Quest Rally 2025: A One-Day Challenge Through the Balaton Hills

It’s August, and while Andrew is still tinkering with projects at our Balaton house and I’m trying to keep the garden from crisping under the late-summer heat, the calendar has me looking ahead. Not to heating bills (yet), but to an entirely different challenge: the Quest Rally 2025. The rally begins on 20 September 2025 with an 8:00 meet-up in Balatonfüred.

Unlike the usual wine tastings or lake swims, this one-day rally is a proper adventure – equal parts treasure hunt, endurance test, and countryside tour. And it’s not just a casual spin. It’s**********@*************on.hu“> organised by Martin Fehér, Mayor of Zalaszentmárton, who clearly knows how to blend community spirit with a bit of adrenaline.

What Makes Quest Rally 2025 Unique

Forget passive sightseeing. This rally asks you to earn every kilometre.

• 200km route through the Balaton Hills – a mix of on-road and some dirt sections.
• 22 checkpoints to locate.
• 25 scavenger hunt items to collect.
• Additional challenges sprinkled in to keep you on your toes.
• 10 hours to finish – plenty, unless you get distracted by too many scenic detours.

Any car or motorbike can manage it. But keep in mind: it’s not a closed course. All normal driving rules apply. So yes, you’ll need your rally focus but also your patience at the odd village crosswalk.

How Quest Rally 2025 Works

With a roadbook and map in hand, teams (or solo drivers) set off to conquer the course. The balance is up to you:

• Competitive? Push hard, strategise, and brace for a long day that’s as much mental as physical.
• Casual? Take it steady, enjoy the landscape, climb a few hills, and accept that “winning” might mean finding the best viewpoint for your picnic.

And at the end, it’s not only about who drove fastest. It’s about sharing dinner, swapping stories, and celebrating the winners:

• Awards go to the top three teams.
• Dinner awaits in Zalaszentmárton, hosted by the community.

And if you don’t feel like driving back to Budapest in the dark, the village is offering free camping and a handful of free cabins. A nice touch that makes the day feel less like an event and more like a gathering.

How to Register

Registration is open now. Entry is 10,000 Ft for the driver and 5,000 Ft per additional participant, payable in cash on rally morning. Your pack includes the roadbook, stickers, snack/drink at the start, dinner in Zalaszentmárton, and a finisher sticker.

👉 Please pre‑register if you can.

• Custom race number guarantee: submit your form by 2 September 2025 to choose a custom 1–3 digit number for your car sticker. After that, numbers may be generic.
• Headcount deadline: please return your completed form by 7 September 2025 so the team can order the right amount of food.
• How to send your form:
  • Email: on**********@*************on.hu
  • Facebook Messenger: Quest (send as a message/photo)
  • SMS/Photo: +36 30 760 2071
• If you can’t pre‑register, you may bring the printed form on the morning – just arrive early.
• Organiser: Zalaszentmárton Község Önkormányzata, led by Mayor Martin Fehér. Normal driving rules apply; this is not a closed course.

Start, Finish & Timing on Saturday, September 20th

• Arrival recommended: 8:00 at the Spar car park in Balatonfüred (Széchenyi István u. 47).
• Briefing: 8:20 (Hungarian first, then English).
• Mass start: 9:00 sharp. The clock starts ticking whether you’re there or not.
• Finish line: Szépkilátó in Balatongyörök, closes at 19:00. Arrive later and you’re disqualified. Each team must take a photo of the wall clock at the finish line to prove their completion time.

Why You’ll Remember It

The last rally, held in Zala County, left participants buzzing about hidden treasures, stunning vistas, and the sense of camaraderie that only comes when a group of strangers all agree to spend ten hours chasing down obscure clues.

Hungary has no shortage of festivals and cultural weekends, but Quest Rally 2025 is the only amateur road rally in the country with a competitive element. It’s an endurance event, yes, but also a playful nod to the joy of exploration.

Pitfalls and Rookie Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve watched enough ambitious newcomers arrive at community events here with glossy plans and then melt halfway through. A few lessons worth noting:

• Pack smart. Water, snacks, sunscreen. Ten hours sounds manageable, until you’re three villages in.
• Know your car. This isn’t off-roading, but those little dirt sections can rattle the unprepared.
• Manage expectations. If you’re competitive, be ready for exhaustion. If you’re here for fun, let go of the leaderboard and soak in the scenery.

After the Rally

• From the finish, participants head to Zalaszentmárton (about 35 minutes west) for the after-party and awards.
• Finisher stickers are handed out as you arrive.
• Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams are presented later in the evening.
• Food and refreshments are provided, with a proper rally dinner to celebrate.
• Accommodation options: unlimited free camping in the village or one of five free cabins (two beds each, plus floor space for more). Cabins must be reserved, and guests bring their own sheets/towels.

Helpful Resources

• For a flavour of why the Hungarian countryside charms even the most sceptical city people, read my piece on Press Houses and the Joys of Rural Hungary .

• For practical travel inspiration, visit the official Visit Hungary – a solid external resource with updated info to discover Hungary.

FAQ – Quest Rally 2025

When is Quest Rally 2025?
Quest Rally 2025 takes place on Saturday, 20 September 2025. The rally begins at 8:00 in Balatonfüred and finishes by 19:00 in Balatongyörök.

How do I register for Quest Rally 2025?
Registration is handled by **********@*************on.hu“>Zalaszentmárton Község Önkormányzata, led by Mayor Martin Fehér. Entry is 10,000 Ft for drivers and 5,000 Ft per additional participant, payable in cash on rally morning. A registration form and liability waiver must be completed in advance. Download the Registration Form in English here.

What do participants receive with registration?
The entry fee includes rally stickers, a memento sticker, the official roadbook, drinks and a snack at the start, the rally dinner in Zalaszentmárton, and a finisher sticker. Awards are given to the top three teams.

The Spirit of the Hills

Events like this remind me why we chose to spend so much of our time between Budapest and the Balaton Highlands. It’s not just the scenery – though that helps – but the way local leaders like Mayor Martin Fehér pull people together with creativity and energy. Quest Rally 2025 is more than a drive; it’s proof that rural Hungary can still surprise you, and maybe even outpace the city for excitement.

As September creeps closer and we start eyeing sweaters and radiators, this rally feels like the perfect way to close out summer – one last big adventure before autumn routines take over.

👉 If you’d like more insider tips on life in Hungary from countryside events like this to practical updates on law changes and everyday logistics – sign up for the H2H Insider newsletter. It’s free, sharp, and lands in your inbox once a month.