Porcelain & Lake Balaton (Full-Day)

Watch Herend's porcelain painters at work before spending the afternoon in Tihany, overlooking Lake Balaton.

Full-Day Private Tour– In English or Hungarian

Available Tuesday to Saturday.

Herend porcelain has been made in Hungary since 1826. Its hand-painted cups, plates and ornaments have found their way into royal households and homes around the world. On this tour, you'll see the people and the painstaking work behind them.

We'll collect you from your accommodation in Budapest and take you to Herend and Tihany in a private vehicle, with an English- and Hungarian-speaking driver-host. It's just your group, so there's time to enjoy both places at your own pace.

The tour is exclusively for your group, with a maximum of six guests.

Prices – Departing from Budapest
€360 total / 1–2 people
€420 total / 3–4 people
€480 total / 5–6 people

Entrance tickets are included.

Herend – The Home of Hungarian Porcelain

By the middle of the 19th century, Herend porcelain was already attracting attention beyond Hungary. One of its most famous customers was Queen Victoria, who ordered a floral design in 1851. The pattern still bears her name and is produced at Herend today.

Watching the Porcelain Makers at Work

We'll start at the Porcelanium Visitor Centre, where an English-language guided tour takes us through the Minimanufactory. You'll watch craftspeople shaping porcelain and painting the delicate patterns by hand. You'll see how much patience and skill go into decorating even a single cup. We'll also visit the Porcelain Museum, which has pieces from different periods of the manufactory's history. Before leaving Herend, there will be time to browse the Victoria Brand Shop and have a coffee.

Would You Like to Have a Go?

If you'd like to try something yourself, Herend offers three short creative workshops:

• Porcelain Rose Making – learn to shape the petals of a porcelain rose.
• Porcelain Figurine Assembly – try putting together a small porcelain figure.
• Herend Pattern Painting – paint traditional Herend patterns using watercolours.

Each workshop takes approximately 30 minutes. Workshops must be booked in advance, are subject to availability and cost extra. Let us know when booking if you'd like to take part. (€16 / person)

Tihany – A Village Above Lake Balaton

From Herend, we'll drive approximately 35 minutes to Tihany, a village on a peninsula stretching into Lake Balaton.

Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe. Hungarians call it the Hungarian Sea, and generations of families have spent their summer holidays here. In Tihany, old whitewashed houses and thatched roofs sit along the village streets, with the abbey rising above them.

Tihany Abbey and the Old Village

Tihany Abbey was founded in 1055 by King Andrew I, who is buried in its medieval crypt. We'll visit the abbey, including its church, royal crypt and exhibitions, where open to visitors. From the area around the abbey, you can look out across Lake Balaton. Afterwards, we'll have time to wander through the village, stop for a coffee or browse the little shops. Tihany is particularly well known for its lavender, and you'll find plenty of lavender products to take home.

We'll also make time for lunch during the day.

Once we've finished in Tihany, we'll drive you back to your accommodation in Budapest.

Tour duration: Approximately 9–10 hours, depending on traffic and visiting arrangements. Optional workshops may extend the day.

Please note: Advance booking is required. Herend's visitor facilities have seasonal opening dates, and access to parts of Tihany Abbey may vary due to religious services or seasonal arrangements.