Is the Budapest Prosecco Cruise Worth it? My Honest Review 2026
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I was back in Budapest visiting my family, and I decided to book the Unlimited Prosecco Cruise for a fun evening to catch up with my brother. The passengers were mostly foreign travelers visiting Budapest, and we were the only locals, but we didn’t find it to be a tourist trap.
When we were about to board the boat, even the host greeted us in English. When we responded in Hungarian, the host did note that not many locals come on the boat trip.
Before going on the cruise, I wondered if the drinks really are unlimited. I can now say that yes, the drinks are unlimited on the prosecco cruise and the waiters constantly come by your table to refill your glasses. We definitely got our money’s worth back!
We took the cruise in the evening, and the view of the city was epic. I have seen Budapest in the evening many times before but it’s a view I never get tired of. The Parliament building, Buda Castle, and the Fisherman’s Bastion are so magical in the evening lights, you get a new perspective of the city rather than just exploring it on foot.
BUDAPEST PROSECCO CRUISE
✔️ Unlimited drinks: Prosecco, beer, aperol, lemonade
✔️ Epic views of Budapest
Prosecco Cruise Summary
- Cruise Company: Duna-Weser
- Unlimited Drinks: Prosecco, beer, aperol, lemonade
- Rating: 4.8/5 on 38,792 reviews
- Price: USD 29 per person
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Schedule: 5:15 pm, 7 pm, 8:45 pm
- Audio Guide: Available
Is the Budapest Prosecco Cruise Worth it?
Yes, it was one of the highlights of my time visiting my family in Budapest and if any of my friends came to visit me in Budapest in the future, I would take them on the Prosecco Cruise for sure!
It’s fun, affordable, you get epic views of the city, plus, did I mention the unlimited drinks? I found it was really worth the money as the staff comes to refill your glass all the time. I think our glasses never went below half full, the waiters were so quick to refill our glasses.
Considering you pay around USD 29 for the cruise, you definitely get the money back in drinks and amazing views. There is also an audio guide that tells a bit about the famous buildings you pass by during the cruise.
Alcoholic drinks on board with free refills include prosecco, beer, and Aperol. For non-alcoholic drinks, they serve lemonade and water. Food is not included in the price, but you can buy some snacks at the bar for extra cost.
It’s not only the drinks that makes the cruise worth it, but also the beautiful view you get of the city. We took the cruise at 7 pm, and it’s the timing I recommend for other travelers as well. With a 7 pm start time, there is a chance you see the city both during the sunset and in the evening lights when the iconic buildings are illuminated in the evening.
Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
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Planning Your Trip
The Prosecco cruise is operated all throughout the year, even in winter. It has an indoor and outdoor sitting area, and the indoor area is heated in the winter.
We took the cruise in late February when the weather was still cold. We sat inside but went outside on the front deck to take some extra photos. Make sure to dress in warm layers when the weather is cold, as it gets chilly on the outside desk.
I found the meeting point was easy to locate. After booking the boat trip, we got a confirmation of the meeting point (Akadémia 3), and once there, we spotted the boat easily. Some boats depart from Batthyányi tér, so double check which departure point you have to go to.
I read reviews before about the cruise that it is worth arriving early at the meeting point, as there are no assigned seats and everyone gets to choose their table after boarding. I recommend arriving at least 30 minutes before boarding so you are not at the end of the queue of people getting on board.
The Prosecco Cruise goes daily at 5:15 pm, 7 pm, and 8:45 pm. If you have the time, I recommend taking the 7 pm cruise as you could get to see the sunset over Budapest and also see the city with the evening lights on.
In the evening, the lights are on the famous landmarks in Budapest until 10 pm, so whichever cruise you take, don’t make it too late.
My Onboard Experience
When I booked the cruise, I wondered if it would really come with unlimited drinks. I even told my brother that even though the booking says “unlimited”, I am not sure if it is really true.
Once we were on board, we were pleasantly surprised that drinks are indeed unlimited. The waiters go around the tables and never let your glass be empty, they constantly refill your glass. The waiters do the refills for prosecco at your table, if you want to go for beer, Aperol or lemonade, you can get them refilled at the bar. The staff was really cheerful and friendly, and have no complaints of the service.
The prosecco was also pretty good. It was served chilled and was bubble, so it wasn’t like a bad, cheap prosecco.
They also serve non-alcoholic drinks (lemonade, water), so that even if you don’t drink alcohol, you can get unlimited drinks.
At the bar, you can also buy some snacks. I recommend eating before the cruise, otherwise, you could get pretty drunk if you drink on an empty stomach. We ate just before the cruise and then bought some snacks from the bar.
The views over the famous landmarks in Budapest were also spectacular. The boat passes by iconic spots in the city, such as the Parliament, Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, and Chain Bridge. Grew up in Budapest but I never get tired of the view of the city from a cruise! You get a very different view of the city from the boat than you would from walking around the city on foot.
There is also an audio guide available on board that tells a bit about the famous landmarks. It’s just enough information to keep you entertained and learn a bit about the sites without it becoming too boring. When we were on the cruise, the audio guide was only available in English.
⭐ Book the Prosecco Cruise with unlimited Prosecco, beer, aperol and lemonade! I recommend booking the evening cruise at 7 pm to see Budapest in the evening lights!
Other Cruises in Budapest
Budapest is famous for the River Danube and going on a river cruise is one of the best things to do in the city. Apart from the unlimited prosecco cruise, there are also other drinks cruises, dinner cruises, as well as daytime cruises.
- Sip and Sail Cruise: Similar to the Unlimited Prosecco Cruise I went on, the Sip and Sail cruises provide unlimited prosecco on the cruise.
- Dinner Cruises: Buffet-style and 4-course dinner cruises with traditional Hungarian food, such as goulash soup. Some dinner cruises come with live music and Hungarian folk dance performances.
- Daytime Cruises: The daytime cruises are best for sightseeing, however, I recommend taking one of the evening cruises as the best time to see Budapest from the boat is in the evening lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s included in the Budapest Prosecco Cruise?
The Budapest Prosecco Cruise includes unlimited prosecco (for real!), beer, aperol, and lemonade. The waiters come by your table to refill your prosecco and honestly, your glass is never empty. There is also an audio guide available in English.
What’s the best month to take a river cruise in Budapest?
The best time to take a river cruise in Budapest is from April to September when the weather is warm and sunny. The cruises go all throughout the year, and it is also worth going in the winter. When it’s cold, the boats are heated indoors, so you only feel the cold if you go on the outside deck to take extra photos.
Would I Recommend This Cruise?
Yes, I absolutely recommend this cruise, and next time I come back to Budapest with some of my foreign friends, I would also take them on the Prosecco Cruise. For the price the cruise costs, you get it back in drinks, views and a fun time.
Budapest looks magical in the evening lights, and my favourite time to take a cruise in Budapest is in the evenings. Throw in some unlimited drinks and you can count me in. My brother also loved the cruise, and although we didn’t go out to party afterwards, the cruise can also be good for pre-drinks if you go out in the city afterwards.
My final advice is to book a cruise at 7 pm, so that you get to see the city in the evening lights. It’s good to arrive at least 30 minutes before the departure time so that you are not too far in the queue and you can pick a table with a good view.
If you are taking the boat in the winter, make sure to dress in warm layers. The indoor area is heated, but if you go on the front deck to take photos, it gets super cold.
⭐ Book the Prosecco Cruise here!
