The 7 Best River Cruises in Budapest (Tried and Tested by a Local)
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One of the best things to do in Budapest is to go on a river cruise. The Budapest river cruises offer a unique way to see the city, something that cannot be compared to exploring the city on foot.
I have been on a couple of river cruises in Budapest, but I never get tired of how beautiful the city is from a boat on the Danube. The boats run throughout the day, but the best time to go is in the evening.
In the evenings, they turn on the lights across the city (including famous landmarks like the Parliament), and the view of the city is epic!
There are different types of boat tours, ones that are short, budget cruises, and ones that also include dinner, live music or even a folk dance show. So far, I have enjoyed the most the cruise with unlimited prosecco and the one with dinner and live music.
Best River Cruises in Budapest
1. Budapest City Highlights Cruise with Welcome Drink
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Portum Lines Cruising
- Rating: 4.6/5 on 45,261 reviews
- Price: USD 18
- Duration: 1 hour
- Schedule: 6:15 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:45 pm, 10 pm
- Audio guide: not available
- Wheelchair accessible: no
Cruise Summary
The Budapest City Highlights Cruise is an affordable, one-hour cruise in Budapest. I went on this cruise last year with my family to spend some quality time together.
The cruise includes a welcome drink and runs in the evenings which is the best time to go on a cruise in Budapest. In the evenings, they switch on the lights in the city and for famous buildings, and the view is really epic!
The cruise passes by the most iconic buildings in Budapest, such as the Margaret Bridge, Matthias Church, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill and the Parliament.
Make sure to check the sunset time for the time of your booking to make sure that you don’t miss out on the evening lights. If you take the boat in the summer, sunset is later, so you should take a boat later in the evening, either 7:30 pm or 8:45 pm.
We took the cruise in the winter and at that time, it was already dark by 7:30 pm, so we decided to go for that cruise to see the city in the evening.
The seats are no assigned, so I recommend arriving at least half an hour before the start of the cruise. The queues for the cruise can be long, so the earlier you arrive, the better seats you can choose for yourself. If you are the last one to get on the boat, you’ll not have a seat with a good view.
The ship has two floors, one is closed, and the top deck is open. The top deck can get cold, especially if the weather is cold. As we went in the winter, we decided to stay on the closed, heated part of the ship, and went once to the top deck to take photos.
We enjoyed the cruise, and it was really worth the money. The only thing was that there was no audio guide available. Even though I am from Budapest, I would have appreciated having an audio guide to tell some interesting facts about the city.
Food & Drinks
This cruise includes a welcome drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available). They serve the welcome drink upon entering the boat. They have a bar on board, and you can buy food and more drinks for an extra cost.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Budget friendly
- Welcome drink included
- Evening cruise so you get the see the city in the evening lights
- Bar available for additional food and drinks
- Wifi on board
Cons:
- No audio guide
Meeting Point
The meeting point for the cruise is at Dock 42 by the River Danube. Look for the sign Dock 42 and the name of the boat company, Portum Lines.
⭐ Book the Budapest City Highlights Cruise: one of the most affordable cruises in Budapest!
2. Unlimited Prosecco Cruise
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Duna-Weser
- Rating: 4.7/5 on 40,863 reviews
- Price: USD 29
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Schedule: 5:15 pm, 7 pm, 8:45 pm
- Audio guide: available
- Wheelchair accessible: No
Cruise Summary
The Unlimited Prosecco Cruise in Budapest is one of the cruises you cannot miss in the city! I took this cruise recently when I was home visiting my family. I went on the cruise with my brother to have some quality time to catch up.
We wondered before the start of the cruise if the drinks are really unlimited or if it’s just a tourist trap. Actually, the truth is that the drinks are unlimited, the waiters and waitresses go around the ship the whole time and never let your glasses go empty. Honestly, the waiters were constantly refilling our glasses.
