You can even learn how to surf and wakesurf! Broken down sport by sport, here are some top tips for getting involved in fun activity while the weather's warm and the water's lovely, all in Budapest or within easy reach.

Jet Ski

 Jet Park Fundy Lake

Address: 2360 Gyál, Fundy út

Just beyond the south-eastern corner of Budapest, Fundy Lake encompasses a Jet Park where you can try out both seated and standing versions of jet skiing. Staff provide proper training before letting them hop on these high-performance machines.

After the necessary precautions, you can race along two courses marked by buoys across an eight-hectare water surface. In addition to jet skiing, you can also try the adrenalin-boosting flyboard or the more chill SUP on the lake.

Kayak/Canoe 

Béke Csónakház 

Address: 1031 Budapest, Római-part 53.

The Béke Csónakház on Római-part is one of the most popular places to rent out kayaks and canoes. In both cases, you can choose between a number of single and multi-person boats with a capacity of up to eight people.

Everyone is welcome from amateurs to professional athletes, with lifejackets and other mandatory equipment provided free of charge. 

Kolonics György Centre

Address: 1215 Budapest, Duna utca 61.

Named after the Olympic sportsman who trained here, the Kolonics György Centre on Csepel island offers several types of kayaks and canoes.

Apart from touring models, single and double touring boats and sea kayaks, the centre also offers ten- and 20-person dragon boats, which might serve as part of a great team-building experience.

A hotel and gym also feature in the complex. The riverside promenade here is a pleasant stroll in itself.

Sup

Sup Budapest
Address: 1039 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos udulopart 81.

In recent years, the popularity of stand-up paddle, SUP for short, has skyrocketed in Hungary, which can be largely attributed to the team at SUP Budapest. They host regular tours in and around the capital, kicking off at Római-part.

Participants can admire the city at dawn while gliding down the Danube, feel closer to nature on the tours with Lupa-sziget as the destination, or watch shooting stars while rowing towards Egyfás-sziget. 

Sup The LifestyleAddress: 1138 Budapest, Népsziget 1-3.

Organising SUP tours is the main activity at SUP The Lifestyle, offering both sunrise and sunset sessions. You can glide down the river while gazing at Parliament, or admiring an idyllic view outside town, on a more secluded section of the Danube.

The team pay special attention to training sessions, teaching from the basics all the way to making you familiar with advanced technical skills.

Surfing

Pala Surf Camp
Address: 1007 Budapest, Margit-sziget

Capital of a country without a sea, let alone an ocean, Budapest can nevertheless offer tuition in that most maritime of sports – surfing. Revered lido Palatinus on Margaret Island runs the Pala Surf Camp, offering instruction to complete beginners over three days. Language barriers shouldn’t be a problem – not compared with staying afloat.

After the three days, you should be able to stand on the board and move to the rhythm of the waves.

Practising, getting used to the board and the power of the water, and meeting like-minded people – all in all, this is a great summer activity. Even in such a controlled, concrete environment, it is quite surprising to feel the waves – making you wonder how the Beach Boys did it.​​​​​​​

Wakeboard

Lake Rukkel WaterparkAddress: 2336 Dunavársány, Rukkel-tó 1.

South of Budapest at Dunavarsány, Lake Rukkel Waterpark is a great place to swim, top up your tan and try out its five-column wakeboard park.

Beginners are welcome in the morning, as the course operates at a slower pace between 9am-11am, while the afternoon is more suited to experienced wakeboarders.

Formed by gravel mining, the lake also offers eight water slides as well as diving towers to jump off.​​​​​​​

Lupa WakeAddress: 2011 Budakalász, Tó utca 1.

Lupa Beach in Budakalász, some 15 minutes from Budapest by car or HÉV train, entices visitors with all kinds of water sports.

The 260-metre long wakeboard course was designed for those with no previous experience in the sport, the slower, five-column one best for intermediate wakeboarders, while the six-column facility, enhanced with 20 extra features, is best suited for the real pros.

The team at Lupa Wake offers individual coaching, as well as a summer camp and day care for little ones. 

Omszk Wakeboard CentreAddress: 2011 Budakalász, Omszki-tó​​​​​​​

Another must-visit for the lovers of wakeboarding is Omszk Lake, near Lupa Beach (see above), offering an all-round summer experience with wake parks for both beginners and advanced riders, as well as children’s summer camps.

In addition to student and small-group lessons, those who prefer a more solitary experience can enjoy gliding in private on the lake as well, before opening hours.

For a more relaxed activity, SUP can also be tried out at the complex. 

Wakesurfing

Ballast Surf Club
Address: 1138 Budapest, Népsziget út 1-3.

Twice world wakeboard champion Sebasztián Szóláth and his friend, Márton Gulyás, practise and promote the art of wakesurfing at the Ballast Surf Club on Népsziget, a wild island getaway in north Pest.

​​​​​​​Unlike a wakeboard, in wakesurfing there are no bindings on your feet and you go at a much slower pace. You're much freer sooner to feel that sense of elation of being close to the water.

It’s the sensation of surfing without having to wait for the waves, and the sport is significantly less dependent on the weather. Wakesurfing does not require any special training other than being able to swim and, of course, to be reasonably fit. If you’ve surfed or snowboarded before, it’ll be much easier.

A few tries and a detailed explanation, and the guys will be cheering you on. ​​​​​​​

Source: We Love Budapest

Article photos courtesy of locations Facebook pages.