castle
Sumeg Castle
One of Hungary's best-preserved medieval fortresses crowns a bald limestone hill above the town of Sumeg near Lake Balaton, hosting jousting shows and commanding views over the Bakony hills.
25 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeHungaryVeszprém
Ajka
Veszprém, Hungary · Europe
About Ajka
Ajka is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Úrkút, 33km from Lake Balaton.
Ajka is in Veszprém, Hungary, with about 31,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Úrkút, about 7 km away.
Ajka (Hungarian: Ajkai járás) is a district in central-western part of Veszprém County. Ajka is also the name of the town where the district seat is found. The district is located in the Central Transdanubia Statistical Region.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ajka?
Within an hour or so of Ajka: Sumeg Castle (25 km), Hegyestű Geological Visitor Site (25 km), Lake Balaton (33 km), Tihany Peninsula, Lake Balaton (33 km).
Are there any good drives near Ajka?
The nearest famous roads are Balaton North Shore Drive (Route 71).
Where is Ajka?
Ajka is in Veszprém, Hungary, about 7 km from Úrkút.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 31,407
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Hungary
- Region
- Veszprém
- Timezone
- Europe/Budapest
- Coordinates
- 47.1020, 17.5589
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Hungary
e-vignette required for motorways. Zero alcohol limit for drivers.
Full driving guide for HungaryTags
Worth the detour from Ajka
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
photogenic
Hegyestű Geological Visitor Site
A quarried-open basalt volcano near Monoszló above Lake Balaton: a 50 m wall of vertical polygonal columns showing the inside of an 8-million-year-old eruption, with Káli Basin views from the rim.
25 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Balaton
Central Europe's largest freshwater lake, known as the Hungarian Sea, a beloved summer destination with vineyards and resort towns.
33 km · about 40 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Tihany Peninsula, Lake Balaton
A lavender-scented peninsula with an abbey perched over Central Europe's largest lake, ringed by a scenic drive.
33 km · about 40 min drive
coastal drive
Balaton North Shore Drive (Route 71)
Route 71 hugs Lake Balaton's northern shore beneath volcanic hills and vineyards, linking Balatonfured, Tihany and Badacsony in one of Central Europe's finest lakeside drives.
35 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Heviz
Largest thermal lake in Europe open for bathing, near the western end of Lake Balaton, warm enough for year-round swimming.
45 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Pannonhalma Archabbey
A 1,000-year-old Benedictine monastery on a hill with a Gothic basilica and ancient library, near Gyor.
52 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Ajka
- 33 kmTihany Peninsula, Lake BalatonA lavender-scented peninsula with an abbey perched over Central Europe's largest lake, ringed by a scenic drive.
- 35 kmBalaton North Shore Drive (Route 71)Route 71 hugs Lake Balaton's northern shore beneath volcanic hills and vineyards, linking Balatonfured, Tihany and Badacsony in one of Central Europe's finest lakeside drives.
Driving in Hungary
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.58/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €16 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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