The cruise takes just a bit over an hour (1 hour 15 minutes) and it passes by all the famous landmarks in Budapest, like the Parliament and Buda Castle. I suggest going for the boat tour at 8:45 pm, so you get the see the city in the evening lights.
Drinks
The unlimited drinks include prosecco, beer, aperol and lemonade. The waiters come and refill the prosecco at your table the whole time, and if you want another drink (beer, aperol, lemonade), then you have to go to the bar.
At the bar, you can also buy some snacks for extra costs. The best is if you eat some food before the start of the cruise, so you don’t drink a lot of alcohol on an empty stomach. After the cruise, we went home, but we met others who were planning to go out in Budapest after the cruise, and they were on the prosecco cruise for their pre-drinks.
We found that the quality of the prosecco was also pretty good. It was bubbly and served chilled. Overall, we were pretty happy with the cruise, and thought the price was definitely worth it as the drinks were unlimited.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Unlimited drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available)
- Audio guide available
- Friendly staff
Cons:
- You might get a hangover
Meeting Point
The meeting point is at Akadémia 3, and we found it was easy to locate the boat. Some boats leave from the Batthyány tér, so before your boat trip, double check which place your boat departs from.
⭐ Book the Unlimited Prosecco Cruise here!
3. Budapest Nighttime or Daytime Sightseeing Cruise
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Purpleliner
- Rating: 4.3/5 on 22,116 reviews
- Price: USD 14
- Duration: 1 hour
- Schedule: 5:30 pm, 7 pm, 8:30 pm, 10 pm
- Guide: Available
- Wheelchair accessible: no
Cruise Summary
The Budapest Nighttime and Daytime Sightseeing Cruise is one of the affordable cruises but it doesn’t come with any food and drinks, not even a welcome drink.
The daytime cruise goes at 5:30 pm, there is no earlier boat for this cruise. Then, the evening cruises start from 7 pm and the last one goes at 10 pm.
I recommend taking the evening cruise either at 7 pm or 8:30 pm, so you can see the city in the evening lights. If you are short on time have to take a daytime cruise, it’s also worth it, just that you won’t see the city with the lights on.
The good thing about this cruise is that there is also an audio guide, so you get to learn about the major sites in Budapest. It passes by major attractions in the city, such as the Parliament, Chain Bridge and Buda Castle.
Food & Drinks
Food and drinks are not included in the price, but there is a bar on the boat where you can buy drinks and snacks for an extra cost.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Affordable
- Audio guide available
Cons:
- No food or drinks included in the ticket
- Can get crowded
Meeting Point
The boat leaves from the Buda side of the river at Dock 1/B near the Batthyány Square. Look for the sign with the name of the boat company, Purpleliner.
⭐ Book the most affordable day or nighttime cruise in Budapest here!
4. Daytime Sightseeing Boat Cruise
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Legenda
- Rating: 4.6/5 on 4,266 reviews
- Price: USD 24
- Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Schedule: time slots between 10 am – 6 pm
- Audio guide: included
Cruise Summary
The Budapest Daytime Cruise is run by the Legenda cruise company which is one of the best boat tour companies in Budapest.
The Daytime Sightseeing Cruise is a bit over one hour (1 hour 10 minutes), and the boats run on a frequent schedule between 10 am and 6 pm. The boats leave frequently, every 45 minutes from the meeting point, and it passes by major attractions.
Some of the famous places you can see during the boat trip is the Parliament, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge and the Margaret Island. During the summer, there is an option to get off at the Margaret Island and spend some time exploring the island. After you visit the island, you can go back to the pick-up/drop-off location at the Margaret Island and get on the next boat to continue the cruise.
There is also an audio guide during the cruise, and it is available in 30 different languages, including English, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese, and others.
I like that Legenda runs the daytime boat cruises frequently throughout the day, so you can easily fit it into your schedule. They also run evening cruises that are great to see the city in the evening lights.
Food & Drinks
Food is not included in the ticket price, but you get a welcome drink upon entering the boat, and later during the cruise, you get one more drink.
