The most beautiful places of the Balaton region were shaped by volcanos which are now tame, but still make themselves felt 2,5 million years after becoming extinct. There are dozens of sulphur springs springing up around the lake, several of which have been well-known for centuries to people looking for cures.

The most famous one is at Hévíz, where the thermal water springs out at the foot of the mountain of Keszthely. In reality, this is a geyser which pours its medicinal water at 38 degrees into a natural crater, forming a lake. The only other place where you can find something similar is lceland. Both the sulphur water and the mud on the bottom of the lake are excellent for curing locomotive ailments. The lake is a wonderful sight especially at the end of summer when thousands of red water lilies, broughtfrom India, burst into flower. Several hotels and sanatoriums have been built around the lake, with therapy centres equipped with the most modern instruments and ready to meet every demand.

Lying 6 km away from Keszthely and the northern shore of the lake, the 36-m deep Hévíz Lake, with a surface area of 47,500 m2, is the second largest hot-water lake in the world. 420 litres of 36-38 °C mildly radioactive water, rich in sulphur, gases and minerals, and with its own special circulation, gush out every second. Open-air bathing is a pleasant experience in this valley with its pleasant micro-climate, even in winter. The mud at the bottom of the lake has special properties: it is highly recommended for locomotor disorders, rheumatism, inflammations and arthritic complaints.

The carbon mineral spring of Balatonfüred is the other famous medicinal water of the Balaton. This town is the centre of the Balaton spa life, and is often referred to as a Mecca for cardiac patients. The grand Balaton resort is the first medicinal and recreational resort of Hungary. This is the place where the first Balaton steamship started. In the cardiology department of the local hospital patients with heart conditions have been treated here for 300 years with the help of the mineral water sources. This water is beneficial to diabetes and digestive malfunctions, and can be sampled in the Kossuth Lajos Drinking House.

In the western part of the region, Zalakaros is famous for its thermal water, containing valuable mineral substances.