Folly Arborétum
A Lake Balaton arboretum that has remained in private hands, with an evergreen collection, a family history exhibition and a cone exhibition, on the slope of Kisörsi-hegy.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The arboretum is based on a small hillside garden that Folly Gyula, a doctor from Pécs, began planting with exotic plants around 1905. On the roughly four-tenths of a hectare, plants originating mainly from the Mediterranean and other drought-tolerant regions took root; this is still the core of the collection, the Öregarborétum (Old Arboretum). The family continued the planting: his son began replanting in the early 1950s; in the 1960s a stand of atlas cedars was added, and in 1970 European cypresses were planted in the garden.
Part of the area came under state management in 1950; the family bought it back after the change of regime. Folly Gyula, an agricultural engineer, established an ornamental nursery in the 1970s and 1980s, brought in new species from collecting trips abroad, and the garden was enclosed. The arboretum is today run by the fourth generation of the family; it is the only arboretum in Hungary that has remained in private ownership.
The garden rises in terraces on the slope of Kisörsi-hegy, and the view opening onto Lake Balaton is one of the main attractions of the visit. In the exhibition room of the visitor centre, the history of four generations of the family, the development of the garden and wine-making are on display, while since spring 2024 the old cellar has housed a permanent cone exhibition.
Highlights
- Century-old cedars and cypresses in the terraced garden above Lake Balaton
- Family and estate history exhibition in the visitor centre
- Cone exhibition with the cones of 22 plant species and the garden Tobozkörút (Cone Trail)
- Panorama over Lake Balaton
- Wooden playground and outdoor games for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Folly – Egy kert, egy család – Short films and display elements present four generations of the Folly family, the garden’s development from a hobby garden into an arboretum, and the wine-making and wildlife of the area.
- Tobozkiállítás – The exhibition in the old cellar presents the cones of 22 plant species, supplemented by the stamped stations of the garden Tobozkörút (Cone Trail).
- Founded
- 1905
- Operated by
- Folly Arborétum és Borászat
Admission & discounts
| Adults | HUF 3,900 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | HUF 2,900children aged 6–18 and pensioners over 65 (with a photo ID) |
| Children & teens | HUF 2,900free up to age 5 · Ages 6–18; free under 6. |
| Seniors | HUF 2,900Over 65, with a photo ID. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freeFree admission for visitors with mobility or other impairments (with an official certificate). |
| Families | HUF 10,7002 parents and 2 or more minor children. |
| Individual loyalty card (valid for 1 year) | HUF 6,900Free admission for one year. |
| Family loyalty card (valid for 1 year) | HUF 18,9002 parents and their minor children. |
| Tasting supplementary ticket | HUF 2,9003 × 0.5 dl of syrup or wine and savoury pastries. |
| Garden programme: Arboretum Guide (walk with a tour leader) | HUF 1,900 |
| Garden programme: estate walk with tasting | HUF 3,900 |
| Team game in the garden (per team, up to 5 people) | HUF 6,000Escape room or the game “Nyomozz a Follyban” (Investigate at Folly). |
| Combined ticket with shuttle taxi, adult | HUF 6,500Admission and a return taxi between Badacsony and the arboretum at specified times. |
Entry to the restaurant also requires an admission ticket. Discounted tickets can only be bought on site. A combined ticket can be used at some sites of the Nemzeti Örökségvédelmi és Fejlesztési Nonprofit Kft.: the Püspöki Palota in Sümeg, the Majorság in Fenékpuszta and the Festetics-kastély in Keszthely. Payment by cash, SZÉP card and bank card.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The restaurant building and the central reception area are step-free. The Kisház (Small House) has an accessible and family toilet. The garden is steep and terraced; only the lower sections can be visited with pushchairs and wheelchairs. Dogs cannot be brought in; a kennel is available at the entrance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
| Family ticket | HUF 10,700 · 2 parents and 2 or more minor children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
Wooden playground with a slide, a wire rope course and a rope tunnel; the outdoor Meseösvény (Fairy-tale Trail); an 11-station adventure game; and free matinées on festive weekends. Family toilet and changing table; baby carriers are available at reception; pushchairs can be used in the lower and middle parts of the garden.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Badacsonyörs vasútállomás · 20-min walk · 1.6 km
By train to Badacsonyörs station, then about 20 minutes on foot; by intercity bus to the Badacsonyörs Kemping stop, then 15–20 minutes uphill on foot. Shuttle taxis also run from Badacsony.
By car
Parking available
Spacious gravel car park in front of the arboretum entrance.
By car from road 71, turn off at the junction marked with a Folly sign onto Kápolnavölgyi út. Buses with twenty or more seats cannot drive up to the arboretum. The road to the entrance by bicycle is steep and narrow.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Restaurant
Restaurant on site (an admission ticket must be bought); plant shop and webshop.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Weddings / ceremonies
Events, weddings and group programmes can be organised in the arboretum.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The garden can also be visited individually; this takes about one and a half to two hours. Garden programmes (Arboretum Guide, estate walk, escape room) can be taken with prior registration or at advertised times. The exhibitions can be seen with the admission ticket. |