The welcome drink includes options such as wine, beer, sparkling wine, soft drink, mineral juice. The drink you get during the cruise is either lemonade or tea.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Audio guide in 30 languages
- Welcome drink & an additional drink included
- Optional stop at Margaret Island in the summer
- Frequent boat schedule
Cons:
- Won’t see Budapest in the evening lights if you take the daytime cruise
Meeting Point (H4)
The boat leaves from the Pest side of the Danube River from Dock 7 near the Budapest Marriott Hotel.
⭐ Book the Daytime River Cruise by Legenda, one of the best boat tours in Budapest!
5. Historical Cruise with Welcome Drink
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Duna Cruises
- Rating: 4.7/5 on 7,279 reviews
- Price: USD 13
- Duration: 1 hour
- Schedule: time slots between 2 pm – 10 pm
- Audio guide: included
- Wheelchair accessible: no
Cruise Summary
The cruise on a Historic Paddle Steamer is one of the most unique ways to see Budapest from a boat. The boat is a recreation of 19th century paddle steamers and provides a rare opportunity for a cruise on the River Danube.
It is a one-hour boat trip, including a welcome drink. It is one of the budget-friendly options for a cruise as tickets are USD 13 per person. It’s pretty good for the experience of going on a historic boat and also getting a welcome drink.
There is also an audio guide during the cruise which is available in 30 languages including English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Japanese and Korean. You can listen to it on your phone or download and read the content. Bring your own earphones for the audio guide.
The cruise passes by all the major attractions in Budapest such as the Parliament, Fisherman’s Bastion, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, Chain Bridge and Margaret Bridge. It has both day and evening cruises, but I recommend taking the evening cruise so you can see the city in the evening lights.
The seats are unassigned on the ship, and the seating is done on a first come first served basis. Due to this, I recommend arriving to the boat at least 30 minutes before arrival, so you get to the front of the queue and have the chance to select your seat before the majority of the passengers.
Food & Drinks
Includes a welcome drink (sparkling wine or juice), plus there is a bar on board to purchase extra food and drinks.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Historic Boat
- Audio guide
- Welcome drink
Cons:
- Seats unassigned, first come first served, so arrive early
Meeting Point
The meeting point for the cruise is at Dock 10 on the Pest side of the river near the Elisabeth Bridge.
⭐ Book a boat trip on the Historic Paddle Steamer in Budapest, the most unique way to see the city from a boat!
6. Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Legenda
- Rating: 4.7/5 on 2,208 reviews
- Price: USD 130
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Schedule: 7:45 pm
- Guide: not included
- Wheelchair accessible: no
- Vegans: not suitable/no vegan menu
Cruise Summary
The Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music is one of the best dinner cruises in Budapest. It is run by Legenda, which is the best boat tour company in Budapest and it includes a welcome drink, 4-course dinner, and there is a band playing live music.
I went on this cruise before, and the dinner and the live music are perfect to celebrate a special occasion.
The boat trip runs in the evenings at 7:45 pm and it takes 2.5 hours. It passes by all the major attractions in Budapest, including the Margaret Bridge, Parliament, Gellért Hill, Buda Castle, and the Chain Bridge.
The evening is the best time to go on a cruise in Budapest as you get to see the city in the evening lights. So, this cruise ticks all the boxes.
The only negative I found is that it doesn’t have an audio guide, but the live music and dinner makes up for it, and it would have been difficult to focus on the information if there had been an audio guide.
Food & Drinks
The boat trip includes a welcome drink upon entry to the ship. The drink options include champagne, wine, beer, soft drink or mineral water. Only a welcome drink is included in the price, and if you want to get additional drinks, you have to purchase them at the bar.
The dinner is a 4-course meal for adults, and there a 3-course dinner menu for kids. For each course, there are a couple of options that you can choose from the menu. The meal includes a starter, soup, main course and dessert.
