and nostalgia cruises maintained strong interest, with around 197,000 participants and Balatonfüred, Keszthely and Siófok remaining the top departure points. Among historical vessels, Kelén and Helka remained the favourites.
Autumn traffic increased by 15 per cent compared with the previous year, supported by school holiday programmes and special event sailings, including services linked to the Szigliget Pike Festival and weekend routes on key lines.
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