There is no vegan option on the menu, and most items have some type of meat (chicken, pork, beef or fish). However, they have gluten-free and lactose-free options.
Live Music
There is also live music on board which make the evening special. The music is by a Hungarian band playing a selection of international and Hungarian songs.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 4-course dinner
- Live music
- Open-air in summer, heated in winter
- Multiple options to choose from the menu
Cons:
- Only welcome drink is included, for additional drinks, you have to pay extra on the boat
- No audio guide
- No vegan menu
Meeting Point
The boat leaves from Dock 7 near the Budapest Marriott Hotel. Look for the name of the company, Legenda, to locate your boat.
⭐ Book the Candlelit Dinner Cruise with Live Music here!
7. Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Folk Dance Show
Cruise Details
- Cruise company: Hungaria Koncert
- Rating: 4.4/5 on 2,117 reviews
- Price: USD 93
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Schedule: 7 pm
- Guide: not available
- Vegans: no vegan menu, vegetarian available
Cruise Summary
Another option for a dinner cruise is Budapest is the one run by Hungaria Koncert, Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Folk Dance Show. It is 1.5 hours long and includes a buffet-style dinner with options for traditional Hungarian dishes.
The boat leaves every day at 7 pm and passes by the most famous attractions along the river, such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Chain Bridge and Gellért Hill.
The highlight of the cruise is the live music and folk dance performance. The music is great, and when we were on the cruise, the band also took requests from the tables and played the songs requested.
Food & Drinks
This cruise only includes a welcome drink, and if you want to have any additional drinks, you have to purchase them at the ship’s bar.
The dinner is a buffet-style dinner with options for traditional Hungarian food. The menu includes options for goulash soup, nokedli (Hungarian dumplings) and Somlói sponge cake. They don’t have a vegan menu, but vegetarian options are available.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Live music
- Traditional Hungarian dinner
- Folk dance show
Cons:
- Have to pay for additional drinks (only a welcome drink is included in the price)
Meeting Point
The boat leaves from Dock 2 at Akadémia near the Chain Bridge. The boarding starts at 6:30 pm, and the boat leaves at 7 pm. I recommend arriving early to make sure you don’t miss your boat. The traffic can get busy in Budapest, so make sure to get there a bit earlier.
⭐ Book the Dinner Cruise with Live Music and Folk Dance Show here!
Is it Worth Going on a River Cruise in Budapest?
Yes, going on a river cruise in Budapest is definitely worth it. You can see the city from a totally different point of view than as if you were just walking around the city on foot.
The River Danube splits the city into two parts, and during the cruise, you pass by many famous attractions along the river, such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Gellért Hill, Margaret Island, and Chain Bridge.
There are both day and evening cruises, however, I recommend taking an evening cruise as the city looks the best with the evening lights on. The famous buildings along the river are also decorated in lights, and it is one of the best times to get a good view of the city. I am from Budapest and have been on many different cruises, but the evening cruises remain my favourite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time to do the river cruise in Budapest?
The best time to go on a river cruise in Budapest is in the evenings. The city looks the best with the evenings lights on and it’s a must-see if you are in Budapest.
Do you need to book a river cruise in Budapest?
Yes, you should book a river cruise ahead of time as they are very popular and are likely to get sold out.
How much is a river cruise in Budapest?
The price of the river cruise depends on the type of cruise. There are budget cruises in Budapest that cost around USD 13-20, and there are also high-end cruises that are around USD 130 per person.
My Final Tips on which River Cruise to Book
Finally, when deciding which cruise to book, decide which time suits the best your Budapest itinerary. If you only have a short time in Budapest, choose one of the day or evening cruises.
If you have more time in Budapest and your itinerary is more flexible, then make sure to keep an evening free for the river cruise. The evening is the best time to go on a river as you can see Budapest with the evening lights on.
There are some budget cruises for around USD 14 that are usually just a short boat trip with a welcome drink. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, then I recommend booking a river cruise with dinner.
